Posted by AlCheez on 8/4/2014 10:29:00 PM (view original):
Posted by MikeT23 on 8/4/2014 10:17:00 PM (view original):
I don't think ticket sales are being fudged. I do think people are buying tickets and not going. I fail to see how that is good for baseball.
It's not good, but it's hardly ominous unless you see an actual downward trend. And I also don't think it's a phenomenon that's unique to baseball. It may seem more apparent in baseball though because, unlike say, hockey or basketball, it's harder to keep the cameras away from the empty seats since the ball actually goes there from time to time.
I guess my point, which seems to be missed or misunderstood, is that baseball is declining in popularity. There are three ways to address that:
1. Do nothing. Which is how baseball works and what most people on this board thinks is right.
2. Wait til it becomes a problem. Which is what happens if you do nothing and it gets worse.
3. Be proactive. Which is what I'd do. Mumbling "Baseball is fine" sounds like an old, white guy solution.
To be clear, I don't think baseball is in trouble. TV contracts are in place for years to come. They have something that only basketball(and maybe hockey but that seems to be a cold state sport) offers: New daily content for 6 months. But, if the decline in viewing continues at the same pace it has been for the last 8 years, you're reaching soccer level. Will the same TV money be there in 8 years if that happens? If not, what happens then?