MLB to Small Town America: Drop Dead

Don't Lancaster and Lake Elsinore have empty stadiums now from the recent Cal League compaction?

It had to be 110 or so last week in the Central Valley. Who wants to go to a game when it's that hot?

 

Storm are still alive.

 

I've seen local team officials blame the heat in July and August, and the cold in April and May, and the rain in May and June, and vacations in the summer, and when school is back in session in September, and church is a challenge on Sundays and Wednesdays.

All of which was valid every year for the last 25 years, even in years when attendance was booming.

 

For AA and AAA stadiums, the move now is to create a food court with trendy bars and a kids play zone wrapped around a funny-looking green patch where some guys in pajamas are doing some weird running around.

 

The big move for our Double-A team is sabre-rattling about adding a pool/lazy river beyond the RF fence, with the city/landlord paying for it.

 

Maybe its just me, but I loved going to games in Modesto, Stockton and Spokane, and the old Eugene stadium - they had the "Bull Durham" vibe. The new Hillsboro Hops stadium is great, but it lacks the vibe. Something about a small town, bugs flying in the air, the DJ from the local peeler bar doing double duty as the PA guy, the cheesy promotions and between innings stuff. The promos for the windshield repair business after every foul ball. Stuff like that.
Other faves. Vancouver BC, Montgomery, Salem-Keizer (RIP), Portland (both Rookie and AAA), Tacoma,

 

The High-A team here similarly drew boffo crowds when they opened in the mid-90s with (of course) a municipally financed stadium. They averaged probably 5,000 per game for 10 years or so, then started to drop off.
My brother and I went last week, July 3, big pregame show advertised, etc etc. The official crowd as listed in the box score was 2200; that was horse crap. There weren't 1,000 people in the joint.

 

I got curious and checked the attendance numbers for the Alabama teams. Huntsville (aka Rocket City Trash Pandas) were at 4900 average last year while still in the honeymoon phase with a nearly new team and stadium. Birmingham averaged 3800 and Montgomery was down to 2500 per night. All three have nice parks, all in the Double-A Southern League.

 

Through early June, the Richmond Flying Squirrels were averaging 7,008 per game, which would be a club record for the time they've been AA, at least. It's kind of remarkable, because it's one of the worst stadium experiences you'll find. Decrepit stadium with steep, narrow stairs, long concession lines. Parking is a pain in the ass and expensive. Parent club is the Giants, who don't really move the needle in Virginia. I think that's why the push for the new stadium is actually moving forward, because they draw despite everything seemingly going against them.

 

The White Sox stadium is even like, "Man - the Diamond's upper deck sure feels steep."