Calgary Vipers - League attendance

[KipperIsGod]

http://www.northernleague.com/statis...sub=attendance

what is wrong with us? average of only 794 fans per game. Worst attendance in the league. Even Edmonton is beating us in that department It looks like Winnipeg is doing good with their fans...over 6000 per game, you think with a city of over a million people,thered be way more people at Vipers games. Come on people,start going to games!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

http://www.northernleague.com/statis...sub=attendance

what is wrong with us? average of only 794 fans per game. Worst attendance in the league. Even Edmonton is beating us in that department It looks like Winnipeg is doing good with their fans...over 6000 per game, you think with a city of over a million people,thered be way more people at Vipers games. Come on people,start going to games!

Because I've got better things to do, and I'm sure others feel the same way. Hell, sitting on my porch, drinking beer, and listening to the Jays on the radio qualifies as something better to do.

[KipperIsGod]

right,and when the Vipers win some championships and you guys want to go to games..youll be considered bandwagon jumpers Ive been a season ticket holder since day 1.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

right,and when the Vipers win some championships and you guys want to go to games..youll be considered bandwagon jumpers Ive been a season ticket holder since day 1.

Nope. I still won't go. If they become an MLB of even a AAA team then I'll go.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

right,and when the Vipers win some championships and you guys want to go to games..youll be considered bandwagon jumpers Ive been a season ticket holder since day 1.

The Vipers had 4,000 fans out to their first ever game and poor planning and lack of staff led to a huge lineup to get in, not enough concessions and the game being delayed.

You have one chance to make a first impression. The Viper's blew theirs big time. They have no one to blame for themselves

And I don't think anyone gives a rats rear end of the Vipers win the championship.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The Vipers had 4,000 fans out to their first ever game and poor planning and lack of staff led to a huge lineup to get in, not enough concessions and the game being delayed.

You have one chance to make a first impression. The Viper's blew theirs big time. They have no one to blame for themselves

And I don't think anyone gives a rats rear end of the Vipers win the championship.

Nope. I was a huge Cannons fan growing up, but I wouldn't even blink if the Vipers left town.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

It looks like Winnipeg is doing good with their fans...over 6000 per game, you think with a city of over a million people,thered be way more people at Vipers games. Come on people,start going to games!

If the Vipers sold Salsbury House burgers at their games like the Goldeyes do, I would go in a heartbeat.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, I can definatly say, that even if the Vipers win 10 championships in a row, i won't be jumping on that bandwagon any time soon.

Baseball is boring enought as it is, why would I want to watch bad baseball?

[KipperIsGod]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Nope. I still won't go. If they become an MLB of even a AAA team then I'll go.

Im sure people in Edmonton could say the same thing after the Trappers left, but there still supporting the cracker cats. Edmonton must have more loyal fans.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

Im sure people in Edmonton could say the same thing after the Trappers left, but there still supporting the cracker cats. Edmonton must have more loyal fans.

Well what else is there to do in Edmonton? You can't just stand around unemployed and combing your mullet all day.

[KipperIsGod]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Well what else is there to do in Edmonton? You can't just stand around unemployed and combing your mullet all day.

that is true,very true

[Resolute 14]

Well, the Northern League isnt "bad" baseball, though it isnt AAA. Hell the Cannons were barely AAA themselves thanks to the pitiful affiliates we had.

Most of the Vipers woes are self inflicted. They are an organization owned by a guy with no experience as a sports owner, run by an arrogant clown who has killed every sports team and league he has been associated with.

The Vipers have ****ed off nearly everyone with their poor game day presentation early on (though it is much better now), with their poor planning, with their poor attitude and poor customer service.

The city of Calgary could very easily support the Northern League. However, the Vipers will only be supported if they show they deserve it.

[CaramonLS]

Just not a big fan of "that type of baseball". I really don't have any interest in players who have absolutely no future in Major league baseball.

Show me AA or AAA and I'll hop on board. Sadly, I only really became a baseball fan after the Cannons left town, so I never had the chance to experience much of it in this city.

There is a market for that type of baseball in Calgary, but both sides have to come together and compromise. ML teams will send their players when there is a stadium in place which doesn't produce more homeruns than Colorado (or a Humidor would probably help). It ruins players. I know Billy Beane had a couple choice words for Calgary in his Money ball book, and said it ruined players.

[KipperIsGod]

The thing is with a team that is affiliated with a Major league team..if the player got sent down,he would probably be ticked off that he was sent down and not try for awhile. The thing with the Vipers players,these players WANT to be here and are much more happier to be here then a player who just got sent down.

[Resolute 14]

Poor argument, KIG. AAA players usually fall into three categories:

1. Kids on their way up. Happy to advance a level, and try harder knowing they are one step away.
2. Kids on the way down, ****ed that they got demoted. Try harder as they feel they have something to prove.
3. Vets at the end of their carreers, playing because they either love the game, or can't let it go.

Disparaging AAA ball is not going to win you any converts to indy ball.

Besides, lets face it, most NorL players dont WANT to be here. They are here becuase they want to get paid, and in many cases, becuase of the longshot chance to get back into affiliated ball.

Indy ball will lose to AA/AAA affiliated ball in almost every comparison.

Though, I will say that anyone waiting for AAA to return to Calgary will be disapointed. The PCL wanted out of Canada, and isnt coming back, even if we built a new ballpark. The Northwest and Pioneer leagues are too far away, so any affiliated ball is out. Besides, both the Vipers and Dawgs offer a higher quality of play than any rookie or low-A league does.

For the most part, fans in this city just want a relaxing, fun night outdoors. That is what the Vipers need to offer if they hope to survive. They need to resolve all of these little issues that **** people off (ie: excessively long lineups at concessions when there are only 500 people in the stands). They need to make sure that people have a good time, and leave saying "I will come back."

They need to promote themselves. ie: The Vipers schedule lists June 30 as Fireworks night. I dont know if they are doing the fireworks themselves, or if they are merely trying to leetch off of any event at McMahon like they did last year, but in the face of the City's embarrassing cancellation of it's Canada Day display, why the hell arent the Vipers promoting the hell out of their event?

Simply terrible marketing of this team.

[BaronInEdmonton]

Here's the thing Calgary. AAA isn't coming back, the PCL doesn't want anything to do with Canada. AA isn't coming, their is no AA in the west, midwest, or north. The closest affiliated league to Calgary (and Edmonton) is the single-A Pioneer League. They don't want anything to do with Canada either. Remember Medicine Hat and Lethbridge had teams? Heck Calgary even had a Pioneer League team 20 years ago. (The Expos, never won a championship) The Pioneer League doesn't want anything to do with Canada, the whole of organized baseball doesn't want anything to do with Canada.

The Northern League is the best baseball that is availiable for the people of Alberta. Stop dreaming of the past (you sound like Edmontonians) and support what you've got.

[FireFly]

My cousin apparently works for the Vipers so I suppose I'll go to a few games.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by BaronInEdmonton

Here's the thing Calgary. AAA isn't coming back, the PCL doesn't want anything to do with Canada. AA isn't coming, their is no AA in the west, midwest, or north. The closest affiliated league to Calgary (and Edmonton) is the single-A Pioneer League. They don't want anything to do with Canada either. Remember Medicine Hat and Lethbridge had teams? Heck Calgary even had a Pioneer League team 20 years ago. (The Expos, never won a championship) The Pioneer League doesn't want anything to do with Canada, the whole of organized baseball doesn't want anything to do with Canada.

The Northern League is the best baseball that is availiable for the people of Alberta. Stop dreaming of the past (you sound like Edmontonians) and support what you've got.

I'll support an independent team if they do a good job and create a good atmosphere at the park. I'll also support a team that understands how they fit in with the entire fabrice of the sports team and doesn't kick out another team.

The level of ball isn't the problem...its the fact that they've done a poor job of marketing and presenting their product. And now its too late.

[BaronInEdmonton]

I understand your point Jiri. You and I fundamentally disagree on how and when a team should be supported.

I'm not saying the Vipers have done anything but a terrible job of running the franchise. They've been brutal, no doubt about it. Our differences are that I'll support the onfield team regardless of the off field shenanigans. I hope you'll come around and support the Vipers for the sake of having the best brand of baseball possible in Calgary. As I hope people with similiar opinions do in Edmonton.

[Resolute 14]

Actually, the Pioneer league (which is rookie ball, not single-A) only left Medicine Hat and Lethbridge because neither market supported the team. Medicine Hat was only averaging about 700 fans their final year, and losing the affiliation with the Jays was only going to hurt that.