Monday February 6th, 2012
Douglas “Chuck” Booth (Baseball Writer)- At first you might say, what are baseball teams doing to our classic baseball parks? After a few minutes of thinking you will realize that your team is in business to make money just like every other multi-billion dollar industry. I am talking about ‘Gimmicks’ at the baseball yard of course. They are often there to attract more casual female fans and children into walking through the turnstiles. From a Ferris Wheel in Detroit, to increased kid/mom interactive coloring stations that are located in almost every park, these gimmicks give the casual fan something to spend their time doing at the ballpark. I consider myself a hard-core fan, so does this kind of thing bother me? Absolutely not… and I will tell you why.When I arrive at the ballpark, I am there to watch baseball only! I usually have traveled a long distance, spent a considerable amount of money, time and effort in order to watch these games from the stands. So what do I care if the stands are not full with people waiting for every pitch? To tell you honestly, I would rather the casual fans spend more time in the concourses occupying themselves, rather than disrupting anything in my realm of vision for the baseball game. Seeing kids throwing temper tantrums is normal in any public place, so if they are not in their seat while having a conniption fit- that is great.
I would go to a baseball games personally even if I was amongst dozens of fans. Weather would not be a factor, as far as length of game goes. I have all day to watch baseball. I understand some people simply can’t stomach baseball games that last a long time. Today’s modern game lasts on average about 159 minutes for National League Games and about 172 minutes for American League Games. I can see that keeping a kids attention span today is nearly impossible for that amount of time. So gimmicks are completely necessary to take some of the boredom away. Examples of gimmicks: I have seen those air houses that kids can jump around in placed in the outfield, booths for kids to have their face painted at the park and kiosks for women in which they could receive a manicure or have their hair done at the game. The most important gimmick night for the hard-core fans (that everyone still is drawn to the park for) is fireworks night. It has always help boost attendance while promoting people to stay until the end of the game to see them. This must increase extra food and beverage sales.
The bottom line is that baseball needs the casual fans like these. They still pay the ticket prices, parking and food that we do. So we do we want to alienate them from coming to the baseball park? In fact, we should be applauding them for keeping the prices down for us. 30 to 35 percent of the spectators present at any game are really the most avid fans. I love baseball because you can also go for a walk around the concourse and not miss any of the game action. It is on these walks where you can see a lot. The Mascots for each team are probably the most important visual for the kids. However, there are four current baseball teams do not currently have one: the Angels, Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees. To view all the old and still current day mascots for each team visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_mascots . For this reason, most of the teams will have a dedicated area to meet up with the fuzzy creatures during the game. Many of the baseball teams have also made it a routine to have the kids run the bases after the game on set days. Once again, the kids have to stay until the game is over to participate.
One novel idea caught my eye a few years ago at Safeco Field. They give out food and beverage pamphlets-that have a park map highlighted with all the cuisines of the park. This had me thinking. I believe it is time for all of the teams to construct a map of the park like most theme parks in America. This concept would be most advantageous for any park viewer. The map would carry a legend of all the sections, restaurants, bathrooms, kids’ zones, first aid and/or security. I am surprised that not one park has come forth with this yet. A person going to a ballpark for the first time needs as much guidance as possible. This is the very reason I wrote a book on the subject matter. The parks can be very intimidating for women and children especially, so a little clarity on where they should go will be very helpful.
In conclusion for the hard-core fan, the next time you see a gimmick that is catered to women and children remember that we need these fans. Just smile and head to your seat and enjoy the space. Hopefully the vendors will bring more food to your uncluttered section!
*** Thank you to our Baseball Writer- Douglas “Chuck” Booth for preparing today’s feature on MLB reports. To learn more about “The Fastest 30 Ballgames” and Chuck Booth, you can follow Chuck on Twitter (@ChuckBooth3024) and click here for Chuck’s website, fastestthirtyballgames.com***
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Great post on a topic that really isn’t talked about much, but is an essential part of the game
Personally one of my favorite “gimmicks” even as a hard core fan is the games they have set up at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. To my recollection they had some basebrunning game, pitch speed, batting cages, as well as a unique, interactive game on some big screen. Definitely one of the better ballparks I have been to.
I don’t have any problem at all with the gimmicks either; but it is pretty amazing how much things have changed. As a kid most games I went to were at the Vet in Philly and Memorial in Baltimore, and non-baseball amusements back then were pretty much nil.
Baseball these days has to compete with other forms of entertainment, especially in the summer. I live between Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore, and the growth I’ve seen at the shore has been incredible. It stands to reason that ballparks have turned into more total amusement centers. And you’re right, the length of the game is a factor, although it never bothers me!
As a fan of baseball starting at the age of 7 and now at 43 we have watched the owners and teams change so much over the years. When I was a child myself I always enjoyed going to games with my family, but it was my mother and I that went to 45+ games at County Stadium in Milwaukee. During my school spring breaks my mother always convinced my family father that we should go down to Florida because “the weather was better” but the truth is she loved spring training more then the regular season games. But the one thing that I am sure of is that what made this all possible is the fact that it was still affordable to take a family trip to the ball park.
As a father of two children ages 10 and 7 living in New York City, I have to say that the it has become a costly adventure to take in a game. Sitting in the 300 section of Yankees Stadium four tickets $340.00 dollars and this is before you even step foot into the stadium. Then by the time I buy four meals/snack another $100+ and forget the fact of any type of memorabilia. So the average outing at Yankees stadium for a family of four starting cost is most likely $500.00.
The reason I go into all this is because most families don’t have that type of money to spend on an outing where the kids might have the attention span of about 45 minutes. So it is important that parents feel that they are getting at least a fun filled activity for there money. At Stadiums like US Cellular, National and other stadiums they have fireworks after games on selected weekends. In Miller Park, US Cellular and Kauffman Stadiums that have kids areas that are designed to keep the occupied while still enjoying baseball and baseball activities. Stadiums like Miller Park, Kauffman and Target Field also have special events that I am sure help to draw the family crowds in larger number. For example in Milwaukee thy had a player appreciation day when 5 or 6 players signed autographs and interacted with the fans. At Kauffman the director of operations Morrie Carlson who arranges the tour of the stadium have several differnt tour on all price levels which include everything from meeting players to just a basic tour but you could choose what fit your budget, and up selling this family was pretty easy and all three stadium had an after game promotion on selected Sundays for kids 14 and under to run the bases.
So with all this being said for a hard core fan it might not be baseball of old but it does help keep a family together. What owners and players MUST understand is that in order to keep getting paid these salaries and charging these ticket prices you need to help cultivate the next generation of fans and those are kids.
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