It's the entire culture that's the problem. Huge capacity, poor location, and cheap tickets creates a situation where there's no actual demand for tickets. It's not special to go to a game. The seat you have is not coveted. That has an effect on the crowd because you aren't competing with hard core fans to get that seat. It's too easy and cheap. That's why the crowd is indifferent. People have a hard time giving Dodger tickets away. Whereas SF, Boston or Cubs fans would be so fortunate to even get in the gate. Empty seats change the atmosphere. I don't care what anyone says. I have to watch road games in San Francisco on mute because their crowd makes me anxious. That's what I want for us at DS. The Dodgers need to take a look at their ballpark experience. We literally have a Muppet telling a half empty stadium to "make some noise!" I think they need to phase out 81 game season ticket plans. Sell only 30 game packs so you have a steady rotation of different people each night who don't want to waste their money by not showing up. Tastefully convert many seating sections into standing room and suites. They can easily demolish the pavilions and rebuild replicas with fewer seats and more amenities. The reserve level would be tough to renovate and remove seats without looking tacky but I'm sure they can do something. This is just trying to improve what we have. The real solution is leaving the ravine (the location ingress/egress wise is horrid and has a major effect on attendance), but I don't want to do that.
And the television contract is playing a big part in this too. Out of sight, out of mind. They need to make a deal with Direct TV to get the Dodgers back into bars/restaurants. And they need to sell about 30 games to over the air TV to get into all homes and create new fans
PS I'm glad to be in first place! I don't know why this issue has bothered me over the last few seasons but it does.
FIFY The crowd is typical LA and it was the same for the Raiders. Lakers and Kings have smaller venues and a lot more recent success, the kind that really matters anyway. TBT refer to the above People also hated Iron Man and Beautiful People Intriguing but a lot of those seats are corporately owned and they don't care if they get used every day. Pavillions are iconic but having actual seats could lower the capacity and attract more people, although they'd have to be wider if they do AYCE! That, and the TV contract pays them to not have to care as much, as they have shown they don't, as they are now in save mode with the payroll
To add.... It was McCourts intention (at first) to sell the team to another limited partnership, spin it out and build a downtown stadium in the old warehouse district by Staples and then develop the ravine into housing and retail until the powers that be convinced him otherwise with huge tax incentives for 25 years, along with the threat of all the typical red tape city council bullshit he'd have faced getting it done. I love DS as much as anyone but would that have been a bad thing considering all the proximity/capacity/accessibility stuff mentioned above? It's not about McCourt being involved either.....
But I agree I wish our capacity was cut down some more. The packed housed environment is way better. But it'll never happen at this stadium, so be it.
Dodgers lineup: Utley 2B Seager SS Turner 3B Reddick RF Gonzalez 1B Grandal C Pederson CF Kendrick LF Kazmir P
the new normal lineup against righties, can't complain. Lets win again. in the meantime, go Pirates. Sweep those ugly fuckers
I haven't come around on Puig. I'll never trust him to do anything when it matters. I was angry initially that inferior outfielders got to stay on the roster. But after reading Andy Mccalough's (sp?) article about the situation, it appears there was way more to the decision than we thought. Sending Puig down needed to be done and hopefully it helps him reach his potential.
