Why is attendance low at SWB Yankees games? (Pittsburgh, Scranton: home, theater)

[Magritte25]

Originally Posted by A_D_M

Parking has been free for years and it is still cheaper than the movies, if you want to talk about overpriced food!

I wouldn't know. We haven't been to a game in years. Like I said, we hate the Yankees and the prices. I like movies, so I'll pay but I don't eat there - easy to do at a 90 minute movie, not so much with a 3 hour baseball game.

[marchawg]

The Yankees are a polarizing team to begin with. I don't know how the Red Barons' attendance numbers were, but I used to go to a few games a year, and I don't even like the Phillies. That said, I also don't hate them. I'm an Orioles fan. I've had the opportunity to see the SWB Yanks for FREE and turned it down. I have zero interest in supporting a team I cannot stand. Bring back the Barons or get a less polarizing team.

[Mr Yuk]

That's exactly it...the Yankees are the most hated team in sports. Mistake #1 was naming the team the Yankees and giving them Yankee uniforms. No fans of teams other than the NY Yankees would be caught dead wearing a Yankees hat or shirt....you won't find any Phillies, Red Sox, or Mets fans wearing Yankee gear ever. The Red Barons were seen more as our local team...it was just a bonus for us Phillies fans that we could see Phillies prospects here. Not to mention that the prices went way up when the Yankees came to town, to where its no longer cheap family entertainment. I'd rather stay home and watch the Phillies game in HD than pay through the nose to see a minor league Yankees team.

When the Phillies left for Allentown (which I don't blame them for, they have relationships with the Allentown ownership group, which manages a few of their other farm teams, plus they were getting a new stadium and getting away from the political red tape of dealing with Lackawanna County...the last straw was that the Phillies asked for a grass surface at the stadium and the county wouldn't do it, and then they roll out the red carpet for the Yankees), I was hoping, as rumored at the time, that we'd get the Orioles team...I could support a local team affiliated with a non-polarizing team like the Orioles.

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by A_D_M

Parking has been free for years and it is still cheaper than the movies, if you want to talk about overpriced food!

No..its not cheaper than the movies. Movie food is probably about the same as at the game, and movie tickets are cheaper. And to be honest, I usually just sneak snacks into the movies.

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

I have never heard anyone say "I refuse to go to a game... That stadium is outdated!". Look if you Scrantonites want a new stadium, because "it'll make Scranton appear more modern and hip!" thats fine, then you'll have a very expensive, empty, modern and hip stadium!...let the wealthiest sports franchise on planet Earth,The NY Yankees, pick up the tab! They definately have the money too! I don't want one penny of taxpayer money going to fund this sinking ship. government has no biusness funding sports ventures at all!

Exactly...the stadium has nothing to do with it. There's no major problems with the stadium, its the product and the price that people have a problem with. And if we "need" a new stadium so bad, let the Yankees pay for it, they have more money than God.

The Reading Phillies AA team packs the house every night in a stadium built in 1950.

[KarenRice]

Well my family and I don't go because I have ZERO - ZIP - NADA interest in baseball, period. I've never been to a baseball game in my life and I will probably go to my grave not having been to a game. lol.

[sp2007]

Originally Posted by marchawg

The Yankees are a polarizing team to begin with. I don't know how the Red Barons' attendance numbers were, but I used to go to a few games a year, and I don't even like the Phillies. That said, I also don't hate them. I'm an Orioles fan. I've had the opportunity to see the SWB Yanks for FREE and turned it down. I have zero interest in supporting a team I cannot stand. Bring back the Barons or get a less polarizing team.

Since 2000, attendance has been dropping.

From 2009-2000
363,160
496,658
590,326
381,179
400,726
402,676
427,445
466,342
458,491
470,974

I would naturally say its because the Yankees suck, but it looks like the switch of affiliation is the only blip on the stats.

Not sure why, WNEP was wondering why too.
Can Yankees Turn Around Sagging Attendance? - WNEP (http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-yankees-sagging-attendance-wilkes-barre-scran,0,6452639.story - broken link)

[NYRangers 2008]

I just think the novelty has worn off with the Yankees. The prices are too expensive, for tickets and food. The games aren't that exciting either. I liked it better when they were the Red Barons also. It seemed like people were rooting for a local team with the Baron, not one that is part of the Evil Empire. Bringing the Yankees here was a bad move and you have Bob Cordaro to thank for that.

[weluvpa]

The novelty of the whole thing has worn off. Lets face it EVERYTHING in this area has a moderately short lifespan, people lose interest and unless you give them new reasons to go, they won't regardless of who is playing.

I don't like baseball that much and I went to one game to realize that I really don't like baseball, especially at that level.

It is, what it is and before they spent the cash on turf and repairs they should have weighed the costs vs profitability of the team, stadium and the whole program before they ever thought of bringing a new team in. Has it EVER been a profitable venture?

Personally if it closed down I wouldn't skip a beat in my life..

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

The novelty of the whole thing has worn off. Lets face it EVERYTHING in this area has a moderately short lifespan, people lose interest and unless you give them new reasons to go, they won't regardless of who is playing.

I don't like baseball that much and I went to one game to realize that I really don't like baseball, especially at that level.

It is, what it is and before they spent the cash on turf and repairs they should have weighed the costs vs profitability of the team, stadium and the whole program before they ever thought of bringing a new team in. Has it EVER been a profitable venture?

Personally if it closed down I wouldn't skip a beat in my life..

Dan, it's amazing to me that the Baby Penguins always have a higher attendance rate than the baseball team. I have always loved hockey and I never thought it would take off here in NEPA and be more popular than baseball here. Mind you, you may not like hockey either, but the Penguins have been more successful here than the Yankees. I think it's cool that so many people in the area have taken to hockey and support the WBS Penguins.