Drawing only about 150 fans each game, when will the league pull the plug on a team here in Brainerd. Don't get me wrong, it's a great atmosphere...
but this can't be good for the league to have this low of demand for one of their products. Granted, the stadium is in the wrong part of town and there are
various other things to do here in the Lakes Area... but for a town with the population of 13-15,000 to only get 200-300 is pitiful.
Franchise Lengths
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 BrainerdBoy |
Franchise Lengths |
Lead | |
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Posts: 1 (06/03/08 10:19:37) |
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Jerry Aldini |
Waukesha | ||
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Posts: 16 (06/03/08 11:18:06) |
Possibility??
Journal Sentinel http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=753315 River Valley Blogs http://www.rivervalleyblogs.com/articles/2008/06/03/jbadzinski/9941.txt |
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4forExpress |
Waukesha | ||
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Posts: 10 (06/04/08 06:25:09) |
Great idea!
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Jeremiah |
Waukesha? | ||
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Posts: 47 (06/04/08 10:41:30) |
I don't know about Waukesha. Would that work, being in the Milwaukee (Brewers) metro area? It'd certainly be a question for the league to look at. Fond
du Lac and Sheboygan might also seem potential NWL expansion cities, but they, too, are in the greater Milwaukee metro area, if on the outer fringe. Anyway,
with gas prices and travel costs the way they are, I wonder if additional league expansion is in the cards anytime soon. Maybe it's more a question of
retaining all of the existing teams.
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BrainerdBoy |
B-nerd | ||
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Posts: 2 (06/04/08 12:23:23) |
Well, when one of your existing teams is selling tickets at half price (3 bucks each) and they only bring in 145 fans... That's a big issue that the NWL
needs to look at. And who knows how many in attendance may have been host or comp seats... I know Sutherland in STC has owned more than 1 team at a time (Alex
& Cloud) ... Does anyone know if that is still permissable or is it now frowned upon? It seems to me, having been on the inside for a couple of years that
there is a chance- with the right owner and leadership for Brainerd to draw in the 500-1,000 range. But it would take stadium relocation, better marketing and
an overall bigger presence in the city. But it could be possible, if done like some other teams- I.E. Alex, 'Kato, Rochester, etc.
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Jeremiah |
Brainerd | ||
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Posts: 48 (06/05/08 07:52:47) |
Good points. I think one year Brainerd was in the 800+ range for average attendance, but more often it's in the neighborhood of 500. My favorite is
Alexandria, with an area population of 33,000 and the smallest market in the league (compared to Brainerd's area population of 82,000). The Beetles average
around 1,100 fans - more than Brainerd but also more last year than the much larger markets of Battle Creek, Thunder Bay and Green Bay and close to what Duluth
draws. (I think Green Bay's numbers, though, will kick up in future years as the new team settles in.) Whatever they're doing in Alexandria - and
small-market Mankato too - they're doing right.
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BrainerdBoy |
Last Call for the Thunder | ||
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Posts: 3 (06/28/08 20:57:43) |
Interesting article here from the 6/28 edition of the Brainerd Dispatch... http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/062808/spo_20080628006.shtml Sounds like the
owners have cut their losses and don't care. With the team being in a perfect location as far as league distance- Close enough to STC, DUL, ALEX, etc.
I'd think that the league would almost want to do anything and everything they could to make this franchise stay. Otherwise, a total re-alignment of
Divisions may have to happen along with finding another team.
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cra218 |
move or sell ... | ||
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Posts: 37 (06/30/08 18:13:07) |
which of these two options would thunder mgmt choose if they dont return to brainerd next yr ?
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BrainerdBoy |
well... | ||
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Posts: 4 (07/01/08 06:20:59) |
Move or Sell? What's there to sell? And with the owners basically out fo the picture, moving is highly unlikely- in my opinion.
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cra218 |
move or sell ... | ||
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Posts: 38 (07/01/08 13:48:54) |
since ya put it that way of owners that are out of the picture id guess selling the franchise back to the nwl is in the cards since bc still doesnt have a non
loop owner either
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thegame |
underachievers | ||
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Posts: 1 (07/14/08 10:33:25) |
What's too bad is that the Rochester franchise is such an underachiever. They averaged about 1400 fans, with twice the population as LaCrosse, who will bring in double that. But if you ask the owners, they will tell you they are the very best operation in the league. I don't get it. |
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DolphinzD |
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Posts: 55 (07/22/08 10:28:18) |
Rochester is not underachieving. Our owners have worked hard and attendance figures have gone up almost every season. The problem with Rochester fans is that
they won't come to games unless there is a really good promotion, free tickets, and/or fireworks. I mean sure, we have our diehards, but that's just
the way it is. It doesn't matter how successful the team is on the field (as Rochester is usually near the top of the standings). If you compare it to La
Crosse I think it's just a different demographic of people. Some places just like their baseball more than others.
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