The Marlins attendance woes

by craig on Sep 13, 2007 9:01 AM EDT in News and Rumors

The Web is all a titter about the true attendance of yesterday's game. I could link to all of them but I won't since this will do.

It would have been a great crowd for a spring training game. Played on a back field. In the rain.

But not for a major-league baseball game on a sunny Wednesday.

Forget the announced attendance of 10,121 for the Marlins-Nationals game at Dolphin Stadium. When Byung-Hyun Kim threw the first pitch, 375 spectators could be seen. That is what happens when two of the worst teams in baseball meet for a 1:05 p.m. game on a 91-degree September afternoon.

OMG someone counted them. The sad part is that the count is probably pretty accurate. If you don't believe it, take a look for yourselves.

JRS yesterday.

The attendance was so small that even a fan got tossed for heckling the umpire.

There were so few fans at Dolphin Stadium for Wednesday's game, a season ticket holder got thrown out for heckling the umpire too loudly.

In the fifth inning of the Florida Marlins' 5-4 victory over the Washington Nationals, home plate umpire Paul Schreiber gave the thumb to an unnamed man seated behind the plate who had been verbally abusive throughout the contest.

"The fan was chirping at the umpire," Nationals catcher Brian Schneider said. "There was no need for it."

The man was so loud, and the atmosphere so quiet, the fan could be heard saying "you don't make more than me" on the television broadcast as he was forced to leave.

I've got news for the ump and Mr. Schneider: fans heckling the ump happens all the time in every park everywhere. Just because you can hear it doesn't make it more egregious. I can only imagine what a Yankee Stadium crowd would sound like with just a few hundred people. I can almost guarantee this: it would be worse than "you don't make more than me."

The Miami Hearld's lead into the article about yesterday's game was this.

If ever the Marlins needed an advertisement for a new ballpark, they got it Wednesday on a long, hot afternoon of baseball that ended in joy on the field in front of one of the smallest gatherings for a major-league game.

Mike Jacobs, after the game, had this to say.

As the game lingered on, and there was a threat of rain hovering over the ballpark, the smallest crowd of the season became smaller and smaller.

Several players noted the need for a new retractable-roof stadium.

"There was no crowd to talk about," Jacobs said. "It's a little sad, but that's the way it is down here. It's hot, and not much will change that unless we get a new [retractable-roof] stadium."

The Marlins continue to search for their own stadium, and talks have been plodding along for years.

Now, before you get all worried that I'm going to join the chorus that bashes the Marlins fans for not showing up to games, I would never. Had yesterday's game been in my backyard I couldn't have attended. Sadly, I'm not paid to attend baseball games and had to show up for my day job.

But there is a thought that has been troubling me for the past few days. Let's say that a retractable roof stadium is built in a decent location: Will the attendance increase appreciably?

I'm beginning to wonder. Any thoughts you have would be much appreciated.

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fans?

somehow the logic is twisted. We don't attract any fans now, so let's build them a new stadium?

Either way, you could have probably pegged this one at the beginning of the year. Midday game in the heat with no school or camp promotions to bring people in? What were they thinking?

by brickell on Sep 13, 2007 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

New Park

If they did build a new stadium and attendance was anything like this, then all the politicians would be impeached.

Anyway, I wonder what attendance would have been like at the Orange Bowl location, even if some local residents came by it would probably be OK. I guess downtown people could go right from the office.

by elricsi on Sep 13, 2007 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

If you build it....

We will come (under the following conditions).

South Florida fans have ADD. If there isn't an uberdominant team on the field, then they need bells and whistles at the very least. (Super Saturday, anyone?) I think that the novelty of a new park will draw people at first, but then there will have to be a seriously competitive team to keep the interest. Let's face it, everybody here is from New York, and they need a team they can shove in everyone's face if they're going to be expected to commit to cheering for it.

Don't forget, though, that a new stadium should (please read that word in bold & italics) give the organization enough stability to sign guys long-term and to build up a competitive team. Good team + cushy stadium = more butts. At least that's the theory.

Go Fish!!! Hook, Line Drive, & Sinker

by GameFish on Sep 13, 2007 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

100%

And I agree with every thing you say here...

Build a stadium downtown and I'll buy season tickets

by hurricane on Sep 13, 2007 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Attendance

I have been to only 2 games this season, as my signature says, I would go to a lot more at a downtown stadium. Hell, I'd probably buy season tickets at an OB location stadium. Something to consider for all the S FL residents out there, do you know we (taxpayers) are still paying off the freakin' Miami arena? Hell, add a Marlins ballpark to the pile! Worst case scenario, Miami-Dade gets yet another enormous waste of tax-payer money (if it's not the Marlins stadium it will be something else), best case scenario, we get a nice park to watch the two-time world series champs play, even if they lose 4-3.

Build a stadium downtown and I'll buy season tickets

by hurricane on Sep 13, 2007 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

Downtown Stadium

Had the stadium been located Downtown, I'm fairly sure the crowd would have been significantly larger. People who work downtown would have been able to perhaps go to the game, at least for a little while, during their lunch breaks or whatever. With the availability of the metrorail, perhaps students would have also been able to show up - albeit late. Even if they had a new stadium at the current site or at the Orange Bowl, the crowd would have been disappointing - people work at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays.

by FSUMarlins on Sep 14, 2007 7:04 AM EDT reply actions

Small Crowd - Big Story

This 'crowd' is really being talked about everywhere.

On another site someone was joking about an idea that actually might not be half bad: What if they played some weekday games at the UM stadium? Nice location and right by the Metrorail. They should have no problem packing them in at all times.

by elricsi on Sep 14, 2007 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

BUILD IT IN DOWNTOWN

I don't know about you guys, but have you ever noticed that in nationally televised games, they show Miami or South Beach before every commercial break???? So I bet (whoever does not live in South Florida) thinks the stadium is right next to Biscayne Bay or something!!!! So of course they can't believe why Miamians can't attend games. They think that we dont want to. If they only knew its about a 45 minute drive. (on the Turnpike). And almost technically not even Miami. Google it and the address shows as Opa Locka. So, games start at 7pm. So immediatley rush after work, pick up kids, go to stadium. Spend at least $150 on food and drinks, not including tickets. I wouldn't mind if it did ALL go to the Marlins, but it bother's me that Huzienga (did I spell that right), gave the Marlins a crappy deal, and they don't get as much of the reveneues as they should.

Now imagine this. Stadium in downtown...."Hey wanna go to a game, drink a couple of drinks, eat some good food. (cuban, nica, etc....so Miami!) and hey $10 tickets if you want to stand. Betcha a lot of 20-30's somethings would attend it just to hang out after work, and drink the load off. Especially, all those that work in newly built offices in downtown Miami.

We need a stadium in Downtown BADLY!!!! With a closed roof, so when it is hot as balls outside, nice air conditioning and cold drinks is awesome! After a while build a competetive team and we are well on our way.

by faythchild on Sep 14, 2007 9:59 PM EDT reply actions