Tribe #3 in CLE fan base pecking order

[theurbanfiles]

I think it's entirely possible. By CSA, Cleveland is 15th, I think by Market Size, which might be a bit of a better indicator, we were ranked 21st (out of 30)? Since I consider the White Sox, Angels and Mets to be bigger market teams than us, and teams like St. Louis have more of a regional following/less competition, it makes sense. I'm still a hardcore Tribe fan before any other team, and I like the way we've built up the pitching, just need to get one powerful bat in the lineup. THAT changes everything.

I agree that smaller markets have, and continue to have success (*cough Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Oakland, etc.)

I think one thing that IS true is that it's hard to base numbers solely off attendance figures. For one thing, these are vastly inflated by some teams (e.g. Oakland/Miami). Look at their stadium when they are on TV. Hard to deny that they aren't close to the crowd AT games that Cleveland has. I think as another poster mentioned, the baseball ratings for the market were in the Top 5, which is where a lot of teams revenue comes from Importance of Market Size, Attendance and TV Revenue on Payroll | FanGraphs Baseball I think also, dynamic pricing has influenced these numbers QUITE a bit. The Indians are actually charging quite a bit more, even when adjusting for inflation, than when they were when they were competing for World Series Championships in the 90s. It's part of the new market philosophy, where, not even having to pay cleaning ushers, or security, or concessions for all those extra sections means extra money in the owners pockets, even if it doesn't paint a flattering picture of the fanbase, which I'd have to say probably gives the owners more power. I think it's unclear whether the Indians will move to another city when the lease is up in 2023, but my money would be against it. The city/region seems to be on a somewhat upwards trajectory, however, much of this will have to do with how the upcoming downtown projects make the city and surrounds look by 2020 (I think pretty darn good, but who knows). I also think, as stupid as this might sound, that when (I hope) LeBron finally gets us over the hump in the title department, that will start a wave of positive momentum, not just for the Cavs, but across Cleveland teams (ripple effect) in terms of civic pride/support of teams. Even if Charlotte or Portland or Montreal might be able to support better than Cleveland (which is certainly questionable, Portland is already a Timbers city, and Charlotte is so, so new/transient, I am still not certain how the Bobcats are doing attendance-wise, and both are smaller markets than Cleveland with less provincialism, and Montreal already moved), there are other markets, namely Tampa Bay, and Oakland, that would more likely be on the chopping blocks before Cleveland IMO.

Hey, right now were only 6 games off the wildcard pace, and are listed as having a 4.5 percent chance (round that up to 5 please!). So, like, one in a 1,000? No, more like one in 20! So you're sayin' there's a chance! That's a better chance than the Browns have had almost since they've come back? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? No! And it isn't over now. Go Tribe haha.

[maxmodder]

Another question is will the Browns ever be able to catch the Bengals? They've gone head to head in the regular season 83 times now. Bengals have won 44 times and the Browns 39 times. We may actually see sometime within the next 5-10 years the Browns coming out on top. From 1993 to 1995, the Bengals lost 7 times in a row against the Browns. Anything can happen.

[ZnGuy]

Originally Posted by maxmodder

Another question is will the Browns ever be able to catch the Bengals? They've gone head to head in the regular season 83 times now. Bengals have won 44 times and the Browns 39 times. We may actually see sometime within the next 5-10 years the Browns coming out on top. From 1993 to 1995, the Bengals lost 7 times in a row against the Browns. Anything can happen.

I think the Browns will be a thorn in Bengals side for years to come, especially if Bengals keep the red head as QB. I went to the Thursday night game last year when the Browns smoked the Bengals and I must admit it was a pleasure talking trash with Bengal fans. Looks like we'll have another Thursday night came in Cinci this year. I watched the Tampa game on Monday and Bucs, witch was a bottom dweller team tore up the Bengals. The red head was consistent with his overthrown balls and inaccuracy (2 INTs) and Bengals defense played porous as usual.
Bengals will have another disappointing year and Steelers, Ravens are the two teams that have chance to win division.

[theurbanfiles]

Well what's interesting to me, is that, though Ohio is a football state, Cincinnati seems to be much more of a baseball town. Now it may have had something to do with all star game this year and such and there are other factors like dynamic pricing, but Cincy was in the top 10 in attendance this year baseball-wise despite not exactly fielding a quality product (in their defense, they are in the super good NL Central this year). Meanwhile, looking at NFL Attendance, while the Bengals, at least compared to the Browns, have had quite a bit of success over the last 10 years, their attendance numbers are towards the very bottom of the league, whilst the Browns, despite being absolutely miserable, consistently rank among the best teams as far as packing in the stadium, definitely a "Browns Town".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcwJt4bcnXs

I found this video (if the link doesn't work, type in John Oliver, Stadiums) to be a hilarious commentary on this. Both Cleveland and Cincinnati are mentioned (warning: Cincy does get knocked a bit).

[no1brownsfan]

Originally Posted by ZnGuy

I think the Browns will be a thorn in Bengals side for years to come, especially if Bengals keep the red head as QB. I went to the Thursday night game last year when the Browns smoked the Bengals and I must admit it was a pleasure talking trash with Bengal fans. Looks like we'll have another Thursday night came in Cinci this year. I watched the Tampa game on Monday and Bucs, witch was a bottom dweller team tore up the Bengals. The red head was consistent with his overthrown balls and inaccuracy (2 INTs) and Bengals defense played porous as usual.
Bengals will have another disappointing year and Steelers, Ravens are the two teams that have chance to win division.

I wouldn't bet on the Steelers. They have some injury issues, have lost some key players to retirement, and let their defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau go. I wouldn't take them lightly, but I would expect the Browns like they did last year to win at least one against them. Baltimore is my early pick to win the AFC North, but with each new season you never know who may emerge.