Empty Stadium

[jmajew]

Did anyone else notice that the announced attendance last night was only about 33,000 and they said even less fans showed up than that. I pray that this trend continues. Maybe then it will make this organization realize that they can't keep sending out a horrible team and expect fans to show up. Does anyone else have an opnion on this?

 

As the White Sox keep selling out or are atleast near capacity and hte Cubs are half empty I begin to wonder if the cubs will start to lose alot of fans to the white sox. People don't want to watch a team lose day in and day out. I've heard before that this city goes through cycles. How at some points in the history of the city the Cubs outdrew and at others teh White Sox outdrew. Could this be one of those turning points. With the Sox being competetive, year in and year out, and the Cubs on a downward cycle with no Sammy Sosa to draw in fans even when they are horrible, I could see it happening.

 

Just to add I will never be a White Sox fan. I love the Cubs even when they stink. Even though i get incredible frustrated with them at times.

[BigbadB]

Coincidentally, I just received an email from Cubs.com informing me that there are still tickets available for some of the remaining games.

[kente777]

Did anyone else notice that the announced attendance last night was only about 33,000 and they said even less fans showed up than that. I pray that this trend continues. Maybe then it will make this organization realize that they can't keep sending out a horrible team and expect fans to show up. Does anyone else have an opnion on this?

 

As the White Sox keep selling out or are atleast near capacity and hte Cubs are half empty I begin to wonder if the cubs will start to lose alot of fans to the white sox. People don't want to watch a team lose day in and day out. I've heard before that this city goes through cycles. How at some points in the history of the city the Cubs outdrew and at others teh White Sox outdrew. Could this be one of those turning points. With the Sox being competetive, year in and year out, and the Cubs on a downward cycle with no Sammy Sosa to draw in fans even when they are horrible, I could see it happening.

 

Just to add I will never be a White Sox fan. I love the Cubs even when they stink. Even though i get incredible frustrated with them at times.

 

My sense is that this is and always will be a Cubs town. As bad as we are now, opening day '07 will be a huge sell out and it will be that way if and when the Cubs start stinking it up again.

 

Fans always hold out hope until, of course, there is none. Last night's attendance tells me the fans have finally given up this year.

[C.C.]

Did anyone else notice that the announced attendance last night was only about 33,000 and they said even less fans showed up than that. I pray that this trend continues. Maybe then it will make this organization realize that they can't keep sending out a horrible team and expect fans to show up. Does anyone else have an opnion on this?

 

As the White Sox keep selling out or are atleast near capacity and hte Cubs are half empty I begin to wonder if the cubs will start to lose alot of fans to the white sox. People don't want to watch a team lose day in and day out. I've heard before that this city goes through cycles. How at some points in the history of the city the Cubs outdrew and at others teh White Sox outdrew. Could this be one of those turning points. With the Sox being competetive, year in and year out, and the Cubs on a downward cycle with no Sammy Sosa to draw in fans even when they are horrible, I could see it happening.

 

Just to add I will never be a White Sox fan. I love the Cubs even when they stink. Even though i get incredible frustrated with them at times.

 

My sense is that this is and always will be a Cubs town. As bad as we are now, opening day will be huge and it will be that way if and when the Cubs start stinking it up again.

 

Fans always hold out hope until, of course, there is none. Last night's attendance tells me the fans have finally given up this year.

 

It's a Cubs\Bears town. If the Cubs even sniff 1st place you can just feel the buzz in the City...

[NorthsideBadger]

I have 6 bleacher seats for tonights game and spent all day trying to unload them for free. This is the first time that has ever happened.

 

I would say that out of the 8000-10000 empty seats last night, a majority were tickets that scalpers were sitting on. Because as we all know, the Cubs Virtually sold the stadium out in February.

 

Good news for us though, the biggest scalper is the cubs themselves and I am glad to see the empty seats. When i am at the game tonight I may be able to stretch out some.

[NorthsideAvenger]

My sense is that this is and always will be a Cubs town. As bad as we are now, opening day '07 will be a huge sell out and it will be that way if and when the Cubs start stinking it up again.

 

I used to think that. And if the White Sox sniff the World Series AGAIN this yr, I believe the momentum will be shifting towards the Southside. So, IMO, this offseason is a CRITICAL offseason for Hendry, cause he already has a bitter fanbase to try and appease, and if he has a another BAD offseason (I mean trading three young pitchers for another medicore player, or signing a medicore player), I could see the attendance for Cubs game to drop dramatically.

[A New Era]

I think the Cubs attendance will continue to be a bit low this year. And unless some big moves are made next year, they won't break 3 million.

 

I'm glad it's happening and hopefully the trib will do something about it.

[dalgreen]

People not going to games in September doesn't mean the same thing as people not going to games in June, July and August. We've been out of the race since mid-May, and it took this long for the lowest attendance of the year?

[dalgreen]

I think the Cubs attendance will continue to be a bit low this year. And unless some big moves are made next year, they won't break 3 million.

 

I'm glad it's happening and hopefully the trib will do something about it.

 

At this point, the Tribune should say, "Jim you don't know how to manage a $90 million+ budget, so we'll see how you handle a $75 million budget."

 

I don't blame the Tribune, they've given Hendry the resources needed to field a contending team, he just doesn't know how to construct a contending team.

[A New Era]

I think the Cubs attendance will continue to be a bit low this year. And unless some big moves are made next year, they won't break 3 million.

 

I'm glad it's happening and hopefully the trib will do something about it.

 

At this point, the Tribune should say, "Jim you don't know how to manage a $90 million+ budget, so we'll see how you handle a $75 million budget."

 

I don't blame the Tribune, they've given Hendry the resources needed to field a contending team, he just doesn't know how to construct a contending team.

 

Possible, but remember the Tribune's #1 priority is making money. They could lower the budget if they wanted to risk less fans going to the games. In any case, it's nice to finally see Wrigely with lots 'o empty seats again. They certainly do deserve it.

[Irishoshea21]

I live out of Chicago now, and am finally seeing highlights from the other night.

 

The bleachers are empty, it's crazy

[d_money]

I don't blame the Tribune, they've given Hendry the resources needed to field a contending team, he just doesn't know how to construct a contending team.

 

Yes, they've given fat Jim the resources...but at a cost to the baseball operations. There's no accountability at the Trib, their focus is the shareholders. They pressure McGwire/MacPhail to market everything Cub related (bricks, concerts, all things wrigley, corporate events, roof tops, budweiser, bleachers, etc...), its overindulgent and makes me sick.

 

I'm glad no one is going to the games, its about time. Its the only way to get the trib's attention. Unfortunately, like another poster stated - it always happens too late in the season when the money's already made.

 

The reason why Cub fans are laughed at b/c they like going to "Wrigley Field", what happens on the field is window dressing. If you want to the team win, it may take the trib selling (which they won't do) or blowing up the dump known as wrigely (which won't happen either).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Harping on Hendry because of his weight or calling him "fat Jim" in my opinion weakens the rest of the article. His weight has little to do with his ability to be a GM and seems to be a mean-spirited slap at him.

 

There are far better things to criticize him for than his weight and, and using it at every opportunity causes most valid criticism to be overlooked.

 

This isn't the same as criticizing a player's weight as that could directly affect performance.

[daske17]

I don't blame the Tribune, they've given Hendry the resources needed to field a contending team, he just doesn't know how to construct a contending team.

 

Yes, they've given fat Jim the resources...but at a cost to the baseball operations. There's no accountability at the Trib, their focus is the shareholders. They pressure McGwire/MacPhail to market everything Cub related (bricks, concerts, all things wrigley, corporate events, roof tops, budweiser, bleachers, etc...), its overindulgent and makes me sick.

 

I'm glad no one is going to the games, its about time. Its the only way to get the trib's attention. Unfortunately, like another poster stated - it always happens too late in the season when the money's already made.

 

The reason why Cub fans are laughed at b/c they like going to "Wrigley Field", what happens on the field is window dressing. If you want to the team win, it may take the trib selling (which they won't do) or blowing up the dump known as wrigely (which won't happen either).

 

Okay, seriously, the fat jokes about Hendry are getting really old. Once in a while the jokes are funny, but when every mention of Hendry includes his weight, it ruins the high level of discourse this board is known for.

 

I'm not just singling out d_money, but it's an observation that I've had for the past couple of weeks. With the wide array of ways to besmirch Hendry, do we need to resort to schoolyard taunts?

[d_money]

I will promise to never refer to Jim Hendry as "#$@ Jim". Point taken.

[biittner77]

People not going to games in September doesn't mean the same thing as people not going to games in June, July and August. We've been out of the race since mid-May, and it took this long for the lowest attendance of the year?

 

Serves the Cubs right. The idea of adding night games was supposed to be so they wouldn't have to play so many hot August day games. Instead the Cubs schedule night games in April and September so they can make more money.

[kevigre]

It all starts at the top. Mediocrity is accepted as long as the Cubs continue to make money for the Tribune. The single fact that MacPhail (face of the Tribune) gave Hendry an extension proves this fact. Let's follow the chain of command:

 

Players have no fire to win and make excuses with they loose (2004 season). Coaches set the mood in the clubhouse.

 

Coaches make excuses all the time (players hurt, no left handed batting practice pitcher) and don't get the best out of their players (Patterson).

 

GM didn't address the issues of the personel (Prior, Wood injuries). Can not judge talent. Doesn't fire manager despite no intention of keeping him on staff for another year.

 

President (MacPhail) rewards the loosing record of the Cubs by giving Hendry an extension. Always thinks of new ways to make money for the Trubine so he keeps his job regardless of Win/Lossess.

 

So as you can see it all stems from the top. Sure the payroll is high but with incompetent people in place we will continue the World Series drought.

[jyoung55]

Great news! Stop going... every one of you. If you love the cubs... stop going.

[daske17]

The Tribune play-by-play blog is estimating about 5,000 people in the stands today, most of them behind home plate. Obviously not the exact total, but there it is.

[d_money]

Great news! Stop going... every one of you. If you love the cubs... stop going.

 

Amen. It can't be said enough.

[Soriano12]

Great news! Stop going... every one of you. If you love the cubs... stop going.

 

Won't matter this year. Most of the tickets have been sold already.

 

Trib has their cash and they could care less.

[synergy]

So much for winning the attendance trophy in Chicago. If the White Sox go deep this year in the playoffs, I think there will be a shift of fans to the White Sox. I remember when the White Sox were more popular in the 50's and 60's. Cubs then became popular due to the 69 Cubs up till now.

[A New Era]

Great news! Stop going... every one of you. If you love the cubs... stop going.

 

Won't matter this year. Most of the tickets have been sold already.

 

Trib has their cash and they could care less.

 

But, if Hendry does not sign a big name like Soriano and make a big splash showing a positive change going into 07 then I can bet you they will not reach 3 million next year, and tickets will not sell nearly as fast.

 

This is good, because it is a warning sign to the tribune (what is happening right now). They feel the pressure, and andy MacPhail (F A I L) will speak with Jim about making a big splash this offseason.

[Jon]

Great news! Stop going... every one of you. If you love the cubs... stop going.

 

Won't matter this year. Most of the tickets have been sold already.

 

Trib has their cash and they could care less.

Paid attendance was a pathetic 27,105 today. But if actual attendance was significantly lower, they're missing out on plenty of money thanks to lost concession and merchandise sales.

[Laura]

Actual attendance was significantly lower and the people who have been going to the games aren't buying bleacher tickets.