how would YOU fix the sox attendance woes?

[mr_genius]

I attended 10 games in 2012.

 

My reason for not attending more?

 

I live in the VERY far south suburbs right off I-55. On a good night I can be to the Cell in 40 minutes. On a bad night it can take 120 minutes.

 

The unexpected traffic tie-ups have forced me to turn going to a game into a major production.

 

I can no longer get off work, grab the family and roll to a game on a Tuesday night with work/school on Wednesday morning. I've gotta take off work early, the kid's schedule needs to be cleared the next day etc.

 

I know that "traffic" always will happen, and always has, but I just do not think it used to be this bad and especially this unpredictable.

 

yea, i think traffic and parking costs are issues for a lot of people. but i can just take the train in so i have no excuse.

[ewokpelts]

I always thought it would be cool if you could use your ticket to enter a raffle for memorabilia or future tickets. Each game you go to enters you into a raffle where some memorabilia and tickets or suites are raffled off.

 

What if you went to a game, used your ticket to enter a raffle with these prizes being raffled off for each game:

 

- 30 Autographed Balls (one by each white sox player and coach there that game) - Cost - $240 ($8/ball)

- 5 Autugraphed Bats used in batting practice - Cost - $250 ($50/bat)

- 10 4 Packs of tickets to be used for future weekday games - Cost - $0

- 1 Suite for a weekday game (no food/drink) - Cost - $0

 

I think that would be an incentive for me to go to a game if I was wavering. What do you guys think?

actually, the costs of such prizes is even lower, as the teams has players sign a lot of items in ST.

 

but they draw at least 24k without door prizes. why do it when they already lowered prices?

 

[southsider2k5]

The Chairman Speaks.

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago...75998530047-915

 

DAN HAYES

white_sox_insider_flag

 

 

ROSEMONT -- Jerry Reinsdorf was terse on several topics Wednesday night, but didn’t mind a brief discussion on White Sox ticket prices.

 

The team’s owner since 1981, Reinsdorf thinks the franchise has corrected ticket prices that were out of balance with the rest of baseball.

 

Last month, the White Sox announced they would lower prices on a significant number of season ticket packages and individual game tickets in an attempt to reconnect with fans after they conducted an extensive study on fan support. The team also lowered parking prices.

 

“If you take the so-called good seats, the premier seats, they were the fourth cheapest in all of baseball,” Reinsdorf said at Major League Baseball’s owners meetings, which conclude Thursday. “But then when you got into the lesser-quality seats, they were among the highest in baseball. So what we did was rebalance it. We raised the prices significantly on the inside seats and we’ve cut the prices substantially on the outside seats just to get where they ought to be.”

 

Those surveys provided Reinsdorf and his decision-makers with ample evidence the product isn’t why the White Sox failed to draw two million fans to U.S. Cellular Field last season for the first time since 2004. So what does Reinsdorf believe is the biggest issue the White Sox face?

 

“Traffic,” Reinsdorf said. “The biggest problem is how long it takes to get to the ballpark.”

 

Reinsdorf joked as he deflected comment on several other questions including his team’s nucleus -- “you want Rick Hahn’s extension?” -- and a controversial trade that would send Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio from the Miami Marlins to the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

“That’s above my pay grade,” Reinsdorf said with a smile.

[BigSqwert]

From the Sox facebook page:

The Chicago White Sox are pleased to introduce “Family Sundays” at U.S. Cellular Field in 2013! This new ballpark experience will cover all 13 Sunday home games and feature $15, $10 and $5 seating in select areas of the ballpark. We’re also including $10 parking on Family Sundays, and for kids only: special autograph sessions and the opportunity to run the bases after the game!

 

The Family Sunday offer comes as the next step by the White Sox in the club’s response to feedback from its fans. Family Sundays allow kids and families to share an affordable and memorable baseball experience.

[Bubba Philips]

From the Sox facebook page:

April is always the worst month for attendance at the cell. One because its colder so people need a reason to come out. Something better than HD tv. so find a a way for fans to make it real. We the fans need a reason to bear the cold april games.

[Dick Allen]

From the Sox facebook page:

This is great. I don't have any little ones but for those who do, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

[LittleHurt05]

Does anyone else think these price decreases will only have a minimal effect on attendance next year? I can see them maybe getting up to 26k a game, but nothing more.

 

Knowing Sox fans, I can see them talking the talk about prices, but not walking the walk once they actually drop.

 

 

[cabiness42]

Does anyone else think these price decreases will only have a minimal effect on attendance next year? I can see them maybe getting up to 26k a game, but nothing more.

 

Knowing Sox fans, I can see them talking the talk about prices, but not walking the walk once they actually drop.

 

It's not just about next year, but long term. The first step is to make season tickets more affordable by lowering prices and more desirable by fielding a winning team. Then, once you get a season ticket base built up, single game tickets (especially good seats) are in shorter supply which drives demand.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

From the Sox facebook page:

Perfect. Not only lower cost, but the autograph sessions and running the bases is huge for the kids.

 

[LittleHurt05]

It's not just about next year, but long term. The first step is to make season tickets more affordable by lowering prices and more desirable by fielding a winning team. Then, once you get a season ticket base built up, single game tickets (especially good seats) are in shorter supply which drives demand.

 

Good point, I didn't look at the grand scheme of things.

 

I guess I just don't see all the people who complained about prices, running out to go to way more Sox games in 2013.

[ewokpelts]

Good point, I didn't look at the grand scheme of things.

 

I guess I just don't see all the people who complained about prices, running out to go to way more Sox games in 2013.

the excuses will always be there.

 

but hopefully the sox helped sway some people with $10 parking on sunday

 

[Dick Allen]

Good point, I didn't look at the grand scheme of things.

 

I guess I just don't see all the people who complained about prices, running out to go to way more Sox games in 2013.

Unless the team is spectacular, there won't be a huge jump next year IMO, but it should stop the trend of declining attendance.

[ewokpelts]

Does anyone else think these price decreases will only have a minimal effect on attendance next year? I can see them maybe getting up to 26k a game, but nothing more.

 

Knowing Sox fans, I can see them talking the talk about prices, but not walking the walk once they actually drop.

No. i see them easily averaging more fans per game. they are finally positioning themselves as a viable alternative to cubs games at wrigley. lower prices, better team, and a facilty that is not falling apart.

 

[ewokpelts]

April is always the worst month for attendance at the cell. One because its colder so people need a reason to come out. Something better than HD tv. so find a a way for fans to make it real. We the fans need a reason to bear the cold april games.

$20 lower level tix.

 

 

[ewokpelts]

They announced the 14 game plans start as low as $119. That's $8.50 per game. In a plan that included playoff tickets in 2012.

[champs2005]

It is vintage Jerry to say that traffic is the #1 attendance downer. Like it isnt the Sox fault it is out of their hands oh well our attendance "is what it is" nothing we can do about it. Oh by the way if attendance is low I pay alot less on my sweetheart stadium lease deal.

 

It just shows you who he thinks his fans are. Traffic. Wow that is SO deep Jerry. Like no other ballpark in MLB is a big place that might cause a little traffic because of all the folks going there. Where is there NOT traffic in Chicago? People go to those casinos, they go to Warren Dunes Michigan dare I say they go Cub, Bullls an dBears games, they go everywhere but ONLY the Sox blame traffic for their poor attendance.

 

 

[NorthSideSox72]

It is vintage Jerry to say that traffic is the #1 attendance downer. Like it isnt the Sox fault it is out of their hands oh well our attendance "is what it is" nothing we can do about it. Oh by the way if attendance is low I pay alot less on my sweetheart stadium lease deal.

 

It just shows you who he thinks his fans are. Traffic. Wow that is SO deep Jerry. Like no other ballpark in MLB is a big place that might cause a little traffic because of all the folks going there. Where is there NOT traffic in Chicago? People go to those casinos, they go to Warren Dunes Michigan dare I say they go Cub, Bullls an dBears games, they go everywhere but ONLY the Sox blame traffic for their poor attendance.

It isn't Jerry's opinion. It is the opinion of the fans. That was one of the top issues brought up in the survey they had done professionally. He didn't pull that out if his rear end - the fans themselves said it.

 

Agenda much?

 

[LittleHurt05]

No. i see them easily averaging more fans per game. they are finally positioning themselves as a viable alternative to cubs games at wrigley. lower prices, better team, and a facilty that is not falling apart.

 

Unfortunately, people prefer the "historic" facility that is falling apart over the Cell.

 

With the Cubs rebuilding it could be a time to strike for the Sox, but if Theo does turn it around, the majority of fans in Chicago will gravitate back to the North Side in the end. Much larger fanbase, famous stadium, neighborhood full of action. Some things are more important then price.

[champs2005]

It isn't Jerry's opinion. It is the opinion of the fans. That was one of the top issues brought up in the survey they had done professionally. He didn't pull that out if his rear end - the fans themselves said it.

 

Agenda much?

 

Of course traffic was a top issue in the survey. My point is that in Chicago traffic is a factor for al major sports, big events, etc. Traffic is a given. It doesnt seem to be affecting the attendance at all the other places.

 

And you cant really DO anything about traffic as an owner. It is a cheap excuse. I hate Jerry.

[southsider2k5]

It isn't Jerry's opinion. It is the opinion of the fans. That was one of the top issues brought up in the survey they had done professionally. He didn't pull that out if his rear end - the fans themselves said it.

 

Agenda much?

 

This. They commissioned a survey to find out what fans wanted. I'm not quite sure how that is a bad thing. And honestly, instead of doing that, Jerry could have just as easily tore payroll down to barebones instead of trying to draw more people in.

[southsider2k5]

Of course traffic was a top issue in the survey. My point is that in Chicago traffic is a factor for al major sports, big events, etc. Traffic is a given. It doesnt seem to be affecting the attendance at all the other places.

 

And you cant really DO anything about traffic as an owner. It is a cheap excuse. I hate Jerry.

 

Why are you ignoring things he can control, like ticket prices and parking, which he has made an effort to fix?

[ewokpelts]

Why are you ignoring things he can control, like ticket prices and parking, which he has made an effort to fix?

i think traffic(or how to get to a game) PLUS prices/parking, make it hard for some to justify going to a game.

 

the lower ticket and parking makes it easier for someone to say "f*** it, we're going to the game" versus "f*** it, i'll watch it at home)

 

[Marty34]

Of course traffic was a top issue in the survey. My point is that in Chicago traffic is a factor for al major sports, big events, etc. Traffic is a given. It doesnt seem to be affecting the attendance at all the other places.

 

And you cant really DO anything about traffic as an owner. It is a cheap excuse. I hate Jerry.

 

Yep. Traffic wouldn't be a problem worth mentioning if they had a team that made the playoffs more than once since 2006.

[ewokpelts]

Yep. Traffic wouldn't be a problem worth mentioning if they had a team that made the playoffs more than once since 2006.

true. no one complains about hawks traffic on weeknights since they have become playoff regulars.

[southsider2k5]

Oh Soxtalk!

 

jon greenberg jon greenberg ‏@espnchijon

 

I like the White Sox Family Sunday plan, especially the $10 parking. Next up: Lonely Single Dude White Sox Saturdays.