Where is everybody? Since the season began three weeks ago, baseball has endured a rather shocking rebuff from fans. We are witnessing the case of the incredible shrinking paid-attendance figures. Although no reason has been given for the problem–indeed, baseball will deny there even is one–it appears the public has decided enough is enough. Better to lose interest now instead of having it taken away later.
When management and labor conspired to destroy the 1994 season by forcing cancellation of the World Series, experts assumed that fans would react angrily. They did briefly, then resumed being fans. They forgot and forgave and eventually returned to their seats. However, there is cause to believe now that blind loyalty has its limitations. With bad omens all over the place, fans aren’t waiting for another interruption on a date to be named later. They’re staging their own job action of sorts.
So far this month, eight venues–including new-wave facilities in Pittsburgh, Houston, Milwaukee, Cleveland and even Baltimore–have established single-game lows, and we’re not even talking about traditional trouble spots such as Montreal, Florida or Comiskey Park. Or financially strapped franchises, because Texas’ crowds are down too. Or Snow Belt locales, because Oakland had 9,145 the other day.
Much of the apparent apathy stems from an absence of good tidings. Since the terrific World Series, we have heard some verbal sparring, but mostly silence, as per the decree of Commissioner Bud Selig. His punishment–fines to owners or executives for violating the gag order–was based on his recollection of 1994, when rhetoric was so heated before negotiations that a meltdown ensued. That’s commendable strategy on Selig’s part. However, I’m from the half-empty school. I fear that if we’re receiving almost no information about progress behind closed doors, that’s because there is no progress. It would behoove baseball, particularly with all those empty stadium chairs on sunny days, to announce something positive about where the 2002 season is headed. Instead, what you get are dribs and dribs from union chief Don Fehr, warning his minions to prepare for life without a few paychecks. If you’re the father of four thinking about taking the family to a game this summer, you might want to make other plans.
Most fans trust neither the owners nor the players, so it was no great surprise when a Forbes magazine article about baseball’s “real” financial figures precipitated debate. Why a reputable magazine would twist numbers so as to dispute management’s claims of poverty is a mystery.
Think about it. Wouldn’t Forbes receive just as much publicity if it backed what the owners are saying? Hey, these guys are telling the truth! Baseball is losing big money! The players are wrong! If I saw that headline on a study performed by an impartial third party, I’d read it. What’s more important, however, is this confirms our suspicions that one side is lying. It doesn’t matter which, because the owners and players deserve each other, but we don’t have to finance their obstinate taffy pull anymore.
When Selig uttered the word “contraction” while the Arizona Diamondbacks were still celebrating, a lot of very smart people thought he was bluffing and still do. Here again, even if you discard the message, go between the lines. If two or more teams have to go, the product must be substandard. So why are we being charged higher ticket prices for a season that isn’t guaranteed to finish? The answer from fans is clear: Don’t worry about staying away from the ballpark, fellas. We’ll do it for you.
