The D'Backs for the "seventh time in eight years" will finish the MLB season "ranked in the bottom half" of league attendance figures, according to Paola Boivin of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The D'Backs at Chase Field are "averaging 26,938 fans, 19th among their peers." That is 55.4% capacity, and "slightly ahead" of last season's average of 25,992. The team has been "unable to replicate the attendance figures of the first six seasons of the franchise, which were highlighted by three division titles," including a World Series in '01. The D'Backs "struggled most recently with season-ticket sales, which have loomed around 11,000 and 12,000 in recent years." D'Backs President & CEO Derrick Hall said, "I'm content with where we are. We're a little above projections. But we also know if we want to move to the next level and average around 30,000, we have to be more consistent." Boivin writes some fans "feel the team's personality, or lack of one, is playing a factor." The team "doesn't have a real face of the franchise, like Luis Gonzalez, or larger-than-life personality, like Eric Byrnes." Many thought RF Justin Upton "would become that type of player but he has never made a deep connection with fans." D'Backs Managing Partner Ken Kendrick said, "I think it's rare that a magnetic player who fans identify with can have that kind of an impact on attendance. It has to be an extraordinary circumstance, like, and I'm dating myself here, Fernandomania." Kendrick added that he is "not discouraged and sees promise ahead, which could lead to on-field success and better fan attendance." Kendrick: "While this year on the field there's been some disappointment, I like where we're going" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/11).
BIRD WATCHING: In Baltimore, Dan Connolly noted the Orioles have "officially outdrawn" their '11 attendance total at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Through 69 home games, the team has drawn 1,778,041 (BALTIMORESUN.com, 9/8). USA TODAY's Paul White notes the Orioles "must average a little better than 20,000 for the final nine home dates to reach 2 million for the first time since 2007." Four 40,000-plus crowds against the Yankees "are one thing," but this week's three games against the Rays "provide a better test." The Orioles "do not anticipate the series being a hot ticket; they long ago announced left-field, lower-box tickets for the Rays games would cost $8, the price of those seats in Camden Yards' inaugural year." The team's most recent midweek home series, two weeks ago against the White Sox, "averaged 11,759" (USA TODAY, 9/11).
