"Outside The Lines" Examines Economy's Impact On Attendance
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33,000 Fewer People Reportedly Attend
Dover Race In '09 Than In '08 |
The Yankees and Mets' new stadiums opened this season "to much fanfare, ... outfitted with all the luxuries that two years ago would have appealed to the moneyed classes and big corporations," but in '09 such "opulence is out, thrift is in and the expected crowds haven't materialized," according to ESPN's Jeremy Schaap in the first installment of a weeklong series on sports and the economy on ESPN's "Outside The Lines." Schaap noted the Yankees already have "slashed prices in half for their best seats from $2,500 to $1,250." But N.Y. "isn't the only market failing to meet expectations," as through May, MLB attendance was down more than 5% compared to the same period last season. Schaap reported to avert a similar decline, 27 of the NBA's 30 teams will "either keep prices at their current level or lower them for next season after ticket prices leaguewide had gone up from 3-5% each of the last three seasons." Meanwhile, three-quarters of NFL teams and two-thirds of NHL teams have "decided not to raise their prices for next season." Schaap noted "not so long ago NASCAR was the fastest-growing sport in North America," but "now it's downshifting." Schaap: "According to the best estimates, the crowds keep getting smaller and smaller relative to 2008. On May 31 in Dover, Delaware, there were reportedly 33,000 fewer people than at the same event last year." Schaap also noted even the Kentucky Derby, which "unlike baseball games and stock car race, rolls around only every May, felt the pinch," as around the country wagering on the race totaled $104M, $10M less than was wagered on last year's race. Schaap: "In these difficult times sports might be a welcome form of escape, but for many Americans, attending events now feels more like a luxury than a simple treat" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 6/22).
INSTANT RESULTS: SI.com's Ian Thomsen noted most NBA teams next season are "going to demand increased production from their rookies" selected in this week's NBA Draft. A Western Conference GM: "Teams are going to have to use young players in their rotations because of the economy. Because they need to save money, they've got to have some players on low (salary) numbers" (SI.com, 6/22).
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