Reds attendance is down nearly 1 million fans compared to 2003, the first season at Great American Ball ParkGetty Images
The Reds will "set a record for the worst season attendance in the 20-season history of Great American Ball Park," according to Jason Williams of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Attendance is "down nearly 1 million fans compared to 2003, the first season at GABP." That should be "incredibly concerning for the organization and its remaining fans, given the triple-whammy of the sorry current state of the franchise, a future likely void of marketable players and the overall declining interest in baseball." The Reds, who have not won a playoff series since 1995, yesterday entered the final three games of the season at GABP having drawn a total 1,358,304 fans. The Reds will end up with their worst season home attendance since 1984, when they lost 92 games and drew 1,275,887 fans at Riverfront Stadium. Williams writes one has to "wonder if the Reds will ever top 2 million fans, even when they're good again." Things "aren't trending in the Reds' favor." MLB teams "need star players in order to promote selling tickets." But the Reds’ new plan is "centered around developing their own players and then cycling them out of Cincinnati ahead of free agency" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/4).
GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELIN' BAD: In Cincinnati, Andy Furman notes today marks almost six months since Reds COO Phil Castellini said six words that "really set the tone for the entire season: 'Well, where are you gonna go?'" Now it is "time to extend the olive branch -- from the Reds as an organization to the fan base that still remains." There is "nothing wrong in saying you’re sorry." The relationship between the Reds and their fans has been "bruised to say the least." Castellini, after "some six months of silence, has a real chance of repairing some of his self-inflicted damage." It "won’t help when David Bell makes a call for the bullpen," but it will "make some Reds fans smile" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/4).
