Cleveland Indians (2013 Season)

[Magua]

I've been to 6 games thus far this year. I went to probably 15 last year and probably 25 the year before. Most of the games I attended were while we were in contention - so me personally? Put a winner on the field and I will come to the park and spend lots of money because I generally round up a group of friends and we drink our faces off.

I also do not buy a lot of the economy crap, I have tons of friends and family members who love the Tribe and follow them closely but don't go to the games because they want to see a commitment from ownership. They have the money to go just choose not to spend it on the Dolans right now.

 

[NFBuck]

Build a reasonably consistent winner and they will come.

That's certainly how I feel. Indians fans are a fickle bunch. They were a bad team from 2002-04. That included the loss of some big names via FA and trades in '02. They contended until the final week in '05 and still were 12/14 in attendance. They flopped badly again in '06, then came back in '07. Attendance improved as that season wore on. The .500 club in '08 drew reasonably well (9/14 with 2.1 million). Fans stopped showing up in '09 when the firesales started and it's been that way since.

Right now, I just think the issue is that there's a stigma attached to the franchise. Fans see them as little more than a farm club for large markets. People aren't going to invest emotionally or monetarily in a team that they don't see as a legit contender. If they could string a few competitive seasons together (something they haven't done since the turn of the millenium), I think attendance would bounce back. It'll never be like it was in the '90s again. That's unrealistic. But there's no reason to think they couldn't draw 25K a game on average if fans buy them as legit. Signing guys like Swisher and Bourn was a step in the right direction, but that needs to continue. If they fall back in the pack and start dealing this August, or if they finish up around .500 and stand pat this coming offseason, they're starting from scratch again. Fans want to see a commitment to winning.

 

[Piney]

They were about 300K below AL average for their lone playoff year in the last 10. I don't see any real damning evidence there.I would think it an obvious assertion that the fans have to believe there will be some consistency but if I wasn't clear on that I apologize.

Build a reasonably consistent winner and they will come.

Define consistent winner? They have been the most consistent winner in Cleveland but no one shows.

Let's face it, this is NOT a baseball town. Heck... besides football Cleveland is a town full of frontrunners. Also this town has been burned so many times by all of their sport teams that they have become paranoid to boot. The Indians were in first place with a huge win streak and they still couldn't crack 20k. The reason people give... oh, they will suck eventually.

Really??? Has Cleveland become so jaded that they can't just appreciate the 'now' and enjoy good baseball???? Last season they were in 1st place til July and people wouldn't come. Yes they collapsed, but hey, that happens.

All because people think Dolans won't spend money and think he's cheap. And then they wish for the days of Jacobs... really??? Jacobs REFUSED to lose money on the Indians and he would have spent less than Dolan over these years.

And the economy is the worst excuse of them all... Indians games are the cheapest sports ticket in Cleveland. Heck, one of the cheapest in all of MLB yet they are last in attendence by a big margin.

 

[Mac]

Define consistent winner? They have been the most consistent winner in Cleveland but no one shows.

Let's face it, this is NOT a baseball town. Heck... besides football Cleveland is a town full of frontrunners. Also this town has been burned so many times by all of their sport teams that they have become paranoid to boot. The Indians were in first place with a huge win streak and they still couldn't crack 20k. The reason people give... oh, they will suck eventually.

Really??? Has Cleveland become so jaded that they can't just appreciate the 'now' and enjoy good baseball???? Last season they were in 1st place til July and people wouldn't come. Yes they collapsed, but hey, that happens.

All because people think Dolans won't spend money and think he's cheap. And then they wish for the days of Jacobs... really??? Jacobs REFUSED to lose money on the Indians and he would have spent less than Dolan over these years.

And the economy is the worst excuse of them all... Indians games are the cheapest sports ticket in Cleveland. Heck, one of the cheapest in all of MLB yet they are last in attendence by a big margin.

 

[LitlBuck]

Define consistent winner? They have been the most consistent winner in Cleveland but no one shows.

Let's face it, this is NOT a baseball town. Heck... besides football Cleveland is a town full of frontrunners. Also this town has been burned so many times by all of their sport teams that they have become paranoid to boot. The Indians were in first place with a huge win streak and they still couldn't crack 20k. The reason people give... oh, they will suck eventually.

Really??? Has Cleveland become so jaded that they can't just appreciate the 'now' and enjoy good baseball???? Last season they were in 1st place til July and people wouldn't come. Yes they collapsed, but hey, that happens.

All because people think Dolans won't spend money and think he's cheap. And then they wish for the days of Jacobs... really??? Jacobs REFUSED to lose money on the Indians and he would have spent less than Dolan over these years.

And the economy is the worst excuse of them all... Indians games are the cheapest sports ticket in Cleveland. Heck, one of the cheapest in all of MLB yet they are last in attendence by a big margin.

I agree with most of your post but the problem with last year and also this year is that they had been playing good baseball while kids are still in school and the weather has not been very nice and usually never is this time of year up in Cleveland. I cannot see sitting through a baseball game when the weather is that nasty. However, even if they were playing poor baseball and the weather was nice I would probably go to a few games if I could.

Also, I think it is difficult to compare football and baseball because there are so many baseball home games as compared to the number of home football games. The NBA I just do not like and I have no idea why people even watch that crap on TV. It is just football without pads anymore.

 

[Dryden]

Anyone that thinks it's not the economy, I'll just say: I went to a lot more live professional events (in Cleveland and Cincinnati) when the round trip cost of my tank of gas was $25. Today it's $60. Factor in the $8 beers and I'd just as soon stay home and watch it in HD.

When every game but the business man special on getaway day is televised with the viewers choice of home/away announcers in HD, I suspect a lot of people feel this way. Those days of sellouts for mid-sized markets are over and probably never, ever coming back barring an organization assembling a team with a half-dozen all-stars (like St. Louis has been doing for 15 years).

Another note, being the youngest of a long line of grocery chain owners: There'd be a lot more season ticket holders (and guests on corp owned/sponsored tickets & comps) if everything wasn't owned by just a handful of mega-companies with exclusive vendor arrangement (or one-vendor middlemen like Aramark). When I was a kid, dad and I went to Reds & Bengals games all the time. One week on Pepsi's dime. Two weeks later on Coca-Cola's. Then Budweiser. Then Miller. Then Phillip-Morris. Then RJ Reynolds ... etc ...

 

[NFBuck]

Define consistent winner? They have been the most consistent winner in Cleveland but no one shows. .

Well, the bar isn't very high, is it? But, seriously, one postseson appearance in going on 13 seasons is in no way consistent. They've had two seasons ('05 & '07) that could be considered "good" seasons since 2001.

 

[BIATCHabutuka]

Anyone that thinks it's not the economy, I'll just say: I went to a lot more live professional events (in Cleveland and Cincinnati) when the round trip cost of my tank of gas was $25. Today it's $60. Factor in the $8 beers and I'd just as soon stay home and watch it in HD.

When every game but the business man special on getaway day is televised with the viewers choice of home/away announcers in HD, I suspect a lot of people feel this way. Those days of sellouts for mid-sized markets are over and probably never, ever coming back barring an organization assembling a team with a half-dozen all-stars (like St. Louis has been doing for 15 years).

Another note, being the youngest of a long line of grocery chain owners: There'd be a lot more season ticket holders (and guests on corp owned/sponsored tickets & comps) if everything wasn't owned by just a handful of mega-companies with exclusive vendor arrangement (or one-vendor middlemen like Aramark). When I was a kid, dad and I went to Reds & Bengals games all the time. One week on Pepsi's dime. Two weeks later on Coca-Cola's. Then Budweiser. Then Miller. Then Phillip-Morris. Then RJ Reynolds ... etc ...

Agree completely. Ticket cost is too high and they would make more money with some cheaper seats.

They need to let you upgrade seats in an empty stadium like they would at Memorial too.

I haven't bought tickets for the Tribe in probably 10 years and have only been going when Exxon or BASF wants to take me. Corporate tickets have been slowing down though for everyone since probably 2008 - 2009. A buddy of mine is a sales manager for Univar and always sends me their ticket spreadsheet for the company with all the stadiums and games and which ones which clients are going to so I can pick out some games for us to hit. They have a lot less tickets around the country now and their business is strong.

Beer is way too expensive and then you got the whole drunk driving issue to contend with. Hell they used to let you bring and ice cooler into the old Memorial with lunch and drinks at least. No more.

The rise of the bling economy with everyone having a large screen TV and HD sports is stiff competition for live sports. They need to lower their ticket prices and lure people in.

All that being said, I love the Stadium Club seats with the buffet and the AC. I never turn down those seats.

 

[Bucklion]

Anyone that thinks it's not the economy, I'll just say: I went to a lot more live professional events (in Cleveland and Cincinnati) when the round trip cost of my tank of gas was $25. Today it's $60. Factor in the $8 beers and I'd just as soon stay home and watch it in HD.

When every game but the business man special on getaway day is televised with the viewers choice of home/away announcers in HD, I suspect a lot of people feel this way. Those days of sellouts for mid-sized markets are over and probably never, ever coming back barring an organization assembling a team with a half-dozen all-stars (like St. Louis has been doing for 15 years).

Another note, being the youngest of a long line of grocery chain owners: There'd be a lot more season ticket holders (and guests on corp owned/sponsored tickets & comps) if everything wasn't owned by just a handful of mega-companies with exclusive vendor arrangement (or one-vendor middlemen like Aramark). When I was a kid, dad and I went to Reds & Bengals games all the time. One week on Pepsi's dime. Two weeks later on Coca-Cola's. Then Budweiser. Then Miller. Then Phillip-Morris. Then RJ Reynolds ... etc ...

This is not a factor to be lost either. A lot of games are during the week...if one works hard from 8-9 AM to 6-7 PM, would you rather try and get to the ballpark or go home, crash on the couch, grab a beer, and watch the game on your 60" TV? Weekend attendance is better, but the same rules apply. There is construction on all the highways getting in, parking is abysmal, and there is (real or perceived) the impression that the area of the ballpark (or at least where you have to park) isn't the safest. Once you are in the park, it's a fine experience, and the game tickets are certainly cheap as hell. But as technology has made it easier and easier to stay home and enjoy games more and more...attendance is going to be less and less. The NFL has the same problem, and more or less freely admits it is the same problem (demand is higher because of less games, but they are also more expensive tickets, but the idea is the same).

 

[Bucklion]

Define consistent winner? They have been the most consistent winner in Cleveland but no one shows.

Let's face it, this is NOT a baseball town. Heck... besides football Cleveland is a town full of frontrunners. Also this town has been burned so many times by all of their sport teams that they have become paranoid to boot. The Indians were in first place with a huge win streak and they still couldn't crack 20k. The reason people give... oh, they will suck eventually.

Really??? Has Cleveland become so jaded that they can't just appreciate the 'now' and enjoy good baseball???? Last season they were in 1st place til July and people wouldn't come. Yes they collapsed, but hey, that happens.

All because people think Dolans won't spend money and think he's cheap. And then they wish for the days of Jacobs... really??? Jacobs REFUSED to lose money on the Indians and he would have spent less than Dolan over these years.

And the economy is the worst excuse of them all... Indians games are the cheapest sports ticket in Cleveland. Heck, one of the cheapest in all of MLB yet they are last in attendence by a big margin.

Seriously? They were a pretty consistent winner for a decade (1995-2005), when they only had 2 bad seasons. Other than that, they were one of the most inept franchises on record. Other than those years, 6 winning seasons since 1960 is not exactly lighting it up.

 

[AKAK]

Another note, being the youngest of a long line of grocery chain owners: There'd be a lot more season ticket holders (and guests on corp owned/sponsored tickets & comps) if everything wasn't owned by just a handful of mega-companies with exclusive vendor arrangement (or one-vendor middlemen like Aramark). When I was a kid, dad and I went to Reds & Bengals games all the time. One week on Pepsi's dime. Two weeks later on Coca-Cola's. Then Budweiser. Then Miller. Then Phillip-Morris. Then RJ Reynolds ... etc ...

This is an excellent point, even if it does feed back to the economy issue. Having been on both sides of a pile of comp tickets via my father, first as a consumer of industrial chemicals/metal and then as a supplier.... in certain sectors (obviously we still have soda, beer, and smokes) the economy is a big factor in that. If you're a supplier to small manufacturing firms, of which there used to be lots and lots, are you gonna buy season tickets in a market where in the 80's you had 10 or 15 or 20 major customers and now you only have a few left? No, you're gonna buy a few tickets as needed.

A very specific example of that happened to me a few years ago, a buddy of mine in the logistics biz and I wanted to go to a game, and he had a Customs Broker that had offered him tickets any time he wanted to go... so... long story short he called his Maersk guy first and theirs were being used, or som crap, whatever, so he called the customs broker, and the guy's like, "Yeah of course" so, he told us to meet his wife at a bar, she bought us a few drinks, and then her husband showed up with the tickets, that he just bought at the window. And he's like "Sorry, we used to have season tix, but, we just don't use them all, so, no problem, we'll buy them for you guys anytime... "

But, yeah, to Drydens point the big guys do business differently than they used to (on both sides, I can't even accept a gift from a vendor in my job), and the guys who still play golf, go to baseball games and then get blitzed at the strip club after are fewer and farther between.

 

[Zippercat]

Until this season I was a season ticket holder for the past 10+ years and had partial season packages for a bunch of years before that, going back to 1994. I averaged attending between 35 and 50 games per season.

) The past couple years I could not give my extra tickets away to friends who had begged for seats in the 90s. These are not out of work people, but they still complained about the cost of parking and beer and would say they preferred to watch in high def at home.

) Last season was, from the perspective of the fans I got to know over the years at the stadium, by far the most depressing season in memory. I spoke to a number of season ticket holders who said that was the last straw and they were not going to renew. I said the same thing.

) Last September, instead of the usual renewal letter from the Tribe trying to drum up some hope for a better 2013, they trotted out what might have been their worst idea in years. Tribe Rewards. And they moved up the renewal date to early October instead of the November date of recent years. Instead of giving season ticket holders a few perks, such as a chance to snag a few player autographs or be in the live studio audience for an STO off-season show, you would get some points to "spend" on such stuff. Their first example: a game used Zeke Carerra bat. (You just can not make up this level of Fail!) Every season ticket holder I spoke with laughed at how crazy it was for the team to spend on such crap instead of improving the players. And NOBODY even bid on their first couple of stupid Tribe Rewards auctions.

) Rumors among season ticket holders was that by late November the number of season tickets sold for 2013 was under 5,000--the lowest since they had moved from old Muni Stadium. Shortly after that, they started signing some players and stopped talking so much about the "game experience" for fans.

) I kept to my non-renewal promise. But to be honest about it, I also moved to North Carolina last month. If I had remained, I would have at least bought a 20 or 40 game package.

 

[Mac]

Tribe!! 5-0

Don't blow it now clowns

 

[Mac]

7-0!!

 

[jlb1705]

That was the easiest touchdown that will be scored in Cleveland all year.