Nationals Attendance "Plummeting" In Second Year At New Park
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Bad Weather This Spring Has Contributed To
Low Attendance Figures At Nationals Park |
The "early part of the Nationals' home schedule has seen a confluence of events and trends -- a bad team, a bad economy and bad weather -- that has sent the team's attendance numbers plummeting at an alarming rate in its second season at Nationals Park," according to Dave Sheinin of the WASHINGTON POST. The Nationals were "bracing for a steep decline in attendance this season, given the state of the economy and the traditional drop-off typically seen in the second year of a new stadium." But the "degree of the decline still appears to have caught some in the industry by surprise, and in some corners it has revived the debate about [DC's] viability as a baseball market." Nationals President Stan Kasten "typically reveals the franchise's season ticket base during the early part of the season, but this year he has declined to do so." Sheinin notes that base is "no higher than 12,473 -- the lowest attendance figure so far this year -- and probably slightly lower, which would represent a decline by about one-third from last year." When asked if he was "concerned about the health of the Nationals," MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy said, "We're concerned about all our franchises. But in terms of being worried? No. We think that franchise has extraordinarily talented personnel, and they've got solid ownership" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/15).
PADRES: In San Diego, John Wilkens notes the Padres, 13-22, open a long homestand Friday "hoping for better results on the field -- and at the gate." The team's home games last week "drew the three smallest crowds in Petco Park history, an ominous sign as the season unfolds amid" the economic downturn. Prior to this season, Petco Park, which opened in '04, had "only twice drawn crowds below 19,000." Now it has happened "four times in four days, with a long season ahead." Padres Dir of Business PR George Stieren: "We knew going into the season, because of the economy and the expectations for the team, that attendance would be a continuing concern. But we don't want to overreact after just 14 [home] games. We're not surprised. We're about where we expected to be." The team's average attendance is 25,904, down 14% from last year, but "still above what they would need to hit 2 million for the year, a benchmark for success at the box office." MLB teams "typically draw better" crowds once school lets out for the summer. Stieren said that the "recent record lows came on weekdays, and that the team has had only six weekend games," one of which "was a sellout." Baseball-Reference.com indicated that 19 of the 30 MLB teams have seen attendance "drops ranging from [0.6-35.2%]" this season (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/15).
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