Tell you what. If the Nationals ever stick around long enough to be eliminated from the playoffs in the final days of the season, let's be there cheering loudly. Especially if one of the best young pitching prospect in the game is the starter.
It wasn't just late arrivals either. Check out the sparse crowd in the background after Brian McCann's 8th inning strikeout in a 1-1 game:
And this is the most enthusiastic shot that Fox Sports South could find after Garret Anderson's 2,500th career hit. The golf applause was pathetic. Yeah, he hasn't been a Brave that long, but an away crowd would do better than that.
As if the annoying tomahawk cheer wasn't bad enough, now we know they're all a bunch of quitters.
8 comments:
I lived in Atlanta during the heyday, 1992 to 1999, always a pathetic fan base. If someone has the time, one should look at the attendance compared to market size. I'll bet it is near the bottom even though they are one of the best "products" in MLB. The stadium is in a rotten spot, at the intersection of two major interstates, but still, they should be able to draw fans.
I think 25,000 hits would be a record...
Ha! Indeed.
The Braves have never had a rabid fan base even in the 90's when they won the division regularly and played in post season. We've had World Series games that didn't sell out!
Big issue- rapid transit system (MARTA) train doesn't go to Turner Field. You have to get off the train and then get on a bus to the field. And then repeat to go home.
Also, rumor had it that most people in the stands used corporate paid-for tickets (Coke, Home Depot). Now that the economy has reduced those type tickets' availability, more seats are empty.
If the Cubs, Mets, Red Sox, or Yankees, are in town you can usually see as many of their fans as Braves fans in the stands.
When is the next podcast?
Steven,
OT for this thread, I realize, but wanted to put it out there... I don't know if you're not wanting to jinx it with Rigs still in the manager's seat for at least a couple more games, but wondering your thoughts on Eric Wedge now that he's been let go by the Indians. To me, he'd be a much more exciting managing option than a recycled Bobby Valentine...
Maybe the stadium was empty but the announced attendance was 38,237.
I was there a couple weekends ago, when they were still mathematically in the wildcard race. It was a little depressing not to see the stands full even then, because not only were they in contention but they are a good team to watch.
Not that it would drive fans away, but the stadium has got a little shabby: pieces of the ribbon board don't work, and portions of the upper deck whose facings have been removed (or have fallen off) look kind of unsightly.
The new jumbo screen is very good, but it is infested by two Clints (one pregame and one during the game). I think that alone might keep me home if I were an Atlanta fan.
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