I'm all right Jack, keep your hands off of my stack.
The All-Star Game is over now. Everyone has gone home. The seats are empty, the Yankee trash has all been cleared out, and the East Coast media's stealth jets quickly returned to their secret underground bunker deep beneath Cobra Island. So the morning after the party, the team, the fans, and the community had to wake up, rub their bloodshot eyes and wonder the third most common morning-after thought (after "where am I?" and "who is that sleeping in my bed?"). That is to say, was it worth it? Cynicism alert after the jump.
Seriously, listen to Bud continue. "In the '90s, you had to beg somebody to take the game. Now I've got a list of teams, and every time I award one there are some people, and I know who they are, who are mad. That's all right. They'll get over it. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about those things anymore." Look at her, son, isn't she a peach? I'm going to break ten other fellas' hearts if I sell you this little darlin' right now, but you know what? I'm going to do it because I like you. This guy has all the charm and subtlety of a used-car salesman.
You can probably guess where this is going. The promises are about as genuine as Barry Bonds' 762 career home runs. I know it's a shock, but Bud is pulling every last one of those 70 million dollars out of his very own ass. Economists have been over this for years. The figures that MLB passes on to promoters are based on totally bogus assumptions of consumer spending. Their marketing "studies" just estimate the total number of visitors (optimistically), multiply by their estimated expenditures (optimistically), and then multiply that again by some arbitrary number intended to model the effect of circulation. Bud can promise you any monetary sum you want with that equation.
The estimates don't mention that most of the spending doesn't stay in the community. Check out the concessions arrangements just for the game itself. That adds up to a nice wad of cash when you consider the prices of these commodities within the stadium. Too bad all of it gets hauled off by Aramark to their corporate base in Philadelphia before being passed on to their shareholders. Aramark itself is also one of the scummiest of all scumbag employers, so it's no great gain to the people working the stands either. The workers probably do just as well during a five-game homestand as they do during the All-Star Break.
And that's the other thing MLB forgets to mention. A lot of that promised revenue would have been made even without an All-Star Game. When fans decide to spend their money at the game, they aren't spending it on other things like movies and shopping. It's more zero-sum economics than absolute advantage. Real people have things like budgets and aversion to traffic, and the All-Star Game crowds out other venues for consumer spending.
So the benefit to the community is questionable at best. People keep looking for evidence and not finding it, so odds are that the effect is negligible. At the end of the day, the host city probably spends more on services (traffic and safety, sanitation, etc.) and promotion than it gains back in taxable sales. There are vague claims about the long-term benefits of national exposure, but that's a similarly hazy issue. The bald truth is that very few Ted and Bettie Studebakers (Harvard-Radcliffe Class of '55) are going to jet out from Boca Raton to drop ten grand at your next block party just because they saw Katella Avenue's fancy banners on TV. Jan Norman pointed some of this out in the OC Register's business section without taking much of a stand. That's fair enough. In the grand scheme of things, the MLB All-Star Game is a relatively minor issue. A nominal loss can easily be justified by the satisfaction it brings to the fans. Making people happy isn't such a bad thing, after all.
Unfortunately, Bud's trickle-down economics don't end with the All-Star Game. It's symptomatic of professional sports on the whole, with MLB as perhaps the most shrewd antagonist. New stadium construction is the perpetual issue. Owners want new facilities so they can sell more tickets at higher prices, and they usually want local municipalities to pay for them. There's a lot more money on the line with a sports facility than a one-off like the All-Star Game, yet the leagues and owners sell them with the same artificially flavored Kool-Aid.
That's what made this event such an interesting bellwether. As Rev observed in the postgame yesterday, the fact that the event came and went with nothing but smiles from both sides is significant. The City of Anaheim didn't realize that they had been fleeced by Disney in the 1996 arrangement that renovated Angel Stadium until years too late. By that time, Anaheim mayor Curt Pringle could only take out his frustrations on Arte Moreno's ownership group with a facile lawsuit. The Chamber of Commerce is still fist-bumping over how much revenue they'll pull down from the game (at least in public), so they must not be any brighter than before. But at least Moreno has built a reputation as an owner willing to please rather than waiting to be served, so there are good reasons to believe that Arte will plow the right field heading into the stadium's lease year in 2016.
The same can't be said of everyone. During that heart-felt eulogy to George Steinbrenner during the pre-game last night, Derek Jeter said that the Boss had done a lot for his community. Not to speak ill of the dead, but the last thing George Steinbrenner did for the Bronx before he died was to demolish their public park, build the world's biggest mall with an entrance fee on top of it, then left them with the bill. That's a bitch move, boss. Teams and sponsors with guilty consciences use events like the All-Star Game to publicly wash their hands of the negative PR. They practically fall over each other to make charitable donations with the cameras up close. That's the ugly reality we have to live with.
I won't pretend that the Angels are, well, angels. But Moreno seems to understand that the community shares in the "ownership" of the team. They're not just another cash flow to be maximized, and a sports franchise is not just another billionaire plaything to show off to your other billionaire buddies the next time you play a few holes at Pebble Beach. (Can you guess which LA-area sports owner I'm thinking of here? Here's a hint: he never won a Pulitzer Prize.) Fan loyalty will tolerate a lot of abuse--we're just dumb like that. Fortunately, at least a few owners realize that cultivating loyalty rather than abusing it is the key to pleasing everyone.
The point is, the All-Star Game is a promotion. The owner always wins. The league always wins. The fans and the community don't win often enough. We're all pretty much at the mercy of the league and the owner. If we try to stick up for ourselves, it usually ends up like this. As part of his sales pitch in Kansas City last month, Bud said, "I've seen what All-Star Games can do for franchises, and this is really going to help David Glass and the whole Royals organization." Let's see, slumping finances, inept management, apathetic fans--the precedent he must have had in mind was the 2006 game in Pittsburgh. Yes, the All-Star Game did wonders for their team. So did their new stadium. Oh wait, no they didn't. However, I'm sure they were both great things for Kevin McClatchy, the team's principal owner at the time. Even the miserable Pirates were worth three times as much when McClatchy cashed out in 2007 as they were when he bought them in 1996. The Pirates are still miserable.
So don't believe the hucksters. Tell Bud he can shove those 70 million dollars back where they came from. I'm sure he's crying over the piss-poor ratings for his Fox-produced disaster from last night. Good. Let the bastard cry. The way the system works, municipalities will probably never break even on sporting events. Fortunately, we can still profit as fans from positive relationships between the community and the team. Owners who are willing to work at that are rare. A cheap ticket, a reasonably priced beer, a winning team on the field--it should be a right, but it's not. We just happened to get lucky. Just one more reason why everyone else in the league can go and suck it.
6 recs | 89 comments
Speaking of Pulitzer prizes
This essay should win one.
Rev Halofan - July 15, 2010
New Media FTW!
This is indeed some good journalism, Suboptimal. It’s better than anything I’ve read in the LA Times for many years.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
agreed
excellent writing once again from one of our bevy of talented unsung HH heroes
Raaddad - July 15, 2010
I personally like that someone used economic terms correctly.
That is quite rare.
Ghost of seven in a row - July 16, 2010
Over the two days I attended, I felt I was in corporate hell.
I also felt like Marty McFly in back to the future part 2 when he travels to his house in the alternate future and it’s a different family staying there. It was really weird having a bunch of out of towners and weirdos (more than you’d get on a Family Sunday!) fall upon the stadium. I’ll post pictures of the Lebron-Wade-Bosh band wagon bros I spotted at the derby , the lesbian with a Jheri curl wearing a Dee Snider esque cut-off shirt, the man with ’22’s for plugs, and the dude with the Vanilla Ice hair another day.
It felt like I was at an Angels game, but everything was a little off, just like my visit to Vancouver last december. Canada is a lot like the US, but it’s just got something off to it.
On a side note, the KC Royals chef’s rib eye sandwich was amazing. I can’t believe it only cost me $7.50.
Another question, why the hell do they host the ASG on a Monday-Tuesday? It should be on the weekend! I only want to skip on work if it’s for a game that matters!
jtkelly86 - July 15, 2010
The weekend is when baseball sees its biggest crowds
No owner in his right mind would be willing to forego an entire weekend’s receipts just for the sake of the ASG.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
The side note
I have to agree that the rib-eye sandwich was unbelievably good. And it came w/chips for that price.
angelsncrkrjks - July 15, 2010
Bud Selig is a liar....
He’ll do anything to legitimize his vision for baseball. What kind of commissioner stands by while:
- The Yankees have a 200 million dollar payroll and the Marlins have a 20 million dollar payroll.
- The Texas Rangers get to go on spending everyone else’s money like it’s fine.
- The only national publication of baseball glorifies two teams and literally goes out of its way in an attempt to embarrass the other 28.
- Teams lobby to spend billions of dollars in an economic crisis, building beautiful stadiums, while the previous stadiums were already overly nice and then flip the bill to the fans suffering the effects of the economy worse than any owner.
- Allow a fan based exhibition game make a mockery of the world series by deciding HFA.
- Not requiring mandatory testing of each and every player.
- Turning a blind eye while HE KNEW Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, A-Rod were all cheating.
- Completely ignoring the blatant bias of umpires.
- Doing everything he can to keep technology out of the game.
There’s nothing wrong with the game of baseball, there’s a lot wrong with whatever it is Bud Selig is trying to make the game. Baseball will never live up to its full potential until we KNOW players are clean, every team starts off on equal footing and we use technology to prevent umpires from literally CHEATING for the sake of one or two teams.
Halowood - July 15, 2010
"flip the bill to the fans"
I agree with most of what you’re saying, but I’m pretty sure an owner can’t force the fans to pay for a new stadium. They have to agree to pay for it, as was the case in NY.
Rally Manatee - July 15, 2010
Was there a vote of the taxpayers for the New Yankee Stadium funding?
If there was, then in this case you’re right. But quite often the voters have no direct say in such deals. The usual m.o. is for an owner to threaten to move, whereupon the local burghers come up with some sort of sweetheart deal—the needed land is taken through eminent domain and granted to the project, and the construction is funded with municipal bonds. Generally an owner pays very little of the cost, if any, and that cost is passed on to the fans in the form of higher ticket prices.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
OK. I admit, I don't know.
Rally Manatee - July 15, 2010
There was not
Both the Mets and the Yankees got a sweet deal and most of the NYC citizens that I knew were very happy that the elected representatives gave the deal. If you knew what that section of the Bronx was like before and after the Yankees became the corporate darling (basically the last 10 years), you would not complain. The area around Yankee Stadium has had a complete makeover. I hate the Yankees. I hated them before the change, I hate them now. But there was a VERY real chance the Yankees were going to New Jersey and that would have been apocalyptic for the Bronx.
Moondoggy - July 15, 2010
Thanks, MD
for getting to that before I did.
cath619 - July 15, 2010
NP Cath
I hope you are having a good summer
Moondoggy - July 15, 2010
It's been pretty good.
How’s the OC? Hope you’ve had a good time. Say hi to your girl for me. :)
cath619 - July 15, 2010
Interested in going to the 7/21 game against the Yankees?
Moondoggy - July 15, 2010
Very, but
kind of scared to go by myself. Also, the Halos are 0-3 at games I’ve attended, so I’m wondering if I should stay far, far away…
cath619 - July 16, 2010 via mobile
When we lived in Alameda County, near Oakland,
the Raiders came back to town. What brought them back was a special election that was probably illegal but went ahead anyway, in which the only voters lived within the city of Oakland, but the bond issue was billed to everyone in the county. That can’t be legal but it was done.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
Couldn't have been done unless it was legal.
If it was illegal, there would have been a lawsuit and the courts would have thrown it out.
Disapproving of the merits of a statute or ordinance that allows something like this does not make it illegal.
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
I'm not a child. I'm not politically naive.
It created a new tax that we in Alameda County who did not live within the city limits of Oakland, without being able to vote on it. How is that not illegal regardless of how I feel about it?
There was no lawsuit, probably because most people were unaware of it. You only knew about it if you read the newspapers, and most people there did not.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
Ok, that was nearly coherent.
We didn’t get to vote on the county tax measure unless we lived inside the city of Oakland. It taxed the country residents for the creation of Mount Davis and all the new suites, but only residents of Oakland got to vote on it. There was outrage in the newspapers, a mention of a possible lawsuit, op-ed articles in the SF Chronicle that explored just how illegal it was, and then nothing. It passed. You have to understand just how sleepy Alameda County is. It’s not like Southern California politically, and the people living in the county areas were very politically unsavvy.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
There's not one politically savvy person in one of the following cities who would lead a lawsuit?
Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro and Union City?
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
Voters do have a say in the people they elect to office who hand out these deals.
Just because there may have been no direct vote by the public on the specific issue does not absolve an apathetic populace for responsibility for such deals.
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
That's a cop out...
Voter apathy isn’t the issue in these cases. Choose who you want at election time, but all candidates seem to go for these deals regardless of political party membership or leanings.
thetooth - July 15, 2010
Amen. Even the most sensible-appearing types seem to lose their minds when it comes to this sort of thing.
In Anaheim there has been an ongoing battle in City Council between some who really want an NFL team in town and some who adamantly do not want it. The proposed stadium to be built right beside Angels Stadium.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
No, it's a cop out to complain that evil politicians do this to us and then re-elect them.
At some point don’t we have to claim at least some responsibility for those we elect? Nothing will change until voters look more deeply into candidates for office rather than go for the best bullshit artist who tells us what we want to hear.
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
And don't forget.....
Reinstating Steinbrenner while still keeping Rose out.
scratchfeet - July 15, 2010
Wow, the lowest ASG ratings ever
You’d think that with all those superior East Coast players, all those superior East Coast fans would be watching.
Seriously, this helps to put the lie to the old canard, often repeated even in these pages, that the ESPN east coast bias is market-driven. This ASG was a ratings bust because the selection process has become a tired joke. Most fans, those outside the Boston-NY media corridor, already know that their interest in the game will be under-represented, and all good fans of baseball everywhere know that they would be watching a contrived snooze-fest.
If the MLB ever goes back to a selection process oriented towards fielding the best possible teams, then the ratings will return to their previous levels. Otherwise, the game will end up on HSN eventually.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
or that the east coast fans are so dedicated they'll stay up til midnight to watch their guys play.
firebird81 - July 15, 2010
I resemble that remark!
This superior East Coast (Angels) fan did indeed stay up and watch! (It did seem like I was the only one on the block who did, however.)
cath619 - July 15, 2010 via mobile
Agree. I thoroughly enjoyed by 3 day break from watching and caring about baseball.
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
Ditto
Until they get rid of this stupid fan selection process where we each get eleventy-billion votes each, I’m not watching. Just let the players and coaches decide the teams.
thetooth - July 15, 2010
I guess I really need to work on my cynicism.
Wow. This is quite a downer, and most of the comments so far too. Maybe I’m naive, or maybe I just choose to ignore the seedy underbelly of the business side of baseball. The bottom line is, I enjoy the game of baseball, and I don’t wish to lose my simple love for the game. It doesn’t sound like you are even a baseball fan. Maybe I’ll follow this up with a “what’s right with baseball” kind of post, but I’m probably too G.A. to do it.
Rally Manatee - July 15, 2010
I salute your optimism
I share it, as far as the game of baseball is concerned. But it is gravely threatened by some of the trends I’ve seen recently in the MLB version of the game. Take the issue of obvious umpire malfeasance and misfeasance. By this, I mean that sometimes it is obvious that the umpires are biased, and other times they merely seem incompetent.
Now, I’m no big fan of instant replay; the commission of honest mistakes on close plays has always been part of baseball. My memories of the game up until this decade was that umps really were right virtually all the time, and obviously blown calls (those not requiring super slow-mo to detect) were quite rare. Now, it’s rare that a series goes by without several.
To cut to the chase here, I think that the problem is that umpires need fear no real consequences for their incompetence and bad attitudes. As a result, many of them have egos so swollen that they contrive to alter the course of play when the opportunity presents itself. Doug Eddings is just the tip of the iceberg here. At least he doesn’t necessarily play favorites; he strikes wherever the opportunity to be a Big Shot presents itself.
This one problem alone, if left unchecked, will sooner or later ruin the enjoyment of the MLB game for me. Charge me too much, make me sit above the tree line, but at least give me a fairly-judged game to watch!
rspencer - July 15, 2010
Amen, but will you ever see it?
Not while Selig’s in charge. And if you need further evidence on cheating from the officiating, just follow the paper trail of who signs their checks and where they get the money from.
Halowood - July 15, 2010
I'm no fan of Selig myself
For my part, I have no evidence that there are umpires on the take, or that they are acting under orders—except for the almost complete lack of action on Selig’s part. Any real commissioner intent upon preserving the integrity of the game and concerned with its public image would have addressed this issue already.
Selig’s lack of action is no definite evidence of corruption, but it is conclusive evidence of his unsuitability for the position.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
Selig’s lack of action is no definite evidence of corruption,
but it is evidence of his fear of the World Umpires Association, MLB Umpires’ Union.
If you google the union, you can find a lot of stories to read that, if you’re like me, will turn your stomach, .
wumbug - July 15, 2010
Look, its a great article,for sure, but.....
This is Anaheim. There is an 8000 lb gorilla in the room when it comes to ANY event in this city. We are, what, the number 2 tourist destination in the entire WORLD?People don’t come to L.A……they come to Disneyland and that mouse is bigger than any other individual in the room, no matter who it is. And as a resident of Anaheim, you know what I say? Bring them. Bring them in droves. The only thing any event needs to do to benefit the local community here is fill the hotels. Why? Because Anaheim uses the hotel bed tax to fund it’s government, power grid and city functions.
My electric bill is less than half of what you Edison customers pay. My city doesn’t come hunting for ways to take from me when times are hard, because the tourists pay the bill and they get excellent value in return.
What I’m saying is, Anaheim is probably the LAST city in the entire western half of the United States that needs Bud Selig’s rosy promises. All we need is enough interest to fill our hotels and convention center. Mission accomplished. The entire nation got to see our beautiful stadium, got to see our gorgeous resort district in the parade. But most importantly….
46000 ANGELS FANS GOT TO STICK THEIR MIDDLE FINGERS UP AT THE YANKEES, THE RED SOX AND THEIR ARROGANT, PIECE OF SHIT, BANDWAGON FANS WHO TAKE OVER EVERY STADIUM IN THE COUNTRY!!! We don’t need their money. So, was it worth it???? Why would any Angels fan even ask that question?
firebird81 - July 15, 2010
Funke5ive - July 15, 2010
Thank you.
(That was mine)
red floyd - July 15, 2010
I thought it was mine.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
I thought you got it from me...
red floyd - July 15, 2010
Oh. I probably did.
I plead early-onset Alzheimers.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
THIS...IS...UH....(now I forgot)...
Where am I?
sothball - July 15, 2010
A worthy point
I literally clapped my hands and laughed aloud, watching at home, hearing the crowd boo with disapproval at every little East Coast media darling with a shit-eating grin. “But I’m on commercials!” I was proud indeed to see that the 714 took over that stadium on this vitally important day. “The day is mine, Trebek!”
Zoe Necrosis - July 15, 2010
Very good point.
I think Suboptimal’s posting is spot on, but what you have pointed out, while correct, is peculiar to Anaheim alone, I think. And I am 100% with you on it. It was absolutely FANTASTIC to hear the Angel fans in the stadium roar- that’s panther!
agent_99 - July 15, 2010
It couldn't possibly have been Angel fans.
According to Horse-Face, they’re too laid back, and don’t have the passion that “real” (East Coast) fans have.
That’s why all the MFY and Bosux players were cheered so loudly…
red floyd - July 15, 2010
To which horse face are you referring?
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
Benedict Lackey.
red floyd - July 15, 2010
Ohhhhh.
I thought you were referring to one of the announcers. We were listening to the game on the radio and it made us kind of nuts because it wasn’t Terry Smith or anyone half that good.
opiejeanne - July 15, 2010
He made the all-star team
didn’t he? With Chone.
Shit.
I was trying to be sardonic here and all it did was to remind me that Vlad made the team and now I’m depressed.
Shit.
Moondoggy - July 15, 2010
the radio announcer
was waaay better than Joe Buck, who did the TV broadcast. but then again, I would take Physioc over Joe Buck.
2pintsofbooze - July 15, 2010
The horse face mouth-breather who currently digs chowder quite a bit.
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
Anaheim certainly is a great tourist destination
But I think Suboptimal’s point, or one of them, is that the ASG may well end up a net fiscal loss for the city.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
another problem I have is
with MLB’s handling of the pricing of the tickets for the events.
As a season seat holder I was offered the exciting opportunity to purchase tickets for all the events. I had to save up and even though I have been unemployed for awhile still decided to purchase the tickets since I figured it will what 2032 the next time this game comes around.
This team is a good team with great leadership and I figured it is more likely that the Angels play in a few more World series games before the next All Star game comes back around (imagine saying that statement after 1989!) So that makes this game super rare and worth the price of admission right…Wrong
MLB decided on the pricing and was in charge of all handling of tickets and ticket issues. The Angels were nothing more than bystanders. In my section i had to pay $50 for futures and celebrity softball game, $150 for HR Derby, $185 for All star game X 4 for each of my seats, but that wasn’t all. I also was ‘forced’ as part of the package to buy 8 Fansfest tickets @25 each (why since I only have 4 season seats?) also I HAD to buy 4 souvenir programs one for each seat, then there was a processing and handling charge.
Now at the time I called and voiced my complaints to MLB and was of course met with a stonewall of pre-written scripts for the MLB agents to regurgitate.
My main problem was with the decision on the pricing. Remember a benefit of buying the complete package is that you get a price break, just like supposedly the one we get on our season seats. However in this soft market, these tickets were drastically OVER-priced. i mean have they even heard of the recession going on depression all the way up in those ivory towers.
Most of us thought that people would be in a bidding war to get the tickets and that our standing up and making these big purchases upfront would be rewarded. however no ones tickets were selling. most auctions on Ebay were ending with zero bids. On stub hub there was no movement at all. I wound up selling Fanfest tickets at $15 EACH and only using the 3 that I only needed in the first place. i also only sold 1 ticket to the Futures game at $30 and ate the rest of the tickets, sold 2 tickets to the HR Derby at face value, and ate one other ticket, and for the All star game sold those for below face value plus what stub Hub steals from you. I also, since I only needed 1 program for myself, have three programs that I paid top dollar for sitting in my room in a box. MLB over-priced the tickets in a horrid economy. In all their arrogance they price it high and charge so many fees it is ridiculous and then say you should be thankful the price is what it is like they were doing you a favor (actually uttered by an MLB agent to me). Those tickets should have been 35% lower and I shouldn’t have had to buy 8 Fanfest and 4 programs.
And it makes me wonder, why should any season seat holder buy the playoff package? which by the way pricing is dictated by MLB. Why not just buy the individual tickets on stubhub for below face value? My face value for regular games is $10 a seat and that is with my ‘season seat holder discount’ and I frequently sell the tickets for $7 minus StubHub fees. Not to mention all the “enter this password and get your tickets for 50% off for next tuesdays game at Angelsbaseball.com” advertised during the game. I say hey wait a minute I had to pay full price and pay ahead of time, why are others getting last minute deals?. MLB doesn’t care and it all is in direct correlation to their complete arrogance to the world around them. Somehow a message needs to be sent.
I just don’t know how to do it.
Sinatrasratpack - July 15, 2010
This process starts all the way back in high school
For playoff games, the CIF-Southern Section sets ticket prices. For any playoff game that makes a profit after costs for referees, security, scorekeepers, halfway compensating the other team for mileage (some have to travel 250-300 miles for a playoff game), etc., the CIF takes 60 percent of the profit and the two schools split the other 40 percent. If the game loses money (like Division 7 girls basketball will usually do with a crowd of 40 people at $8 a ticket), the CIF does not share in that loss. The two schools split the loss.
Inkara1 - July 15, 2010
Pic related
<img src=“”http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q9/roadtripper32/?action=view¤t=idiot.jpg" target="_blank">
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RexTookMyStash - July 15, 2010
heheheh... "idiot.jpg"
Balls and Strikes - July 15, 2010
Oh look it's the ranger troll seeking even more attention.
44FAN - July 15, 2010
Silly me for posting something relevant to the discussion that most people probably don't know
Inkara1 - July 15, 2010
Hey it's not our fault you creeped everyone out the first time you posted
I’m afraid you’re stuck on the same status that your buddy dono romantico enjoys here.
RexTookMyStash - July 15, 2010
Yeah, that's the same problem I have
IRL you might be a cool guy, but here you soiled your status with the Rev stalking.
You as in Inkara1, not you as in RTMS
WiHaloFan - July 15, 2010
so that is what Rex looks like
Dono Romantico - July 15, 2010
The only message to send is to not purchase the product.
Market forces are the only thing that can drive the change you want. As long as they keep having sellouts for the ASG, there is no reason to change their pricing plans.
snowhor - July 15, 2010 via mobile
I agree in principle with your points in this thread
I mean, I’m a big fan of capitalism myself. Speaking in hindsight, Sinatrasratpack would have been better off passing up the package and just buying what he wanted piecemeal from ProngHub.
But he and other season ticket holders were compelled, regardless of whether they bought the package or refused it, to take 100% of the risk regarding the subsequent market verdict on the value of the tickets. The only way for season ticket holders to have “sent a message” would have been to organize their option and boycott the package en bloc, and in this case I expect the Angels organization would have taken the brunt of this.
Terming this transaction a result of pure market forces is the kind of thing that gives free markets a bad name.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
+1
If it was too expensive, then why buy it?
Sinatras gambled that demand would be there and it wasn’t. Too bad. I almost bought two strips, but decided it was not a wise move. They were 4th row F106 seats via Ticketmaster. Glad I didn’t do it.
Downing Rules - July 15, 2010
expected growth is a term I learned in my College
Econ class. It is where a buyer is willing to pay a premium because of the perceived value of the product traditionally rising. A good example of this would be all the people buying gold right now. Yes there is a chance that gold will drop in price it is just that, that chance is almost zero.
So while I know that it was my responsibility as the buyer to assume all risks, it is also MLB’s responsibility to price tickets at market price. Anything other than that is irresponsible business. Because the MLB has a monopoly on the product as a consumer you have to essentially take their word that the price you are paying is correct. Is this situation the pricing was under the assumption from MLB apparently that it was 2006 and the economy was awesome.
Sinatrasratpack - July 15, 2010
Why is MLB supposed to care about your resale value?
MLB believes it has a premium product and charges accordingly. That won’t change until people won’t pay the price MLB seeks.
If the resale market is part of consumers’ rationale for the purchase, consumers then have to determine whether or not the price is worth it.
snowhor - July 16, 2010 via mobile
Yeah the re-sell market was much worse than I expected
Every ticket place I called tried to tell me I was going to pay 15% or more in consignment fees and wouldn’t let me pick the price (except for Stubhub and eBay). One place even tried to offer me just below face value and that was before they took out their cut. Thankfully I work at a fairly large company and so does my dad, so I was able to sell my ASG tickets at a decent profit through word-of-mouth.
I’m not a season ticket holder, so I expected to pay a lot. However, in your case I’d be a little upset.
Commander_Nate - July 15, 2010
Agree with ratpack on the assinine pricing
We passed on the season seatholder “deal” and I’m glad.
I know quite a few others who thought they would sell some events to cover the cost of the tickets they wanted, but ended up selling below face value.
The required extra fanfest tickets, $25 programs, and the ridiculous ‘processing fees’ (I’m pretty sure they are using computers nowadays) feel like extortion.
Now in August we’ll have to pay for the entire playoff season, even if we are 15 games out, so Arte can keep our money until he applies it to our invoice next year.
I love having my seats, usually sell weeknights because I cannot attend, and there they suck 15% out of BOTH ends of the transaction.
And in the final “insult to injury”, every time they invoice me, they charge a processing fee for the invoice!!!
raskul - July 15, 2010
actually...
Stubhub deducts 15% of the ticket price to sellers and charges the greater of $5 or 10% to the buyer
blast21dave - July 15, 2010
the processing fee for the invoice drives me nuts too....
Sinatrasratpack - July 15, 2010
ticket pricing
Agreed….MLB screwed their best customers. By forcing the “strip” on season seat holders, they offered no other option to buy your seats for one or two events. Season seat holder complaints were met with “MLB controls the event”. MLB took the money and left town. But you can bet Moreno found ways to profit from the ASG. [Do I recall the Dodgers “stripping” their fans when the Yankees came to town..?] The owners are learning.
After all the expense, I still was glad to be at the game. I wish it didn’t cost me a vacation, but I was still glad to be in the stadium, otherwise I would have had to listen to McCarver on Fox.
I have to chuckle that we [the AL] lost the game in large part due to a Yankee manager not being able to find his “star” hiding in the dugout during the bottom of the 9th. Everyone in the seats screamed for a pinch runner. But Girardi and A-Roid are cowards…maybe seeing that was worth the price of admission.
angelmike - July 16, 2010
I still look at the glass half full
The Best Owner in Sports is spinning this event into more more advertising dollars and future PR. Gaining more name recognition, along with his marketing efforts, will hopefully bring in even more future revenue. Arte definitely thinks “big picture,” and this fits the bill to a “t.” Of course, having a better team, along with a few more All-Stars, would have been his wet dream. But I have no doubt that the Halos are leveraging this asset to the max.
johnnyangel101 - July 15, 2010
"Brand building"
I couldn’t think of it before I wrote the previous comment. I just remember thinking that the halo was everywhere. I mean, everywhere. Don’t think an old billboard guy doesn’t understand the subtle messages that were visible throughout the broadcast and media.
johnnyangel101 - July 15, 2010
Seen by whom?
The ratings were the lowest ever. So I would say that the glass is more like a third full.
Sure, this kind of thing is in Arte’s breadbasket, and he’ll make the most out of it. But I fail to see where the Angels team image was burnished thereby.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
Rec'd for referencing GI Joe.
Match Day 5 - July 15, 2010
Bud Selig and Field of Dreams
Bud Selig’s favorite part of Field of Dreams is at the very end, when James Earl Jones tells Kevin Costner that people will come and they will hand over their money. Then you see the long line of cars. Old Bud probably is thinking, “Parking are they are charging for parking. Concessions. Commemorative 15 dollar programs. . .The possibilities are endless.”
righteous halo - July 15, 2010
That made laugh!
kbrown2225 - July 15, 2010
If anyone really thinks people want new stadiums and think they bring economic prosperity to areas, they should watch this doc
“Stadium Status” by two NY residents, about the construction of the two new stadiums and the future Brooklyn Nets stadium.
http://www.nolandgrab.org/archives/2010/06/stadium_status.html
It’s really informative and shows you how shady redevelopment is.
jtkelly86 - July 15, 2010
You speak the truth Supoptimal about how oragnizers and promoters lie through their teeth
about how their event will bring dollars pouring into the community during their event. I owned a furniture store on the most famous shopping street in the world at the time, Melrose Avenue, and during the 1984 Olympics the entire month the event lasted there was zero business to be had.
I should have closed my store and gone on vacation because there was nobody around to buying anything. The organizers pleaded with people to stay off the streets and freeways as much as possible to ease traffic congestion for those attending various events around the city. This plan worked, the streets were deserted, and all the shops and restaurants had no business the entire month. The only local businesses that benefit from these events are the hotels.
44FAN - July 15, 2010
SLC 2002
was the complete opposite scenario: Downtown was packed, businesses did well, tons of people made money. But I would wager that much of that had to do with the difference in scale of both the Winter Olympics (much, much smaller than Summer) and the respective cities.
cath619 - July 15, 2010
and ...
Fans of the Winter Sports seem to be more financially fit. They are better able to support the athletes because of the lack of team sports, only hockey in the Winter Oly’s.
eyespy - July 15, 2010
Right
That period saw the best traffic conditions in the city since the first Model T rolled off the assembly line. Angelenos all braced for the threatened onslaught of gridlock which never came.
rspencer - July 15, 2010
The economic "forecasting" described here reminds me of a book I read
Called “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man”, except that book takes place mostly outside of America and is much more sinister.
Commander_Nate - July 15, 2010
post of the year
…and a great example of a lengthy post that is actually readable. In this case, thoroughly fascinating, well-argued, and funny.
yeswecan - July 15, 2010
This was a phenomenal essay!
KennyKatella - July 15, 2010
As I said earlier...
Fantastic article.
WiHaloFan - July 15, 2010
Yes it was worth it...
I had the opportunity to be one of the volunteers for the events surrounding the All-Star game. I had a great time – I got to meet some really really nice people from both the Angels organization and others who were volunteers.
I was able to go to the Home Run Derby – I bought my ticket – it wasn’t given to me and it was everything I hoped it would be. I’ll probably never have another opportunity to be a part of the ASG again even if it did come to Anaheim in about 25 years.
On the other side – it did generate a lot of money for the City of Anaheim – which if we ever want a new stadium it could be one of those examples areas that make money.
But the money aside – it really was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.
Make fun of me if you want – but I had a GREAT time.
The loss of the game I put on poor Yankee managing – why didn’t Aroid run for Ortiz? What the heck was he being “saved” for? I know that Torii didn’t do so well but at least he didn’t give up the lead – that honor goes to a yankee pitcher.
I believe it was worth it.
angelsfan7 - July 15, 2010
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