• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Perception of Dolans vs Attendance

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
This doesn't explain it fully, but I imagine 2 contributing factors are the retractable roof and the close proximity to Chicago. The Cubs play there 10 times per year and their fans take over the stadium
I mean, even the most aggressive estimates would only have Cubs fans accounting for a small percentage of those in attendance (for the season).

I really do wish we had a retractable roof though.
 
Last edited:
All this looking at attendance numbers over the years has me wondering...

Why does Milwaukee have such great attendance year in and year out? Miller Park opened in 2001. They've made the playoffs just four times since then, but have cracked 2.5 million attendees in all but one year since 2007.

We sent them an extra 52,500 in attendance when we played 3 games there against the Angels in 2007. They sold all the tickets for $10.00.

Not a factor, but brought back a memory.

They also hosted the first neutral site no-hitter in 2008 when the Cubs and Astros played there after Hurricane Ike hit. Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter in the Miller Park, AKA American Family Field, history.

Those fans must love baseball.
 
I mean, even the most aggressive estimates would only have Cubs fans accounting for a small percentage of those in attendance (for the season).

I really do wish we had a retractable roof though.
YES. I believe we are starting a movement here.



We sent them an extra 52,500 in attendance when we played 3 games there against the Angels in 2007. They sold all the tickets for $10.00.

Not a factor, but brought back a memory.

They also hosted the first neutral site no-hitter in 2008 when the Cubs and Astros played there after Hurricane Ike hit. Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter in the Miller Park, AKA American Family Field, history.

Those fans must love baseball.
I would be interested in seeing their attendance when it's cold or rainy outside vs when it's warm and clear. I would rather go to game then over when it's nice outside.
 
This ownership family should take some business classes across the street at Cuyahoga Community College.
No Community college class will teach you deal with what Dolan was trying to do there. How do you beg a room of wealthy supporters to support your sports franchise more while hoping the local paper doesn't print your speech.

Its a bad look, and wasn't the best working, but the fact is Key Bank is worth more than 1k fans, and he is trying anything he can to up revenue.

I also think that the TV deal is just as big of a negative as the lack of fan support.
 
... It's gonna be called 'Cash Loans for Car Titles' Field next year, isn't it?

When they were naming the Cardinals Stadium, the highest bidder didn't win the bid. A now closed reastaurant was the highest bid...Pink Taco.

Yes they wanted to name the stadium Pink Taco Stadium, they said no, lol.
 
I have to imagine the outer rings of Chicago are densely populated. I think it's only a 1 hr car ride so there is probably a lot of chicago suburbanites who root for the Brewers bc it's cheaper and less of a hassle than going to a Cubs game.
 
It

Your group think on here is the extreme minority. Just today on 92.3 The Fan during Baskin and Phelp they suggested and I quote "they need to find a Steve Ballmer type" to own the team. Most of callers felt them same way. They are making a profit but treat the Indians like it's a normal Business. There's nothing to optimistic about when they let a top 5 player walk for some scrubs in AA that may or may not be good. Linor is a proven superstar in his prime and will be in his prime for 6-7 years and has earned his next contract, pay the damn man. It's not my problem those cheaps fuck have such a small payroll that Lindor would take 25% of it. They need to figure it, MLB or MLBPA needs to figure it with a cap/floor, or sell the team to someone with the purse to field and maintain a Major league team in current climate it's that simple. If you enjoy this cycle of developing Cy Young winners and MVP types so we can lose them in Free Agency to big market teams rather then pay/retain them then your probably the type that like get his balls stomped out by some chick in high heels on and then proudly posts it on Pornhub or something. Can you imagine if the Cavs took same approach with LBJ. Also tell me all the glowing thing besides the draft do the Cavs have to look forward to. We're on a thread about how the coach is quitting because his players hated practicing twice a day while making millions and our FO sucks with no end in sight and no plan going forward.

Since you stated stuff about the Indians I’ll move that part this way, there is stuff I am hoping you will understand hence why I moved your words to a thread that is talking about the Dolans and honestly I am not a fan of them but as owners the Dolans have actually changed and helped make the organization into one of the best in the league and I will go over how they have changed and become way better.

1) All owners treat their respective sports as businesses. Very, very few are willing to go into the red ever in their respected sports. Gilbert of the Cavs happens to be one of the few as long as it means championship appearances. So stop expecting ever owner should be willing to.

2) Since Francona has arrived in Cleveland and Antonetti has taken over the team in a sense, they have not had a losing season. In that time frame, if I am correct, they won more games than any other organization.

3) They have worked greatly on the minor league systems over the last years as well. Putting a lot more money into international programs, scouting and honestly just doing a way better job of finding and developing players. From 2000-2007 They has what 5ish players drafted within the first three rounds and like one player that became an all-star. The current crew of scouts and minor league developing coordinators had 3 Players make it to the bigs from the same draft class. This organization from top to bottom has had scouts and minor league coordinators and other workers on that end be promoted in other organizations, including the Rays, Twins and Blue Jays.

4) Andrew Miller trade stated to me the owner was willing to spend to win more games. To me before that move it always felt like the Indians never did shit to upgrade the roster and I hated the owners myself cause of that. Also before then they never seemed to extend players like Jacobs originally did and the Rays where doing. They have been in the recent era and between good drafting, developing and extending players, they have made playoff contending teams for almost a decade now. Also when we needed a certain type of player, they are willing to spend a bit more to go get them if it makes sense money wise. Indians have been able to keep roster flexibility because they aren’t spending too much in free a

5) The ownership of the Indians have continually spent above their attendance ratio. When they almost won the World Series they went and signed EE to the largest free agent signing the ball club has ever had. Yet attendance barely increased. With the fact attendance hasn’t been increasing with playoff teams and the fact they signed a horrible TV contract in hindsight, they really aren’t bringing as much revenue as you would expect. Cavs even in the bad years, Gilbert kept the arena busy and kept people in the stands. The Indians couldn’t get people in the stands when they are winning. Don’t blame the owners when the people don’t show up for a good team.

6) They have been around 15th in the league in total payroll but around 24th in attendance. Not sure how you expect any owner in any sport to keep up that type of ratio. So stop shit stomping the Dolans when they finally have their act together and you stopped looking at the facts.

7) Baseball people are stat junkies more than any other sport and honestly the stats say the owners and FO haven’t been bad, and we have had one of the best FOs in any sport period of any league. When the stats support the FO of an organization stop blaming the owner and put it where the blame needs to be which is the MLB itself. So either accept that fact or go watch a big market team who can afford the bull shit of no cap and way more funds from the locals.
 
1) All owners treat their respective sports as businesses. Very, very few are willing to go into the red ever in their respected sports. Gilbert of the Cavs happens to be one of the few as long as it means championship appearances. So stop expecting ever owner should be willing to.

You could have stopped right here, Coach (although you made plenty of good points). Some fans expect owners to pour never-ending amounts of cash into their teams and won't listen to any reason otherwise. It's always "spend more money, or sell the team to somebody who will!" Those are usually the same fans who rarely if ever attend games (but there's always an excuse -- "the ticket prices are too high!").
 
the ticket prices are too high

But, they kinda are, aren't they? I live in the Columbus market so we'd go watch Clippers games. That was affordable take your family w/ you fun. The prices of MLB games make them more of a bucket list "take the family to a Tribe game" kinda thing. That's just too much $ to fork out on a consistent basis. Not that I'm complaining about owners. It's really a problem all professional sports have, except maybe Hockey.
 
But, they kinda are, aren't they? I live in the Columbus market so we'd go watch Clippers games. That was affordable take your family w/ you fun. The prices of MLB games make them more of a bucket list "take the family to a Tribe game" kinda thing. That's just too much $ to fork out on a consistent basis. Not that I'm complaining about owners. It's really a problem all professional sports have, except maybe Hockey.

Maybe they are (although I believe the Indians have one of the lower average ticket prices in MLB; I'm going from memory on that one).

The main point is: the complainers (excuse me, the "realists" who "aren't drinking the Kool-Aid") will complain about the owner not spending money ... while not supporting the team when they do spend (look at the Tribe's payroll in 2016-2018 -- they signed Edwin, traded for Miller, and made other payroll-increasing moves). Really, why should the Dolans (or any owner) increase spending in order to placate those "fans" who aren't going to come to the games anyway?
 
But, they kinda are, aren't they? I live in the Columbus market so we'd go watch Clippers games. That was affordable take your family w/ you fun. The prices of MLB games make them more of a bucket list "take the family to a Tribe game" kinda thing. That's just too much $ to fork out on a consistent basis. Not that I'm complaining about owners. It's really a problem all professional sports have, except maybe Hockey.

I mean you arent wrong with overall prices compared to how much regular people earn nowadays. The problem is when you pay players millions upon millions you have to be able to earn that back and then some as an owner. Only way to fix this issue is stop showing up/stop buying tickets in general, but that will never happen so in no way will the prices ever go down until then. It's a sad world in a sense when it's a mini vacation price for some to go to a local sporting event.
 
I mean you arent wrong with overall prices compared to how much regular people earn nowadays. The problem is when you pay players millions upon millions you have to be able to earn that back and then some as an owner. Only way to fix this issue is stop showing up/stop buying tickets in general, but that will never happen so in no way will the prices ever go down until then. It's a sad world in a sense when it's a mini vacation price for some to go to a local sporting event.
Yeah I would love to see some data on how prices have gone up compared to average middle clsss earnings. Plus people have way more entertainment options now then they did in the 80s and 90s and even early 2000s. Going to a game or two is fine, but asking people to go to 15 to 20 games is a lot unless the team is wildly entertaining or you are a hard core baseball fan.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top