The last place Houston Astros drew the lowest crowd in the history of Minute Maid Park on Tuesday and it was still more than the playoff contending Baltimore Orioles‘ attendance.
13,516 fans purchased tickets to watch the 40-88 Astros face the Giants while 12,841 came to Camden Yards to watch the 70-57 Orioles against the 70-56 White Sox. Pathetic.
The Orioles attendance on Tuesday was not only lower than the Houston’s, but was once against the lowest in Major League Baseball. That’s below the Indians, Royals, Pirates and Padres.
What’s it going to take? Why won’t Baltimore support their most exciting baseball team in 15 years?
I actually had someone on Twitter tell me that they were tired of hearing fans complain about the O’s poor attendance. They actually compared it to seeing a movie in a theater that was half full and then whining that more people should have been there to watch it with you. It’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
But that’s what we’re up against, Baltimore. See you out there tonight.
I just think with the fans losing has come to be expected. They aren’t going because they think it’s all going to come crashing down.
Not sure how you function that way. Does that mean that each day you get up and say “welp, one day closer to dying…”
Take each day as they come. Enjoy the moment. It could be 14 more years before this happens again.
I think there is more being focused on each game then the whole season. Last years total was 1,755,461 for the year and we are currently at 1,621,616 with 16 games left. Our average is up by like 4000 which isn’t much, but I would suspect with the current rate and the fact that the team is in the playoff hunt that we will surpass last years total by 200,000.
What is not mentioned with this article or by any other voices – specifically 105.7 – on the radio/tv are the numbers watching this team on tv or listening on the radio. I think it would do the team more justice, as well as Zach’s reputation as an in depth reporting analyst, if we provided those numbers as well. Zach working for MASN should have some access to this, right? I for one have not gone to more games this year, but I have either listened to or watched the games more this year than any other. Does it make it better that folks are not at the games? Maybe not, but going to a game cost a good bit of money these days which is something I don’t have extra for and just because I am not at these games does not mean that I am not a true fan.
MASN’s TV viewership in the Baltimore area is up 40% over last year.
The national media has told us that the only things that matter in the AL are the Yankees and Red Sox. As new members of the AL, Astros fans are adjusting their attendance accordingly. Beginning next year, we’ll only show up when the Yankees and Red Sox are in town because the media tells us that is all that matters, so why watch anyone else?
Re: The high cost of tickets, parking, and food/beverages — I attended my first game at the Yards in a LONG time last night. It was “Ollie’s Bargain Night,” and I booked two “$9” upper reserved tickets that totaled $25 with taxes and processing fees. I met my son there, each of us taking the light rail, him from the north, and me from the south – a $3.20 round-trip each. A Polock Johnny hot dog and a bottle of water cost me $12, and my son spent about the same on nachos and water. We weren’t aware that fans are now allowed to bring their own coolers with food and beverages. As we climbed toward our assigned seats, an usher stopped us, and moved us to two nicer end seats in row 2 (normally $25+ each). Not bad for the budgets of a retired guy on Social Security and a small pension, and an under-employed recent college grad . As I got on the train to go home, I looked out at all the cars backed up and inching out of the parking lots, and pitied those drivers. Oh, and did I mention it was great to see Jones’ 100th HR, Markakis nailing a 3-run double, and Tillman and Matusz shutting out the AL Central leader, dealing them a second loss after a 13-game win streak?
I’m just saying that if more fans knew about, and took advantage of such promotions, and the ease, low cost, and time-savings of using the light rail, we might have more bodies in the seats.
It’s difficult to forget the O’s didn’t care about me when they were the only game in town , they didn’t have to market to get fans in the seats , then the Nationals showed up and they forgot how to market to put fans in the seats plus they refused to put money in top tier players to satisfy the fans and show they are trying to win games,,,,,,,,,,,,,,one accidental winning year will not bring the fans back , most of the fans will wait to see if the trend continues or is this an aberration……………..looks like the later right now,,,,,,,,time will tell,,,,,,,,,,,,,