Chalk: Loons need to win more to keep drawing fans
I know it's early in the season, but the big question is, how long can the Loons count on the excitement of the new team and the new ballpark to draw fans into the seats? And when will fans get tired of the losing and stay away from the games?
My guess is, the novelty will wear off about mid-summer, and attendance will start dropping if the Loons are still struggling.
Loons' President and General Manager Paul Barbeau said there's no need to worry at this point.
"This is a long season," he said. "I don't want to jump to too many conclusions. We've said all along that what we (the Loons' front office and stadium staff) focus on is the experience the fans have out there in the stadium. Those are the things that we control.
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A cool atmosphere at the stadium is great. But whether it's the National Football League, youth hockey, or minor league baseball, people want to see a team win. The Loons need to start doing that consistently pretty soon, or I'm afraid the honeymoon will be over, and the losing will be reflected in the attendance.
This may be a new concept to the press in Midland and I am not trying to be condescending -- I'm not sure if I spelled it correctly -- but here is the deal. At the minor league level, you don't need to win to draw fans. Baseball doesn't have to be the main focus. For an example just look in the Midwest League.
The Dayton Dragons have missed the playoffs in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Their total record during those four seasons is 236-322. They have drawn a total of 2,339,001 fans with a record that is nearly 100 games below .500.
The worst record out of those four seasons was 2004. That Dragon team went 48-92. The best attendance out of those four seasons was when the team drew 593,663 fans. They drew that many to Fifth Third Field in 2004.
I know that I'm busy doing the post game show as fans are leaving Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium after games, but our staff always tells me that most people are talking about how much fun they had as they leave. Not about if the Rattlers won or lost.
Cobb knows that it's fun to have a winning team to root for at the game. But, at this level of baseball winning isn't everything. The Loons will be fine. As long as people are having fun at Dow Diamond.
The Cougars have a player doing a diary for the Kane County Chronicle. Catcher Jake Smith is The Cougars' Masked Man.
Here is how the Cougars prepared for Ryne Sandberg's first appearance at Elfstrom Stadium.
What is the broadcaster of a team that has won ten in a row blogging about? Head over to Brad Tillery's blog at the Lugnut website and find out.
I've seen a new blog show up as a referring URL on sitemeter. No Rhubarb! appears to be a Tacoma Rainier blog that takes its name from "The Demon Goat-Creature" that is the Rainier mascot. Here is a taste of the writing over there:
We have to point this out from the official site, regarding the pitching match up tomorrow
Ryan Feierabend starts for Tacoma against Kasey Olenberger in a battle bewtween pitchers with really long last names.
Memo to the press release writer: It is our job to be snarky and funny. Please don't put us out of business. While we are impressed with recent teaks tweaks to the official site, we ask that you please remember your place.
Leave any potential humor to under-employed part-time bloggers such as us. And in return, we will not point out any possible spelling errors.
Update: Well, now we should REALLY not point out any possible errors. Though a nice teak finish might be nice for TacomaRainiers.com.
Good stuff and updated regularly.
Another new blog is Check Swings. It is written by Kevin Capie of the Peoria Journal Star. Click on the link for the latest entry.
Steve Batterson, the SWING beat writer at the Quad Cities Times has his weekly column and takes a look Around the MWL.
Tom Haudricourt's Baseball Beat at jsonline.com is worth the read today. If you are not familiar with the Josh Hamilton story, there is a good primer at the link. Also, you will find out a bit more about the Charlie Manuel blowup in Philly. It sounds like he got baited into it. Then, there is this:
The legendary Red Schoendienst has agreed to join home-run king Hank Aaron and 14 other former Milwaukee Braves teammates to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1957 club's World Series triumph over the New York Yankees. That affair is scheduled for Aug. 30 at Potawatomi's Northern Lights Theatre.
Schoendienst, a second baseman, was acquired from the New York Giants in a trade in 1957 and proved to be a sparkplug as the Braves captured the National League pennant and knocked off the favored Yankees in the Series. He played four seasons with the Braves before finishing his Hall of Fame career with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Other Braves who have committed to the 50th reunion include Gene Conley, Wes Covington, Del Crandall, Ray Crone, John DeMerit, Joey Jay, Ernie Johnson, Felix Mantilla, Andy Pafko, Taylor Phillips, Juan Pizarro, Chuck Tanner, Carlton Willey and Johnny Logan, former all-star shortstop and president of the Milwaukee Braves Historical Association.
Tickets still remain for the dinner. They can be purchased by sending a $300 check payable to the Milwaukee Braves Historical Association, c/o Tom Kaminski, treasurer, 2614 E. Bottsford Ave., St. Francis, Wis., 53235.
August 30? Rattlers at Clinton. Dang it. $300? Double dang it.
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