You know, it’s funny. Due to a number of factors, I didn’t get to nearly the number of Shorebirds games I had the previous few seasons but I think I have a better understanding of how things are because, one, I could step back a bit and see things from without, and, two, I had some long and interesting talks with Shorebirds management regarding suggestions I’d made in previous years.
And in all honesty, the problem may run deeper than a few cosmetic changes. Let’s look at some numbers for comparison’s sake – I actually found numbers for the entire 16-year history of the club but for simplicity I’ll just put up years 1, 6, 11, and 16.
- Year 1 (1996): 315,011 – 4,846 per game
- Year 6 (2001): 268,143 – 3,886 per game
- Year 11 (2006): 217,980 – 3,406 per game
- Year 16 (2011): 211,993 – 3,072 per game
In both actual attendance and average (not to mention on-field performance) this year was the worst in Shorebirds history. Having said that, though, the Shorebirds still ranked sixth in the league in average attendance and once again was tops among the three 7th Inning Stretch (the LLC which owns the Shorebirds and two other minor league clubs) teams in both average and actual attendance. This is the fifth season the Shorebirds have been owned by the group but the eighth straight year attendance has settled into a narrow range between this year’s low and the 2008 peak of 226,754. That edition happens to be the last team which was good on the field, as they compiled a 78-61 record that summer.
With that in mind, I think I can make an assumption that having a good team would improve attendance perhaps 10 percent. It’s probably not in the cards that we’ll see another attendance record like 1997’s 324,412 (the all-time record here) unless the overall economy improves and the area begins to grow again. True, we won the SAL title in 1997 but we did so again three seasons later and attendance wasn’t markedly better than the previous two campaigns.
So what can be changed? Well, the facility is what it is. One thing which didn’t really dawn on me until recently is that, while 7th Inning Stretch owns the team, they don’t own the ballpark – it belongs to all of us who live and pay taxes in Wicomico County. Besides the annual upkeep on the stadium, it’s not likely we’re going to see a wholesale improvement in the facilities for awhile given how the county claims to be perpetually strapped for funds. That’s too bad because I (and probably thousands of others) would like to see a new video board to replace the relic we have now.
Likewise, there’s probably not a lot we can change about the food service, which to me is a bit subpar compared to other venues. Maybe Ovations needs to find a new food supplier and upgrade some of their staple items, but it’s quite possible they’re handicapped by the onsite food service equipment – and that’s a county change. My guess, though, is that they simply need to rethink their supply chain and see if we can get better products.
And since we’re not going to get the CCTV system I’ve suggested for the concession stands anytime soon I think it would be a suitable compromise if they employed roving vendors, at least for the games with fireworks and promotions. (I have seen this employed on a couple occasions this season.) Since the concessions are on a concourse with a view of the game (unlike some other parks, like Camden Yards) a CCTV system is a low priority. But could you at least make sure the radio speakers in the restrooms work?
Speaking of food service, here’s a suggestion to consider. Often I hear that some local restaurant provides the press box food for a certain night. Perhaps LORA could have a monthly event in the Hardball Cafe or Executive Club available to the public. They get more opportunity to expose themselves to a larger crowd and Ovations can concentrate on servicing the other fans.
But there are gripes I’ve long held besides the state of the facility.
Let’s take the “Bird Pen” for example. It seems to me that the idea behind the little building was to have a place where fans can interact with Sherman and the players. Well, Sherman doesn’t hold court in there and that’s fine because he should rove around the stadium. But I can count on one hand the times I recall players sitting there pregame and signing autographs. Maybe that’s up to the field management, but if you’re not going to use the building why is it there? I have no idea what its function is otherwise.
The other idea needs a sponsor (ideally a radio station) to step up, and I’m pretty sure this happens in other parks like Hagerstown. Back in 2005 there was a Thirsty Thursday postgame concert series of local/regional bands which was sponsored by what was then 96 Rock. Message to 93.5 the Beach: if you really support local music, let’s make this happen again. There are 11 Thursday nights next season – even if you skip the chilliest two in April that’s still nine bands which can get some exposure.
But don’t get me wrong – there’s a lot more good than bad about the Shorebirds, and I want to point those things out. After all, they weren’t an award-winning organization for nothing.
It starts at the top – Chris Bitters is a caring and excellent general manager who is always receptive and helpful to the fans. I salute him as well for taking the time and addressing our Fan Club meetings. They’re after hours and he doesn’t have to be there; I know it takes time away from his young family. But he listens to our concerns and if he can address them he does. I’m sure he’s reading this post because he follows my Shorebird of the Week but even if he didn’t he’d have my respect for a job well done, and he sets a good example for what I find to be a most excellent staff. I’d hate to lose the guy but I suspect someday a bigger organization is going to want him for their operations.
I also want to give a shout out to Marcellus, our on-field host. He had big shoes to fill (inside joke) but he’s stepped in and done a great job. With one exception over the seven seasons I’ve attended Shorebird games I think we’ve been blessed with a series of great on-field personalities – Marcellus continues that standard.
There’s a policy I’d like to point out as well. Those of us who are full- and half-season ticket holders get some good perks, and I’m not sure they are played up when the drive for ticket sales is made over the winter. For example, we don’t pay the $3 to park so right there it’s a savings of at least $105 a year. We also get all the promotional items as sort of an exemption from the “first x number of fans” rule, and on cold or rainy evenings when the suites aren’t being used we’re allowed up there.
On the whole, it’s apparent that if I didn’t like baseball I probably wouldn’t be a Shorebirds fan, let alone have a Shorebird of the Week or Shorebird of the Week Hall of Fame. As long as health and finances allow, I’m happy to be a season ticket holder through thick and thin. While I don’t mind the nights there’s maybe 500 in the stands, I’m sure the team owners would have a different preference.
But Opening Day next year could be special. I bet you didn’t know that a decent night’s attendance (this year’s average would be enough) will send the 4 millionth fan through the Shorebirds’ turnstiles on April 12, 2012. Yes, according to my figures the Shorebirds have had 3,997,080 watch a regular season game there.
Maybe the days of over 300,000 fans a season are gone since the novelty of the team has worn off and, let’s face it, we’re probably in challenging economic times for the next few years. But getting back to the days when seats were hard to come by for at least the weekend games would be a refreshing change. Come on, it’s less than 10 bucks a person to be entertained for two or three hours on a nice summer evening, and you may see the next baseball superstar in the making.
Besides, it’s quite likely you’ll find a certain blogger there as well, yelling “see ya!” when someone on the other team strikes out. (Yep, that’s me.) I’d like to hang around in Section 111 on warm summer nights for many years to come, but that’s up to you as well. I don’t want to be a Kinston, North Carolina and face the prospect of a summer without baseball.
