Will there be a 2022 season?

[Kimmi]

Until you look at the owner's net worth and/or income.

 

I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for owners either, but it is their money and their business.

 

In a perfect world, they would think about the fans first and lower ticket prices.

[Bellhorn04]

Until you look at the owner's net worth and/or income.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Average Joe feels more resentment toward the players. Average Joe tends to say things like "if these guys weren't playing baseball, they'd be parking cars/digging ditches etc."

 

Average Joe probably won't say that about John Henry. They might not like him, but they respect the fact he got rich with his investing smarts...

[notin]

It wouldn't surprise me if Average Joe feels more resentment toward the players. Average Joe tends to say things like "if these guys weren't playing baseball, they'd be parking cars/digging ditches etc."

 

Average Joe probably won't say that about John Henry. They might not like him, but they respect the fact he got rich with his investing smarts...

 

The Average Joe also is the one who feels let down by the players clamoring for more money. How many people have you heard make the ridiculous claim about how they’d play for free?

 

I b get very few fans ever liked the owners, which is interesting because the interests of the owners are the closest thing to the interests of the fans…

[Kimmi]

It wouldn't surprise me if Average Joe feels more resentment toward the players. Average Joe tends to say things like "if these guys weren't playing baseball, they'd be parking cars/digging ditches etc."

 

Average Joe probably won't say that about John Henry. They might not like him, but they respect the fact he got rich with his investing smarts...

 

You said this much better than I did.

[Bellhorn04]

I b get very few fans ever liked the owners, which is interesting because the interests of the owners are the closest thing to the interests of the fans…

 

Well, that's an "interesting" idea.

 

AFAIK, the main interests of the owners are:

 

1) To make huge amounts of money.

2) To experience the ego trip of being an owner.

3) To win games and championships.

 

Only one out of three seems to coincide with the interests of the fans. And of course many owners don't care that much about winning.

[moonslav59]

I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for owners either, but it is their money and their business.

 

In a perfect world, they would think about the fans first and lower ticket prices.

 

They could raise salaries for players AND cut ticket prices, while still earning obscene boatloads in profits.

 

While players taking pay cuts from $3M a year to $2M a year may seem like boatloads to us plebeians, it pales in comparison to what the owners make and could still make with some tweaks.

 

[moonslav59]

It wouldn't surprise me if Average Joe feels more resentment toward the players. Average Joe tends to say things like "if these guys weren't playing baseball, they'd be parking cars/digging ditches etc."

 

Average Joe probably won't say that about John Henry. They might not like him, but they respect the fact he got rich with his investing smarts...

 

I think that is part of it, and also the feeling that many fans would be thrilled to play in MLB for just $80-120K a year- or less with many low-income earners.

 

Plus, I think many people lack a true understanding of just how much money several $billions is.

[moonslav59]

Well, that's an "interesting" idea.

 

AFAIK, the main interests of the owners are:

 

1) To make huge amounts of money.

2) To experience the ego trip of being an owner.

3) To win games and championships.

 

Only one out of three seems to coincide with the interests of the fans. And of course many owners don't care that much about winning.

 

I think several owners have given up on #3.

[Bellhorn04]

They could raise salaries for players AND cut ticket prices, while still earning obscene boatloads in profits.

 

While players taking pay cuts from $3M a year to $2M a year may seem like boatloads to us plebeians, it pales in comparison to what the owners make and could still make with some tweaks.

 

 

Nobody wants to take a step backward. Nobody is going to cut ticket prices or salaries or anything else, unless it's an economic crisis on the level of The Great Depression.

[moonslav59]

Nobody wants to take a step backward. Nobody is going to cut ticket prices or salaries or anything else, unless it's an economic crisis on the level of The Great Depression.

 

True, and I'm not expecting it to happen.

 

It's the nature of greed and Capitalism. Owners and players both want to maximize their wealth. As long as the public can and will pay what the prices are, the business will continue.

[jad]

Please stop with the delusion that owners can/will just "lower ticket prices." Tickets are sold for what people are willing to pay for them and priced according to what is believed to maximize the gate. Do you really think that if seats cost $10, you could just stroll over to the ole' ballpark, pick up a few bleacher seats on gameday, and settle down to $1 hotdogs?

 

(You want cheaper seats? Then stop going; stop watching NESN; stop buying team gear; stop giving sports free advertising by participating in sports boards; stop listening to sports radio.)

Edited January 9, 2022 by jad

[moonslav59]

Please stop with the delusion that owners can/will just "lower ticket prices." Tickets are sold for what people are willing to pay for them and priced according to what is believed to maximize the gate. Do you really think that if seats cost $10, you could just stroll over to the ole' ballpark, pick up a few bleacher seats on gameday, and settle down to $1 hotdogs?

 

(You want cheaper seats? Then stop going; stop watching NESN; stop buying team gear; stop giving sports free advertising by participating in sports boards; stop listening to sports radio.)

 

Who is saying ticket prices may or will be cut?

Edited January 9, 2022 by moonslav59

[Bellhorn04]

Who is saying ticket prices may or will be cut?

 

No one said they actually would be, but the idea was mentioned by Kimmi and you.

[moonslav59]

No one said they actually would be, but the idea was mentioned by Kimmi and you.

 

Not in the sense that it would happen or could happen.

 

Actually, jad gave a scenario where it might happen, that I think is impossible.

[notin]

Well, that's an "interesting" idea.

 

AFAIK, the main interests of the owners are:

 

1) To make huge amounts of money.

2) To experience the ego trip of being an owner.

3) To win games and championships.

 

Only one out of three seems to coincide with the interests of the fans. And of course many owners don't care that much about winning.

 

 

How many player interests coincide with the fans?

 

Simply put, most owners’ ultimate goal is to win as often as possible while spending as little as possible. This aligns closer to the needs and wants of fans more so than any players’ goal…

[notin]

Please stop with the delusion that owners can/will just "lower ticket prices." Tickets are sold for what people are willing to pay for them and priced according to what is believed to maximize the gate. Do you really think that if seats cost $10, you could just stroll over to the ole' ballpark, pick up a few bleacher seats on gameday, and settle down to $1 hotdogs?

 

(You want cheaper seats? Then stop going; stop watching NESN; stop buying team gear; stop giving sports free advertising by participating in sports boards; stop listening to sports radio.)

 

 

They will not lower ticket prices until absolutely necessary, but the notion that ticket prices are based on “as much fans are willing to pay” is equally incomplete and incorrect.

 

Teams have operating costs that figure into pricing to some extent. Players’ salaries are among those costs…

[dgalehouse]

Greed is a vice. But so is jealousy. And envy. And resentment. The market will decide how much the owners and players make. And how much it will cost you to watch. If you don't want to pay the price , don't do it. The price will then come down. Simple as that. Baseball is entertainment. It is not a necessity.

[jad]

They will not lower ticket prices until absolutely necessary, but the notion that ticket prices are based on “as much fans are willing to pay” is equally incomplete and incorrect.

 

Teams have operating costs that figure into pricing to some extent. Players’ salaries are among those costs…

 

Ticket prices are set to maximize the take. It doesn't matter whether operating costs are $100billion or $100. I'm not sure why this appears to be such a mystery.

 

(But the inability to understand this may explain why there are two types of people: (1) bazillionaire sports owners, CEOs of major corporations and their highly-paid accountants, and (2) those like us who spend their spare time on sports boards.)

Edited January 9, 2022 by jad

[Bellhorn04]

How many player interests coincide with the fans?

 

Simply put, most owners’ ultimate goal is to win as often as possible while spending as little as possible. This aligns closer to the needs and wants of fans more so than any players’ goal…

 

I think most players like to win, and then party. And even if they lose they'll probably still party.

 

Could be wrong, but I think that coincides with a lot of fans.

[notin]

I think most players like to win, and then party. And even if they lose they'll probably still party.

 

Could be wrong, but I think that coincides with a lot of fans.

 

 

The players don’t care what it costs to win. Ultimately that dis influence what fans have to pay. That’s the difference…

[notin]

Ticket prices are set to maximize the take. It doesn't matter whether operating costs are $100billion or $100. I'm not sure why this appears to be such a mystery.

 

(But the inability to understand this may explain why there are two types of people: (1) bazillionaire sports owners, CEOs of major corporations and their highly-paid accountants, and (2) those like us who spend their spare time on sports boards.)

 

 

So why don’t the teams drawing the lowest numbers simply reduce ticket prices? Clearly they have exceeded the threshold for what people are willing to pay.

 

Some teams will do these type of things at the end of a bad season, notably the White Sox will have some ridiculously cheap prices in August/September if the team is no good. But one thinks a team like the A’s that often does well and draws poorly should simply reduce ticket prices to bolster attendance.

 

While it is true they want to maximize the intake, if nothing else the operating costs to determine the floor for where ticket prices have to be at a minimum. No one can make money if they ignore what it cost to make the product in the first place…

[Bellhorn04]

The players don’t care what it costs to win. Ultimately that dis influence what fans have to pay. That’s the difference…

 

OK, players don't care, but who says fans do? Maybe guys like us on a baseball forum do, but Average Joe generally just wants to see their team spend more and get better. They don't care what the budget is or the luxury tax implications of a transaction.

[dgalehouse]

A significant lowering of ticket prices would increase the size of the crowd , but not necessarily the size of the gate. The owners are always going to try and maximize profits. That is why , in addition to the high ticket prices, you are not permitted to bring your own food and drink into the park. You have to buy their overpriced concessions. And single pay doubleheaders are rare. And the playoffs have been expanded. And so on.

[moonslav59]

They will not lower ticket prices until absolutely necessary, but the notion that ticket prices are based on “as much fans are willing to pay” is equally incomplete and incorrect.

 

Teams have operating costs that figure into pricing to some extent. Players’ salaries are among those costs…

 

Most ticket prices are lower in parks that never sell out.

 

Higher in parks that sell out or nearly sell out much more often.

[notin]

Most ticket prices are lower in parks that never sell out.

 

Higher in parks that sell out or nearly sell out much more often.

 

Most cheaper tickets are also in parks with teams that have lower payrolls…

[moonslav59]

Most cheaper tickets are also in parks with teams that have lower payrolls…

 

Indeed.

[S5Dewey]

The point I was trying to make is that while owners are deemed to be greedy and unwilling to cut ticket prices for fans, players would be just as greedy and unwilling to cut ticket prices for fans if it meant a salary cut for themselves.

 

But this lockout isn't about cutting ticket prices. In fact, the OWNERS - not the players - are responsible for the lockout. To add insult to injury they've also INCREASED ticket prices in Ft. M this spring!

[mvp 78]

Please stop with the delusion that owners can/will just "lower ticket prices." Tickets are sold for what people are willing to pay for them and priced according to what is believed to maximize the gate. Do you really think that if seats cost $10, you could just stroll over to the ole' ballpark, pick up a few bleacher seats on gameday, and settle down to $1 hotdogs?

 

(You want cheaper seats? Then stop going; stop watching NESN; stop buying team gear; stop giving sports free advertising by participating in sports boards; stop listening to sports radio.)

 

Shame! Shame! Shame!

[mvp 78]

How many player interests coincide with the fans?

 

Simply put, most owners’ ultimate goal is to win as often as possible while spending as little as possible. This aligns closer to the needs and wants of fans more so than any players’ goal…

 

Players want to play well every game. A batter wants to hit 1.000. A pitcher wants a 0.00 ERA. Most players would want to win every game if they could. I think that aligns closer to what fans want.

[mvp 78]

Ticket prices are set to maximize the take. It doesn't matter whether operating costs are $100billion or $100. I'm not sure why this appears to be such a mystery.

 

(But the inability to understand this may explain why there are two types of people: (1) bazillionaire sports owners, CEOs of major corporations and their highly-paid accountants, and (2) those like us who spend their spare time on sports boards.)

 

This is hate speech.