Attendance: Where did the fans go?

rink23 · 02-27-2020, 05:55 AM

So I am in the 2026 season for my St. Louis River Walkers.
We're coming off a World Series championship in 2025 and are in first place in our division with three games to go before the All-Star break.
And we rank next to last in attendance at 24,702 per game.
I didn't keep close track, but I don't remember a season prior to this, where we didn't finish in the top 5.
And, although we have always finished over .500 since establishing this league in 2018, we went through a stretch from 2020 to 2024 where we did not make the playoffs.
But the fans still showed up.

Last year, we averaged 49,369.so it's down almost 50 percent.
Why are they staying away, and how can I bring them back?
It's not like I need to start winning.

Westheim · 02-27-2020, 08:06 AM

By default, team markets can change size randomly. Also, letting key players leave via free agency or trade can crash and indeed wreck interest in the team. The game should inform you of that via a message.

rink23 · 02-27-2020, 06:04 PM

I figured it out, ownership quadrupled the ticket prices ($27 to $125).
I guess that was due to a rise in payroll -- team went from 12th to 2nd in offseason -- primarily due to some huge arbitration payoffs in the offseason.
Didn't really make any free-agent signings -- the one I did was basically offset by one player who left -- but looking at the market most of the other teams let their payrolls drop in the 2025-26 offseason while ours climbed significantly.

Rain King · 02-27-2020, 07:37 PM

That'll do it.

joefromchicago · 02-28-2020, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rink23

I figured it out, ownership quadrupled the ticket prices ($27 to $125).

"Dad, can we go to the ballgame?"
"Sure, son. We'll just have to stop off at the bank first so I can take out a loan to pay for the tickets."

goroyals · 02-28-2020, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joefromchicago

"Dad, can we go to the ballgame?"
"Sure, son. We'll just have to stop off at the bank first so I can take out a loan to pay for the tickets."

Marketing department:

2025: Come see the River Walkers. Fun for the whole family!

2026: The St. Louis River Walkers are not for every fan. Only the baseball connoisseur, the purist, the refined student of the national pastime, will appreciate the artisan approach our players have perfected. Quotes available upon request.

goroyals · 02-28-2020, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rink23

I figured it out, ownership quadrupled the ticket prices ($27 to $125).
I guess that was due to a rise in payroll -- team went from 12th to 2nd in offseason -- primarily due to some huge arbitration payoffs in the offseason.
Didn't really make any free-agent signings -- the one I did was basically offset by one player who left -- but looking at the market most of the other teams let their payrolls drop in the 2025-26 offseason while ours climbed significantly.

Extra funny since, afaik the "ticket price" is an abstraction for the actual profit from each attending fan (since fixed expenses are not modeled). So, STL fans are likely shelling out an average of ~$175 for tickets (maybe $75-100 for the bleachers!).

The real question is your bottom line. What is proj. 2026 revenue vs. 2025 numbers?

rink23 · 02-29-2020, 01:54 AM

Profit margin was $72.2M in the black on 2025.

We're on track to lose $29.4M in 2026.

At least we're in first place at the All-Star break.

02-27-2020, 05:55 AM	#1
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 17,946	Attendance: Where did the fans go? So I am in the 2026 season for my St. Louis River Walkers. We're coming off a World Series championship in 2025 and are in first place in our division with three games to go before the All-Star break. And we rank next to last in attendance at 24,702 per game. I didn't keep close track, but I don't remember a season prior to this, where we didn't finish in the top 5. And, although we have always finished over .500 since establishing this league in 2018, we went through a stretch from 2020 to 2024 where we did not make the playoffs. But the fans still showed up. Last year, we averaged 49,369.so it's down almost 50 percent. Why are they staying away, and how can I bring them back? It's not like I need to start winning.

02-27-2020, 08:06 AM	#2
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 11,892	By default, team markets can change size randomly. Also, letting key players leave via free agency or trade can crash and indeed wreck interest in the team. The game should inform you of that via a message. __________________ Portland Raccoons, 83 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.

02-27-2020, 06:04 PM	#3
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 17,946	I figured it out, ownership quadrupled the ticket prices ($27 to $125). I guess that was due to a rise in payroll -- team went from 12th to 2nd in offseason -- primarily due to some huge arbitration payoffs in the offseason. Didn't really make any free-agent signings -- the one I did was basically offset by one player who left -- but looking at the market most of the other teams let their payrolls drop in the 2025-26 offseason while ours climbed significantly.

02-27-2020, 07:37 PM	#4
Rain King Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,108	That'll do it.

02-29-2020, 01:54 AM	#8
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 17,946	Profit margin was $72.2M in the black on 2025. We're on track to lose $29.4M in 2026. At least we're in first place at the All-Star break.