The Cleveland Indians' Greatest Obstacle in 2007 - Attendance

by Livinthesportslife

The 2007 season for the Cleveland Indians has been nothing short of exciting. I just wish more people could realize this and actually go to the ballpark. Maybe everyone spent too much money on Cavaliers gear, hoping that spending hundreds of dollars on Eastern Conference Champions stuff would will the team to a victory in the Finals – obviously, it didn’t happen. Maybe the lack of attendance at Indians games is because everyone is afraid.

“What?!” you may shout, flabbergasted at such a ridiculous notion. However, the city of Cleveland is well documented for having its fair share of heart-breaks when it comes to sports. So, as the Indians battle the Detroit Tigers and, possibly, the Minnesota Twins (don’t let anyone fool you – the White Sox are toast) for first place all season, fans are unwilling to go because they are afraid the team might falter down the stretch. Hey, I never said we were the smartest fans in the world.

Of course, it would be great to see the stadium packed as the team makes a run at the playoffs, but no one wants to go see another losing effort. I go to games no matter how the season goes, but that’s just me (and it sure feels like it’s just me doing that). I want the stadium filled, even if it means that I can’t buy the cheapest seats in the park and sneak down to some better ones after the first few innings.

That being said, I was flipping through my Batter Up! (a pretty lame excuse as a replacement to the old in-game magazine – it serves literally no purpose other than acting as yet another outlet for advertisements and that’s it) magazine and found an ad for the Indians’ Stretch Run Ticket Plan. According to the ad, there are “guaranteed seats for the remainder of the season and playoff priority for the 2007 postseason.” It’s our last chance to become season ticket holders for the 2007 season!

Shouldn’t we just be happy that the playoffs are merely mentioned in the same breath as this team? The Indians are not a Cinderella team; they are very good and deserve to be at the top of the AL Central standings. However, everyone in Cleveland acts as if this is some sort of an anomaly, as if the team was projected to lose 100 games and this dream will come crashing down soon enough.

The Tribe is supposed to be this good! Sure, maybe they are exceeding expectations just a tad by having one of the best records in ALL of the Majors, but that is what championship teams do, right?; that is, rise to the occasion?

It’s unfortunate that the team is near the bottom of the league in attendance. It will be even more annoying and unfortunate to my freedom in the park when the fans start trickling in as the season comes to a close and the Tribe is securing a playoff spot. Will everyone magically find their money again so they could spend it on the Indians? Or perhaps everyone will finally be done disgracing what used to be the greatest fan base in all of baseball?

The only thing I know is that I’ll be right there all season, in the cheap seats, cheering on my team no matter what happens.

ChristofMVP

896 days ago

Score 1

Does it really matter to the team if attendance is low? This is especially true at the MBL level. Their contracts are guarantee, whether or not a single fan shows up to a game.

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SeanmcseanVarsity

896 days ago

Score 0

I heard this a few weeks ago. It amazes me that interest in the Indians died so quickly. For the first five years the Jake was open, they were selling out FULL SEASONS much less individual games. Tickets at the Jake were nearly impossible to get. I'd love to have an exciting team like the Indians around. Who wouldn't want to go see Grady Sizemore, Vic Martinez, Ryan Garko, and Travis Hafner?

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WoodsmeisterVarsity Captain

896 days ago

Score 2

What people outside of Cleveland don't understand is that the 90s in Cleveland were the perfect storm. New stadium, exciting team, no Browns, Cavs big run of the Mark Price/Brad Daugherty/Larry Nance years is over. Indians get to the playoffs, Jacobs Field becomes the place to see and be seen. People who never got into baseball before, like my Mom, fall in love with the team.

Then -

Manny Ramirez bolts for Boston. People who don't understand think that Dolan is just being cheap by not signing him.

Jim Thome bolts for Philadelphia. See above.

Colon - traded. Sandy Alomar - team lets him walk as a free agent. Robbie Alomar - traded for a bucket of balls and some fungo bats. More feeling around town that Dolan is cheap.

Several years pass - Indians get good again. In 2005, the team makes that magical run at the White Sox. City falls in love with team again. Team chokes, but expectations raised for 2006.

In 2006, team stumbles out of the gate as bullpen collapses. Offseason brings no significant moves to bring in a big name that casual fans will recognize. Many casual fans waiting out the first few months to see if the 2007 team is legitimate, having been burned by the 2006 team. Home opener snowed out. Early season weather sucks. One series moved to Milwaukee. Team essentially loses 7 early games. Indians fans in general think, "why should I sit in 40 degree weather at a Monday night game in April to see them play Kansas City when I can buy tickets for the Yankees series in August."

That, in a nutshell, is why Indians' attendance sucks. If they stay in contention, which they should, attendance will pick up, especially on the weekends, as people get back on the bandwagon. The Yankees and Boston series' are coming. It will get better.

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KelsdadAll-Star

896 days ago

Score 0

Great point, Woody. MLB screwed the Indians by moving that series. If I was a season ticket holder I would demand a credit for those games. Maybe what baseball should do is schedule the Yankees or Sox early in the season so they get a sellout early, some of those bandwagon fans would be more likely to go in the summer when its warmer even if they are playing Kansas City.

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