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 Wichita Aero |
AA-NL Challenge Preseason Event in KC |
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Posts: 25 ( 5-May-08 21:14:23) |
The AA-NL Challenge wound up a draw with both leagues winning 2 games in this weekend's 4 game event in KC. Saturday, May 3 Wichita(AA) 3, Fargo-Moorhead (NL) 2 Lincoln (AA) 8, Kansas City (NL) 1 Sunday, May 4 Fargo-Moorhead (NL) 8, Lincoln (AA) 3 Kansas City (NL) 13, Wichita (AA) 11 The attendance announced at the Sunday Wichita-KC game was announced as ~1100, but it must have been "Bring Your Invisible Friend to the Park Day". |
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HorseRaider |
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Posts: 204 ( 5-May-08 23:25:25) |
It's a exhibition game and they never seem to draw well. At least in Fort Worth. Maybe a couple hundred yesterday for the game vs. Shreveport here. When
the ones that count start up, then see what happens.
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nlfan |
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Posts: 5627 ( 6-May-08 02:22:38) |
Pre-season exhibition attendance will always lag since it's all about "evaluating talent," not working directly towards winning a championship. I
think it especially applies to indy ball which is never (solely) focused on player development but winning.
I also agree with KCKman, I wouldn't pay full price for a pre-season game unless there was something extra special about it (like celebrities, promos or something). For example I will pay the full $5 price to see tomorrow's game in Miesville. My bet is the KCK management thought they could get "full price" but selling double-headers. I think they should have stuck to the lower entry price and assumed extra profits from concessions. |
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Wichita Aero |
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Posts: 26 ( 6-May-08 22:25:45) |
Well, unfortunately, I paid the full, .....gulp!, $10.50 ticket price, along with a $50 tank of gas, in order to take a peek at our new Wingnuts, ...and to get
an idea of the talent level of this independent brand of baseball.
Defensively, I was impressed with the Wingnuts. They only made one error and displayed strong outfield arms from an exceptionally huge outfield in KC. It looks as though they were in wind-down mode already, as they started an outfielder on the mound (unless they were considering him for a conversion), who essentially served up batting practice to the T-boppers. The T-bones, on the other hand, were BRUTAL defensively, as they passed at least 4 errors around the infield positions while dropping a can-o-corn in left field. They have some big hitters in KC, but they have some work to do, defensively, in the next couple of weeks. Community Bank Ballpark was a great facility, and should be considered a model of what Wichita should consider in the near future, ....but that all-grass infield with dirt base sliding pits (pseudo-artificial turf pattern, to accommodate the KC Wizards soccer team) had to be as hard to play on as it was to watch. The Denver Bears of the old American Association had to configure their infield much the same way in the late 70's and early 80's to placate the needs of the NFL's Broncos in Mile High Stadium (originally Bears Stadium, by the way). Well, it's on to the regular season opener now,.....Bring on the Explorers! |
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kckman |
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Posts: 164 (13-May-08 21:44:34) |
For the record, the T-Bones management tried to sell these games as four separate admissions, full price for all tickets. Last year, they provided exhibition
tickets free to all those who bought a ticket package and probably did so again this year (which probably accounts for the "Bring Your Invisible
Friend" attendance count), but if anyone had decided to watch all four exhibition games in the Prime seats, it would have cost $60 for the weekend.
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nlfan |
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Posts: 5676 (13-May-08 21:55:42) |
Ugh... someone thought this was a "stellar" idea and "big time" series to treat it as multiple, full price admissions.
Sorry to say, even if this was the equivalent to the "World Series of Indy Ball" you'd be hard pressed to get enough people to show up in early May or mid-September. It's exhibition baseball and its all about evaluating talent, adjusting lineups, creating a cohesive team and getting into shape for the season. And that applies not just to the team, but the front offices and even fans (like me). If they do this again (which if attendance was as anemic as I suspect it was), I'm sure they'll get the hint and cut prices.
Last Edited By: nlfan
13-May-08 21:59:30.
Edited 1 times.
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kckman |
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Posts: 167 (13-May-08 22:43:11) |
BTW, I stand corrected. The T-Bones offered a "weekend package" for the NL/AA Challenge, offering a four-game pass for $1 off per game, which meant
that a weekend in the Prime seats would cost $56, NOT $60. A one-day, two game pass would cost $29 instead of $30, while WA's Choice seats would have cost
$38 instead of $42 for all four games. Big diff. BFD.
When they announced the series (news archive 3/18/08), they said "T-Bones season ticket holders will receive tickets to all both T-Bones games as a part of their regular package. . . The T-Bones ask that fans hold on to their ticket once they enter CommunityAmerica Ballpark, as the stadium will be cleared after each game." Now I attended all but one exhibition game last season (I had a 15-game package and all games were free), but I would have been counted in the total attendance whether I'd shown up or not. My guess is you'll see a lot of empty seats even this season even when they announce 7,000+ attendance. |
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