More to ponder on…
Baseball burnout
I’ve attended almost 300 IronPigs games in 4 years. In 2008 I missed 3 games, none in 09 or 10 and only 4 this past season. I can tell you first hand that at the end of the season I am burnt out. Baseball ended almost a week ago and I can barely watch the Phillies run to the post season. It has become a habit.
Per Dictionary.com a habit is defined as:
“an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary”
My car could drive itself to Coca Cola Park. At 5:00pm each day I find myself throwing on the old Pete Rose powder blue jersey thinking I’ll soon be late to the gates opening.
It’s almost a lifestyle at this point.
Looking at the possibility of baseball on every day in 2012 (If the SWB Yankees make a deal to play here in Allentown) I could imagine what would happen to me.
1. My lawn would be a jungle.
2. Housework? What’s that?
3. My dog would only see me on scheduled Bring Your Dog to the Park days.
4. I’d probably consider moving into an RV in the CCP porking lot. (I just read that aloud.. lol)
5. I would have to continuously walk laps around the park as all I would eat is ball park food.
Really, my attempt at humor above isn’t how it would really happen but I would have to cut back on baseball. I wouldn’t be alone here.
The Lehigh Valley Fans have led the Minor leagues in attendance two years running now. Sure, ticket prices have gone up by $1 across the board but that’s not a backbreaker. 72 openings, sometimes fewer if rainouts turn into doubleheaders or are outright cancelled. It’s a lot.
For me, I take those costs to one. A friend always reminds me that his costs are multiplied by 4. Add in a spouse and 2 kids and it becomes a lot for season ticket costs and actual attendance. 4 hot dogs, 8 drinks, 4 foam fingers, 4 cotton candies, etc.
What I’m getting at is, “Will the Lehigh Valley support both teams, one team over the other or support each team equally?”
I think it would be highly unlikely that both teams fill the park every game. SWB and LV leading the average attendance leader board all season probably won’t be something we would see.
Equal support isn’t likely either. People here are Pig fans and that loyalty has been cemented in with the 2011 season.
What I would see as a likely scenario is the Pigs will draw and SWB will take the leftovers. They will pull in those who are “Real” Yankees fans. They will also get folks who could care less about who is playing. The fans who are more concerned with the baseball themed pinball machine that minor league baseball has become. Those people will attend games at their conveniance whether it be an IronPigs game or a Yankees game.
With that said, the IronPigs will lose a portion of their attendance in that demographic.
Could you imagine the IronPigs averaging 5-6,000 fans a game?
If SWB plays in the Lehigh Valley, I would think it’s a possibility.
Going back to the Pig’s drawing factors in previous years…
2008 – First season, New park
2009 – Second season, Sorta new park
2010 – All Star Game
2011 – Ryne Sandberg
What will 2012 bring the Pigs? We were all hoping that a Governor’s cup championship would be that “draw factor” but have been left with a deep playoff run to the finals. I honestly don’t think Sandberg will be back for another season with the IronPigs. If another MLB team doesn’t pick him up as a manager, he would fit nicely in as a coach for the Phillies and eventual replacement if Charlie decides to retire. While I’d love to see his aggressive style of play and leadership stay, I’m not holding my breath until April.
What will be the 2012 bring? What is that gimmick, that niche that will pull in the crowds?
I don’t think it will be the SWB Yankees. If I were a Yankees fan {spit} I would be incredibly happy.
What frightens me the most, (Yes, I know this is unlikely), is that the Yankees spend the year in Allentown and like it. The Yankees have a lot of money. A LOT of money. They have poor attendance numbers in Moosic. Most fans I’ve met at SWB games are Phillies fans. I know a lot of Yankee fans here in the Lehigh Valley. A lot of NYC and NJ transplants who love their Yankees. (Good for them, root for the home team no matter where you move) I’m afraid the Yankees will get a taste of high attendance (read revenue) and will attempt to make a move to Allentown.
Not happening you say? Never consider it? You’re off your rocker again Dan….
Think about it this way. Moosic started as a Phillies affiliate. When the Phillies pulled out of SWB in 2007 they were leaving an antiquated park designed to resemble Veteran’s stadium. In 2013, the Moosic park will be brand new. Brand spankin new and closely resembling Coca Cola Park in Allentown. At this point, CCP will be 6 years old. The fan base will be set, maybe even decreasing slightly.
More Phillies fans in SWB area than Yankee fans
Many Yankee fans in Lehigh Valley
If memory serves me, the Phillies signed a 4 year association deal with the IronPigs following the 2008 season. That contract expires after the 2012 season.
Minor league teams move and re-affiliate all the time. Sure you can say that Allentown is a lot closer to Philly than SWB is, but it’s just an hours difference. Not like relocating to Ottawa.
While chances are slim that this scenario happens, if the 1% chance of the “Perfect opportunity” comes around, it could happen. The Yankees could throw a lot of money at the IronPigs ownership around affiliation renewal time and whammo.. the LV Yankees come alive.
Earlier this season someone suggested I give up on the Noise Nation fan club idea and join the LV Yankees fan club. As the LV Yankee fan club is a great organization.. they do charity work, hold fundraisers, etc. and they have a lot of fun together, I could never see myself associated with a team I’m not a fan of. Looking at what theoretically “could” happen might lead me down that road.
Food for thought. My apologies for the length of this post. Putting this out there for conversation.
OinK
noisenation.mlblogs.com 