Braves Revenue Declines due to poor game attendance (Atlanta, Smyrna: layoffs, move to)

[DawgPark]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I was there with you. At least those of us who did show had the place to ourselves.

Yep. Lots of Braves fans came dressed as empty seats back then.

I think that's why there was such a fan explosion on that first pennant run in early 90s. When Sid was safe at the plate and Skip shouted "BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN," it was like decades of Braves suffering was suddenly worth it.

[DawgPark]

Originally Posted by red92s

The lack of any real "popular" players outside of Freeman and maybe Simmons isn't helping. Nobody has kids who are bugging their parents to go to a game so they can see Chris Johnson or AJ Pierzynski play. With Chipper and McCann and Gattis and Kimbrel, you had a lot bigger rooting interest for particular players. With so much team turnover, it's tough to get invested in the "story" of a player . . . most of them are new, and half of those new guys will be gone again next year.

So true. Hard to imagine the days when Smoltz-Glavine-Maddux were pitching 3 of any 4 nights. Even on the off nights, you had Steve Avery, Pete Smith, Kent Mercker, Denny Neagle types that were still fun to watch.

Crime Dog, Pendleton, Blauser, Lemke, Otis, Deion, Justice, Gant ... and then later Chipper, Andruw and that crowd.

Was just really fun times to go to the ballpark. Right now, not so much.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by DawgPark

Yep. Lots of Braves fans came dressed as empty seats back then.

I think that's why there was such a fan explosion on that first pennant run in early 90s. When Sid was safe at the plate and Skip shouted "BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN," it was like decades of Braves suffering was suddenly worth it.

I will never forget it.

Sid's legs looked like tree trunks but that son of a gun made it.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by DawgPark

Yep. Lots of Braves fans came dressed as empty seats back then.

I think that's why there was such a fan explosion on that first pennant run in early 90s. When Sid was safe at the plate and Skip shouted "BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN, BRAVES WIN," it was like decades of Braves suffering was suddenly worth it.

Originally Posted by DawgPark

So true. Hard to imagine the days when Smoltz-Glavine-Maddux were pitching 3 of any 4 nights. Even on the off nights, you had Steve Avery, Pete Smith, Kent Mercker, Denny Neagle types that were still fun to watch.

Crime Dog, Pendleton, Blauser, Lemke, Otis, Deion, Justice, Gant ... and then later Chipper, Andruw and that crowd.

Was just really fun times to go to the ballpark. Right now, not so much.

Originally Posted by arjay57

I will never forget it.

Sid's legs looked like tree trunks but that son of a gun made it.

Man, you two are seriously making me nostalgic right now!

[noah]

But with payroll also down I think they are just fine. Its really amazing that this will be something like only the 3rd or 4th losing season in the last 25 YEARS and recent reports say their payroll next year will bump up to 110 million which would mean they would have about $60 million to spend this off season...stay tuned to see what this team looks like next year.

[jsvh]

For those blaming their record:

This is the same record they had at the end of 2008. Yet the team was more popular and the attendance was higher in 2008.

I was there for worst to first and knew the full lineup for many years, but they could win back to back world series and I will not be a fan again.

A team is more than winning.

[residinghere2007]

Originally Posted by jsvh

For those blaming their record:

This is the same record they had at the end of 2008. Yet the team was more popular and the attendance was higher in 2008.

I was there for worst to first and knew the full lineup for many years, but they could win back to back world series and I will not be a fan again.

A team is more than winning.

I think the names make the difference too. Chipper was still playing in 2008. People would come just to see him. I did.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

I think the names make the difference too. Chipper was still playing in 2008. People would come just to see him. I did.

True too. And that goes all the way to the top. Sell the team back to Turner and work on building a connection so those of us that live in the city can reasonably get there, you will make me a fan again.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by jsvh

True too. And that goes all the way to the top. Sell the team back to Turner and work on building a connection so those of us that live in the city can reasonably get there, you will make me a fan again.

Turner is not coming back through that door.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

I think the names make the difference too. Chipper was still playing in 2008. People would come just to see him. I did.

In addition to Chipper, the 2008 roster also included: Brian McCann, Mark Texiera, Jeff Francoeur, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Tim Hudson. Think about how many people you still see at games wearing jerseys or shirts with those names on the back today. 7 years from now, how many people will be wearing a Johnny Gomes shirt, or a Markakis jersey to a game? Folks just had a lot more rooting interest in particular players back then compared to today. Between injuries, trades, and poor performance, the roster for the 2015 Braves has been in constant flux. I feel like as soon as I stop saying "who?" when they read off the starters for the night, the deck gets shuffled again.