Sporting event attendance declining? wondering why?

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Looks like only 3,700 turned out at the A's game the other day.

That's deliberate on the part of the A's though. They want to strong arm their way into a new stadium or out of Oakland. Heck. I think they should just build another one where they are. Knock down the monstrosity known as Mt. Davis and you have a nice view of the hills. And all you'll have to do is just build a more baseball friendly stadium there. It really must stink to be an A's fan right now knowing the very club is sabotaging their own team.

 

[soccerdad72]

Looks like only 3,700 turned out at the A's game the other day.

That's about the average attendance for a AAA team, so that makes sense

 

[MillauFr]

That's deliberate on the part of the A's though. They want to strong arm their way into a new stadium or out of Oakland. Heck. I think they should just build another one where they are. Knock down the monstrosity known as Mt. Davis and you have a nice view of the hills. And all you'll have to do is just build a more baseball friendly stadium there. It really must stink to be an A's fan right now knowing the very club is sabotaging their own team.

What is stopping them from building a new stadium? The Giants were able to build one in San Francisco. The owners could get some zoning variances from the city and build some high density development around the stadium which would really be valuable.

 

[Colleen27]

What is stopping them from building a new stadium? The Giants were able to build one in San Francisco. The owners could get some zoning variances from the city and build some high density development around the stadium which would really be valuable.

They're probably looking to maximize their subsidies and/or get government at some level to step in and help them secure land at a below-market price. That's usually why team owners let performance (and therefore attendance) tank, to make threats of moving to a different city believable enough to extort city and state support to build a shiny new stadium. And then fans come out to see the shiny new stadium so the owners still don't have to bother putting together a quality team until enough years have gone by that the "new" has worn off.

 

[mrodgers]

Not only are ticket prices inflated, but you also can't buy tickets at that inflated price because it's all resale tickets inflated higher than what it should be. I've never been much of a live event participant because of the cost anyways, it's a rich man's event. I have gone to a concert during the pandemic and just came back from a hockey game and neither could I get an original ticket. Paid twice the cost because of it being resale tickets.

The concert really ticked me off. Directed you to the ticket sale site. I purchased the tickets, waited until 2 days before the event to get directions on how to get my electronic ticket, and only then did it show up where you buy actual original tickets for half the cost I had to pay. Of course it was too late by then.

 

[rwdavis2]

We sold our Steeler seat licenses a few years ago after having tickets for 46 years. Too expensive, we lived out of town, had trouble giving them away letting alone selling them. Then there are gouge level pricing of concessions and too many obnoxious drunks.

But we still go to one hockey game a year. It's way better live than football.

 

[sk!mom]

OP here... As well not venturing in the political end of the pool... I will say that there is alot of boycotting going on... for a abundance of reasons on alot of different fronts...

Op here,

I never really thought about this point... I really think that you have got something here... before players were held to a higher level, and their behavior and image was important to them and the team... lately its almost like they want to be on social media platform for bad behavior, some type of inappropriate behavior, or in the news for some type of legal issue or fighting, or overall bad behavior...

Plus all the poor sportsmanship that some players have shown...

Politics…nope for me. I never have and never will base those opinions on an athlete/ musician. They can share and I’ll listen but Did you even finish college? Hmmmm, I tend to rely on people with education and receipts for that stuff. Say, Heather Cox Richardson for instance.

We would still shell out for say Garth. But overall, we’ve pretty much seen our bucket list and much more prefer entertainment at home these days where movies can be paused and we can have bathroom breaks and drink refills without missing anything.

 

[bcla]

That's deliberate on the part of the A's though. They want to strong arm their way into a new stadium or out of Oakland. Heck. I think they should just build another one where they are. Knock down the monstrosity known as Mt. Davis and you have a nice view of the hills. And all you'll have to do is just build a more baseball friendly stadium there. It really must stink to be an A's fan right now knowing the very club is sabotaging their own team.

Amy Trask (former President of the Raiders) was all for some concept called "Coliseum City" where they might build one or two stadiums. But it was also premised on the Warriors staying in Oakland. The original plan had a hidden baseball stadium tucked inside a high-rise office building.

Her advocacy was that this was the ideal site for transportation, including access to BART and the proximity to a major freeway. And she was right that there's really no other site like it for transportation.

 

[goofy4prez]

Other than the fact I have a really nice TV and home theatre, a comfortable couch, and a nice house; I'll blame it on price and prima-donna athletes who think they are bigger than the game they play in.

That and I root for Cleveland sports teams. And there is very little reason to spend tons of money on the Browns, Indians... Oops Guardians, and Cavaliers.

 

[MillauFr]

They're probably looking to maximize their subsidies and/or get government at some level to step in and help them secure land at a below-market price. That's usually why team owners let performance (and therefore attendance) tank, to make threats of moving to a different city believable enough to extort city and state support to build a shiny new stadium. And then fans come out to see the shiny new stadium so the owners still don't have to bother putting together a quality team until enough years have gone by that the "new" has worn off.

But that is never going to happen in Oakland. They won't get one cent out of the city. Once the team leaves they are going to have to pay dearly to get back in. The Sonics situation is a warning shot to other pro sports owners. Seattle has told the NBA they won't be allowed back into the city unless they pay a $200m fee to bring a team back to the city. We just got a private owner to pay $1B of their own money to upgrade a city owned facility so the the NHL can play here. One billion dollars and the private developer doesn't own anything. I'm sure Oakland is holding out for a similar deal.

 

[Colleen27]

But that is never going to happen in Oakland. They won't get one cent out of the city. Once the team leaves they are going to have to pay dearly to get back in. The Sonics situation is a warning shot to other pro sports owners. Seattle has told the NBA they won't be allowed back into the city unless they pay a $200m fee to bring a team back to the city. We just got a private owner to pay $1B of their own money to upgrade a city owned facility so the the NHL can play here. One billion dollars and the private developer doesn't own anything. I'm sure Oakland is holding out for a similar deal.

I hope they get it, and that the trend continues. I'm so disgusted by the deals that our local teams got for their stadiums that I can't really imagine enjoying a game in the new arena right now. When the city and state dished out the money, it was predicated on promises that haven't even come close to being realized. Lots that the owner promised would be developed for mixed use retail and housing, including some affordable housing units, are now $40-per-car team-owned parking lots, fully automated so they don't even create a single job. At just about every stage of the project, hiring fell short of community benefit agreements. But there's no accountability once the money is handed over and the stadium is built, so the owners just laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[bcla]

Other than the fact I have a really nice TV and home theatre, a comfortable couch, and a nice house; I'll blame it on price and prima-donna athletes who think they are bigger than the game they play in.

That and I root for Cleveland sports teams. And there is very little reason to spend tons of money on the Browns, Indians... Oops Guardians, and Cavaliers.

Teams are still making money, except I suppose for the Arizona Coyotes. I was surprised when I heard that they will move to Arizona State's new multipurpose arena, which will only seat about 5000. I wasn't even aware that Arizona State had an NCAA D-I ice hockey team.

They're still making money off of TV and streaming deals. Amazon is actually paying $1 billion a year for NFL streaming. As long as that money is coming in it may not matter. And in any case, NFL stadiums are still selling out. But it's less likely that people can afford those prices. I remember going to baseball games for $6 less than 25 years ago, or an NBA game for less than $30. Can't do that now, although the last time I saw an NBA game (in 2015) it would have been $50, which wasn't too bad. I actually bought a ticket from someone in a group that had an extra ticket for $40 and it was better than what I could have gotten at the window, although they said it was technically "sold out". A lot of games may have tickets available, but some corporate money "guarantees" the sales of a certain amount that's unsold.

 

[soccerdad72]

I don’t have time for sporting events - I need to be home to yell at those darn kids on my lawn

 

[RedAngie]

I remember reading about an A’s game in late September in the 80s where they drew about 700 fans.

 

[DeeBee3]

I live close-ish to NYC. Close enough that I would go in for a concert or sports game. However, covid stopped all that. Of course, everything was shut down, but then there were a lot of restrictions. On top of that, prices are skyrocketing. So for me, as much as I love live music, I wasn't going to pay extra and then have to go through extra "stuff" (don't want to be controversial) just to get in the door. If I lived closer, where I could walk or take a quick ride, maybe I wouldn't care as much.

Other than that, there aren't many big places to go see stuff.

I would gather price is the main issue with the other issues following a close second. Covid has really put priorities in main focus. You may need to save money, OR you may not want to go into big crowds, OR you are just annoyed with everything.

 

[RedAngie]

are still making money, except I suppose for the Arizona Coyotes. I was surprised when I heard that they will move to Arizona State's new multipurpose arena, which will only seat about 5000. I wasn't even aware that Arizona State had an NCAA D-I ice hockey team.

I don’t know why NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is so adamant about keeping a team in the Phoenix area. They failed to attract sufficient crowds at the NBA Suns arena in downtown, failed in boondocks Glendale, and now they plan to temporarily play at ASU for three seasons while a new NHL arena is built???

This has “move to Houston” or elsewhere written all over it.

Supposedly the prices for Coyotes tickets at the ASU arena, which apparently won’t be ready until December.



They might attract 100 fans per game at those prices, which, come to think of it, would be an improvement over Glendale.

Besides, from what I hear, well over half of the people who show up for hockey in Phoenix are fans of the visiting team.

 

[EACarlson]

Teams are still making money, except I suppose for the Arizona Coyotes. I was surprised when I heard that they will move to Arizona State's new multipurpose arena, which will only seat about 5000. I wasn't even aware that Arizona State had an NCAA D-I ice hockey team.

They're still making money off of TV and streaming deals. Amazon is actually paying $1 billion a year for NFL streaming. As long as that money is coming in it may not matter. And in any case, NFL stadiums are still selling out. But it's less likely that people can afford those prices. I remember going to baseball games for $6 less than 25 years ago, or an NBA game for less than $30. Can't do that now, although the last time I saw an NBA game (in 2015) it would have been $50, which wasn't too bad. I actually bought a ticket from someone in a group that had an extra ticket for $40 and it was better than what I could have gotten at the window, although they said it was technically "sold out". A lot of games may have tickets available, but some corporate money "guarantees" the sales of a certain amount that's unsold.

NHL teams don't print money anywhere near where the NBA and NFL do. 5 years ago the owner of the MN Wild was publicly quoted as saying that they don't make any money unless they make the second round of the playoffs. And that's in MN where they're putting in 18,000/night. The new TV deals I'm sure changed the calculus somewhat but not like the NFL.

ASU started D-1 hockey a few years ago, the initially played in a club hockey arena and now are one of the more popular non-conference opponents.

 

[bcla]

NHL teams don't print money anywhere near where the NBA and NFL do. 5 years ago the owner of the MN Wild was publicly quoted as saying that they don't make any money unless they make the second round of the playoffs. And that's in MN where they're putting in 18,000/night. The new TV deals I'm sure changed the calculus somewhat but not like the NFL.

ASU started D-1 hockey a few years ago, the initially played in a club hockey arena and now are one of the more popular non-conference opponents.

I don't follow college hockey of course, but I do remember some references to a Cal club team. I think they still exist, but probably play in Oakland now at the place the Sharks operate. They have a full NHL size rink. But before that, they played at Berkeley Iceland, which was an old-time facility with an art deco look and an ammonia refrigeration system that they whole neighborhood was worried about if it ever leaked. But that was a 200x100 rink. It had hosted a few national figure skating championships at a time when a recreational rink would do. Apparently for ice shows and big events, they brought in temporary seating.

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Remembering-Berkeley-s-iconic-Iceland-15868515.php

 

[SteveH]

The Washington Huskies held their spring game on April 30th. This was planned to be a big turn out with "kids activities, photobooths, games, and food trucks." But according to SI's The Spun, Attendance At Washington’s “Spring Game” Is Awful. They said only about 100 were in attendance, yes 100! Their instate rivals, the WA State Cougars, had about 5,000. Yet down I-5 in Euggene, the Oregon Ducks estimated said to have 42,000. Only attracting 100 to a free event says a lot. Is it Covid, is it their poor performance on the field or just pure apathy.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The Washington Huskies held their spring game on April 30th. This was planned to be a big turn out with "kids activities, photobooths, games, and food trucks." But according to SI's The Spun, Attendance At Washington’s “Spring Game” Is Awful. They said only about 100 were in attendance, yes 100! Their instate rivals, the WA State Cougars, had about 5,000. Yet down I-5 in Euggene, the Oregon Ducks estimated said to have 42,000. Only attracting 100 to a free event says a lot. Is it Covid, is it their poor performance on the field or just pure apathy.

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I know for my alma mater when it was clear the football team couldn't get their act together and win some games no matter the coach (because there have been multiple) the alumni stopped contributions and stopped going.

Of course it still pulled more than 100 people but the school did lose millions in alumni donations and attendance sharply dropped from what it was before. And this has been the case for 10 or so years.

On the other hand basketball always sells out