Weak attendance could be a National emergency
By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports
May 5, 2:00 am EDT
WASHINGTON – Stan Kasten’s two families converged this week. Down south, his daughter graduated from the University of Florida. And here, where he’s president of the Washington Nationals, his baby turned a month old.
Nationals Park, the city’s $611 million gift to bring baseball back after a 34-year hiatus, is a perfectly acceptable new stadium. It is not transcendent like its Beltway neighbor, Camden Yards in Baltimore, and not a billion-dollar homage to gluttony like the new Yankee Stadium will be. It is a good place to take the family for $5 a ticket, grab a drink in the packed center-field bar, watch a footrace involving people wearing giant foam heads of dead presidents, ogle the HD video screen and soak in a gorgeous day like Sunday, when the sun beamed, a breeze whistled through the Southeast and the game-time temperature registered at 72.
Not even the perfect afternoon could fill the stadium for the second time, and it may be a while until the Nationals play to another sellout. Since packing Nationals Park on Opening Day and watching Ryan Zimmerman christen it with a game-ending home run, fans have been curiously absent. On Sunday, the Nationals’ announced paid attendance was 30,564, just above the 41,222-seat stadium’s average of 29,686 that ranks in the bottom half of baseball.
“Our attendance has been terrific,” Kasten said. “Whether people are sitting in those seats or not, more and more are coming in.”
Kasten is either an optimist, a great façade builder or a man with a plan he doesn’t want to share – or, perhaps, all three. Because his public stance on the new stadium falling short of anticipated attendance is surprisingly calm, even when small pieces of evidence stack into one worrisome situation.
The Nationals’ season-ticket base, though up from 15,000 last season to 18,000, remains significantly short of the 22,500 sold during their first season in 2005 after moving from Montreal. They’re almost guaranteed to finish with the worst attendance in all numbers – total, average and percentage – for a new stadium since Cincinnati opened Great American Ball Park in 2003. In Washington’s low point, the second game in Nationals Park actually had worse attendance than the second game at decrepit RFK Stadium last year.
“Sounds like you’re a lot more concerned about this than me,” Kasten said.
Perhaps so, though Kasten can’t ignore the games on television where it looks as though the Nationals are playing to a crowd of ushers. The President seats, positioned behind home plate, go for more than $300 apiece, and they’re selling like underwear at a nudist colony. Every pitch, the view is the same: hitter, catcher, umpire and about 25 of their unoccupied blue friends.
There are explanations. The NHL’s Capitals and NBA’s Wizards each made playoff runs in the same season for the first time in more than two decades. The weather, especially for the Nationals’ second game, was miserable. More than anything, though, an unlikely culprit can account for the paltry behind-the-plate attendance.
Part of Washington’s allure, when Major League Baseball planned the move from Montreal, involved the potential fan base. Smart, fanatical and, best of all, with loads of disposable income.
Then Jack Abramoff tried to buy off all of Washington. New lobbying laws soon followed, and now the maximum gift given to a lawmaker cannot exceed $50. Which means all the Presidential tickets – $325 for single-game ones, $335 on Saturday and $400 for the front row, all more than the best seat at Yankee Stadium, which goes for $250 – that should have gone from lobbyist to Congressman to hard-working staffer no longer exist, and the market won’t get any hotter unless the Nationals do, too.
“That’s a factor,” Kasten said. “The economy is a factor. Where we are in our development cycle in our team is a factor. I don’t think (we’re going to lower ticket prices). Not really. It’s not something we’re anticipating.
“It’s clear to me that when we turn the corner as a team, they’ll come.”
And this, more than anything, inspires Kasten’s calmness. He sees improvement at the major-league level, Sunday’s 5-2 win against Pittsburgh was the Nationals’ eighth in 10 games. He understands contending this year is a long shot. There’s not enough talent. The Nationals are Zimmerman and enough question marks to outfit the Riddler.
Their farm system is more an exclamation point. Since taking over in 2006, Kasten has made rebuilding the Nationals’ farm system a priority. One of his first hires was Mike Rizzo, the scouting impresario who ran the Arizona Diamondbacks’ drafts that have borne perhaps the best team in baseball. In last year’s draft, the Nationals reloaded a system that had gone dry, and now, Kasten said with pride, the cumulative record of Washington’s minor-league affiliates is the fourth best in baseball.
The evolution of Washington’s franchise will be one of the big stories in baseball over the next five years. With any success, the President seats will start selling, and the $400,000-a-year suites that are two-thirds sold will be the hottest non-Redskins ticket in town, and between the gate receipts and the money from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, the Nationals will turn into a financial powerhouse.
From there, they’ll pick up a hole-plugging free agent or two. Never a huge contract, because, as Kasten said, “I don’t have to remind you how fraught with peril the haphazard pursuit of free agency is.”
Translation: We don’t need a Barry Zito.
For now, the Nationals want to make the present as palatable as possible. They use gimmicks to help create what Kasten deems “an experience” – kids standing at each position on the field when the Nationals run out for the first inning, the Presidents Race where George and Abe go head to head and other such events that both enhance the entertainment and take away from the fact that the baseball isn’t quite there.
“It’s going to happen,” Kasten said. “I don’t know which comes first. But neither one depends on the other. We’re going to continue to have the best experience we can at the ballpark. At the same time we’re building a franchise.”
Kasten has time. His baby is only a month old. He can only hope it starts walking sooner than later.
Comment posted byChris McCownon May 6, 2008 at 12:50 am (#682513)
Danny, otherwise known as LatinDandy8392, made suggestive comments to our decoy.
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 12:51 am (#682514)
ok i have one more that crosses the line…do it anyways?
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 12:52 am (#682515)
what are the chances that danny’s “i was wrong, Ollie sux dillz” journal gets promoted tomorrow?
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 12:53 am (#682516)
bring it Bok
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 12:53 am (#682517)
I’m drowning here, Zodder.
Come down with me. Um, pause.
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 12:54 am (#682518)
same type of joke,
what do you do after eating a bald p*ssy?
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 12:54 am (#682519)
Any small bit of legitimacy that I carried was lost today, pj.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 12:55 am (#682520)
What??
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 12:55 am (#682521)
Then one of our volunteers for pervertedjustice.com saw a screen name that looked familiar — PLDbrooklyn72
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 12:55 am (#682522)
Chris, I like that in your world there are so many LatinDandies that Danny can only get #8392.
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 12:55 am (#682523)
put the diaper back on
Comment posted byDoctorK16on May 6, 2008 at 12:55 am (#682524)
People will see the Nationals when they start winning games. Washington has the money to support it. One thing they may have some problems on weekdays because they’re a lot of suburban jobs in that region and that can be a pain to get from Tysons or Herndon to come to at the Navy Yard. Getting that Metro extention will help them.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 12:56 am (#682525)
83 was the number of my favorite wide receiver and 92 is the year I lost my virginity. It makes perfect sense, actually.
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 12:56 am (#682526)
now that one is bad
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 12:56 am (#682527)
night folks!
::runs and hides::
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 12:56 am (#682528)
LOL Zod
That one was certainly more risque.
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 12:58 am (#682529)
just curious, you guys know of a way of deleting posts?
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 12:58 am (#682530)
If you get an answer, um, let me know.
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 12:58 am (#682531)
Ask your employer Zod
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 12:59 am (#682532)
wow, when Zod crosses a line he doesn’t just tiptoe over.
thanks for making us all complicit in your destruction of the collective innocence of children everywhere.
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 1:00 am (#682533)
Well you can delete journal entries, I know that,,,,
People will see the Nationals when they start winning games. Washington has the money to support it. One thing they may have some problems on weekdays because they’re a lot of suburban jobs in that region and that can be a pain to get from Tysons or Herndon to come to at the Navy Yard. Getting that Metro extention will help them.
Yeah, I think the Nationals need to win first in order to attract fans. The other part of the problem the article doesn’t really address is the reality that the park itself isn’t enough of an attraction to invite fans to visit for the novelty of going there. Usually, new parks are meccas that invite all sorts of locals interested in experiencing its new facilities, but Nationals Park is so bland and boring.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:00 am (#682535)
Ouch babe. That one hurt, Simons.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:01 am (#682537)
The rebuilding of the area around Nationals Park isn’t finished yet. That will help, too.
But mostly they need a winning team like Doc said.
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 1:02 am (#682539)
danny told me to say it. and he wrote that journal.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:03 am (#682540)
Why is Jamie Moyer pitching so effectively? I can actually throw harder than him.
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 1:03 am (#682541)
an eight-year-old boy can throw harder than he can
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 1:03 am (#682543)
Nationals Park is so bland and boring.
are you taking lunk’s word for that? remember, if he doesn’t have his toe in his mouth, he isn’t enjoying himself
i didn’t think the nats stadium was boring.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:03 am (#682542)
Ha, wow Zod. You bailed on me pretty quick, guy.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:04 am (#682544)
I thought the stadium was pretty cool, too.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:04 am (#682545)
The way too expensive seats behind home plate is a definite issue, though.
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 1:06 am (#682546)
if i thought it would have helped lunk have a better ballpark experience, i would have taken my shoes off when we sat with them.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:07 am (#682547)
I would have dressed more like a Sumo wrestler.
Comment posted byKneel Before Zod!on May 6, 2008 at 1:07 am (#682548)
i didnt bail on you, kid
Comment posted byDoctorK16on May 6, 2008 at 1:08 am (#682549)
The ballpark is good enough from what I see. I think they’ll need to add some resturants and other amenties to the area there to help out. In the long run they’ll be OK.
Comment posted bySimonson May 6, 2008 at 1:13 am (#682557)
I see pj is taking no chances with the official scoring of the AA swag contest
Comment posted byDoctorK16on May 6, 2008 at 1:14 am (#682558)
Comparing anything to Camden Yards is hard. Every stadium built since them has been trying to recreate that. The place is confortable and doesn’t look like a fallout shelter like RFK and has some nooks and cranies. Its good enough IMO.
Comment posted byDannyon May 6, 2008 at 1:15 am (#682559)
Alright Geeks. I’m off to bed.
I have to sleep on who’s career I will try to ruin tomorrow.
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 1:15 am (#682560)
Camden Yards is tough to beat though. That’s a brilliant stadium in every way.
But isn’t that the problem though? That the Nationals park pales in comparison to its nearest competitor? Besides, the issue of novelty counts more for a new park than for an old one. Baltimore area fans are tired of years of suckitude whereas Washington area fans should be juiced over the new quality of their team facility. Attendence is really low for a team with a new park. Even for a losing squad.
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 1:18 am (#682563)
they haven’t adopted the Nats yet.
sometimes winning doesn’t help: marlins
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 1:21 am (#682564)
nats stadium opens towards the water and away from the monuments. they didn’t Capitol-ize on the strengths of DC’s charm.
Comment posted bypjon May 6, 2008 at 1:32 am (#682565)
Baltimore area fans are tired of years of suckitude
short memories. it wasn’t that long ago that the big rivalry in the Al East was yanks-O’s and not yanks-sawx.
Comment posted byLetsGoMetson May 6, 2008 at 3:42 am (#682568)
Dunno who else here was at the miserable game tonight, but all my thoughts are up on my blog.
what?
danny, are you participating in this joke?
WHAT?
could you speak a little louder for us older fellers?
Good thing we brought in Schneider to bounce all these throws. Lo Duca couldn’t have done that.
Man I’m really negative about the Mets tonight.
showering with an 8 year old boy.
what’s better than showering with an 8 year old boy?
is that the second question? disgusting!
What?!?
NOTHING!!!!!!
Do it in Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island and you got a shot a hung jury.
LOL Zod
Awful
Like you said, there isn’t anyone else to take those shots on the Cavs. This isn’t particularly surprising to me.
That wasn’t so bad
That’s what I’m thinking, Doc.
Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!
#
Enough with the griffy jokes!!
it was bad enough i think
Wait, is the little boy circumsized?
(um, did I just write that out loud?)
so.wrong.
Danny is living out loud
lol. thanks for taking the heat off me!
i like to tell that joke at parties
Wow Danny, yikes.
Hahaha. I’m with Simons, that wasn’t too bad.
MOCK TRIAL — WITH J. REINHOLD!!
Watching the mets offense after the 5th inning is pure pain :(
Castillo is 0/18. Four more years baby.
Hey guys, someone identifying themself as Chris Hansen just knocked on the door.
Be back in a sec.
Heres one:
I came home from work today and my wife was all weepy and bitchy. She packed her bags, shouted “We’re through!”
So I say “What’s wrong babe?”
She says “You’re a pedophile!”
I just shake my head, pat her wrist, and reply, “Honey, that’s an awfully big word for an eight-year-old.”
Zod, I have heard versions of that joke that are much worse.
I shall not sully the pages of metsgeek with them. Ask me in Pittsburgh.
suckitysuckgamefronsucksville
LOL Chris
Keep ‘em coming.
Danny, why don’t you have a seat
LIOOTB!!!
Danny, otherwise known as LatinDandy8392, made suggestive comments to our decoy.
ok i have one more that crosses the line…do it anyways?
what are the chances that danny’s “i was wrong, Ollie sux dillz” journal gets promoted tomorrow?
bring it Bok
I’m drowning here, Zodder.
Come down with me. Um, pause.
same type of joke,
what do you do after eating a bald p*ssy?
Any small bit of legitimacy that I carried was lost today, pj.
What??
Then one of our volunteers for pervertedjustice.com saw a screen name that looked familiar — PLDbrooklyn72
Chris, I like that in your world there are so many LatinDandies that Danny can only get #8392.
put the diaper back on
People will see the Nationals when they start winning games. Washington has the money to support it. One thing they may have some problems on weekdays because they’re a lot of suburban jobs in that region and that can be a pain to get from Tysons or Herndon to come to at the Navy Yard. Getting that Metro extention will help them.
83 was the number of my favorite wide receiver and 92 is the year I lost my virginity. It makes perfect sense, actually.
now that one is bad
night folks!
::runs and hides::
LOL Zod
That one was certainly more risque.
just curious, you guys know of a way of deleting posts?
If you get an answer, um, let me know.
Ask your employer Zod
wow, when Zod crosses a line he doesn’t just tiptoe over.
thanks for making us all complicit in your destruction of the collective innocence of children everywhere.
Well you can delete journal entries, I know that,,,,
Yeah, I think the Nationals need to win first in order to attract fans. The other part of the problem the article doesn’t really address is the reality that the park itself isn’t enough of an attraction to invite fans to visit for the novelty of going there. Usually, new parks are meccas that invite all sorts of locals interested in experiencing its new facilities, but Nationals Park is so bland and boring.
Ouch babe. That one hurt, Simons.
The rebuilding of the area around Nationals Park isn’t finished yet. That will help, too.
But mostly they need a winning team like Doc said.
danny told me to say it. and he wrote that journal.
Why is Jamie Moyer pitching so effectively? I can actually throw harder than him.
an eight-year-old boy can throw harder than he can
are you taking lunk’s word for that? remember, if he doesn’t have his toe in his mouth, he isn’t enjoying himself
i didn’t think the nats stadium was boring.
Ha, wow Zod. You bailed on me pretty quick, guy.
I thought the stadium was pretty cool, too.
The way too expensive seats behind home plate is a definite issue, though.
if i thought it would have helped lunk have a better ballpark experience, i would have taken my shoes off when we sat with them.
I would have dressed more like a Sumo wrestler.
i didnt bail on you, kid
The ballpark is good enough from what I see. I think they’ll need to add some resturants and other amenties to the area there to help out. In the long run they’ll be OK.
I generally heard that it was nothing special. That it offered nothing that would seperate it from Camden Yards, for example.
Orioles = boring
Camden Yards is tough to beat though. That’s a brilliant stadium in every way.
And they don’t draw a damn soul, now. Winning cures errything.
swag contest scoring
runs = 0 points
k’s = 20 points
bb’s = 20 points
game score = 11 points
51/100
The AAA stadium in Durham is nice
1. it is not in baltimore
Uhgghghghggh the youtube link make puke
http://deputy-dog.com/2008/05/05/gephyrophobiacs-look-away-now/
I see pj is taking no chances with the official scoring of the AA swag contest
Comparing anything to Camden Yards is hard. Every stadium built since them has been trying to recreate that. The place is confortable and doesn’t look like a fallout shelter like RFK and has some nooks and cranies. Its good enough IMO.
Alright Geeks. I’m off to bed.
I have to sleep on who’s career I will try to ruin tomorrow.
lolrsk8s
The view of the Capital and Monument are nice from TV. Of course DC is the one city in the country that has no skyline really so you don’t see that.
But isn’t that the problem though? That the Nationals park pales in comparison to its nearest competitor? Besides, the issue of novelty counts more for a new park than for an old one. Baltimore area fans are tired of years of suckitude whereas Washington area fans should be juiced over the new quality of their team facility. Attendence is really low for a team with a new park. Even for a losing squad.
they haven’t adopted the Nats yet.
sometimes winning doesn’t help: marlins
nats stadium opens towards the water and away from the monuments. they didn’t Capitol-ize on the strengths of DC’s charm.
short memories. it wasn’t that long ago that the big rivalry in the Al East was yanks-O’s and not yanks-sawx.
Dunno who else here was at the miserable game tonight, but all my thoughts are up on my blog.
http://letsgomets.vox.com
BTW, Dodger fans are year in, year out, the slimiest bunch of subhuman pondscum ever hatched.