Brewers sold 3 million tickets again

[Buckhunts]

I just heard from a buddy that the Brewers passed the 3 million tickets sold mark again today. Not really a surprise with the playoffs last season, but still impressive nonetheless.

[berniebrewer4life]

I think it's impressive anytime a small market like Milwaukee can produce that kind of attendance. Very well done milwaukee.

[joepepsi]

Milwaukee is a great baseball town. Or Wisconsin is a great baseball state. In 2002 when they lost 106 games they drew just under 2 million. '03 it was 1.7 million, but by '04 they were over 2 million and climbing steadily. For the smallest market in baseball that's amazing. Much more impressive than the Yankees drawing 4 million. The 2008 attendance was within a few 100,000 of the Red Sox, Cardinals, and Cubs. It's time Milwaukee and Wisconsin got the same credit as these places for great fan support.

[sgtcluels]

It's a great feat for our size market. But I wouldn't expect them to sniff this number next year unless they are doing well. This is all due to our WC birth last year and the fact so many people put down playoff deposits. I hope Milwaukee proves me wrong, but I remember the lean years and going to games with only 8k other people.

[ilovebeer]

congrats brewerfans, it was just reported on jsonline.

[Invader3K]

I think people are too quick to say that attendance will be down next year. Attanasio isn't stupid...he knows people will be looking for improvements. The expectation will be to improve the team for next season, and with a couple key acquisitions in the off-season, they could sell a lot of tickets before Opening Day again. The economy is supposedly improving, so that could help as well.

 

But yeah, it's quite a feat, and speaks volumes about the quality fan base we have here in Wisconsin. Everyone talks about the "great baseball fans" in St. Louis, Boston, etc. I think the Milwaukee fans should be included in that list.

[owbc]

I just can't see the Brewers hitting 3 million in attendance for a 3rd consecutive year. The #1 driver behind attendance is the previous year's record. 2008 and 2009 both benefited from the Brewers either making the playoffs or nearly making the playoffs. I predict attendance closer to 2007, when the Brewers improved dramatically after a down year in 2006. There is also a recession now which will hurt things as well. My guess is about 2.7 million, even if they spend most of the year in first place.

[hawing]

It's a great feat for our size market. But I wouldn't expect them to sniff this number next year unless they are doing well. This is all due to our WC birth last year and the fact so many people put down playoff deposits. I hope Milwaukee proves me wrong, but I remember the lean years and going to games with only 8k other people.

I too expect economic factors and the likely lack of 2009 playoff contention to combine to make 3 million for 2010 difficult. The lure of making a postseason deposit and having that cover most of the next year's renewal was like double happy good fortune for the Brewers. I'd certainly like to think the Brewers wouldn't return quite to 8K crowds, though.

 

I do like the thought of a new generation of diehard fans being developed by the Brewers' recent (relative) success - the way the late 70s and early 80s Brewers sparked an interest for many of us. I hope that neither the economy nor the on-field product turns too many people off.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

They sold a ton of tickets before the season, and a ton more in the early going when they were in first place or close to it with St. Louis. This second half nosedive is going to leave a sour taste in many mouths. They should pass 2 million easily, but 3 million will be unlikely unless they are in contention again, IMO.

[dadofandrew]

MA will be even more aggressive selling tickets, especially in April and May. I seem to recall setting the over/under at 2.95M for this year, 3M again is quite a feat.

 

I'd probably guess 2.65M if I had to right now. This era of winning has "trained" many people to buy early and to buy season tiks (or partials).

[hawing]

Season attendance as of Saturday night was 3,000,254. I'd like to think I was the three millionth fan through the turnstiles, but that person probably entered after the game started.

[Invader3K]

Great job Brewers fans. I hope it sends the message to the ownership that we are continuing to support the team, even though things got shaky fairly soon this year. Hopefully they take that to heart this off-season.

[Polish Falcons]

Great, hopefully the attendance spike goes towards a free agent signing. I think attendance will still be high next year, maybe not 3 million unless they are at or near the top of the division all year, but it will still be solid. As much as I want to agree, I'm not sure Milwaukee is on par with Boston or St. Louis as far as "baseball cities" go. They are maniacs, especially at Fenway.

[logan82]

Great, hopefully the attendance spike goes towards a free agent signing.

 

It already did. That's how we were able to sign Hoffman and Cameron.

 

They are maniacs, especially at Fenway.

 

It is easy to support a perennial winner.

[Polish Falcons]

I was thinking about additional payroll for next year so the Brewers have a better team... Not just using money freed up with current free agents. It'd be great if the Brewers use money freed up through Kendell, Looper, Cameron, Hardy (trade) etc and then add on another $10M or so to their current payroll. That would really help add some pitching, not just one average guy for the #3 or #4 spot.

 

As far as I can tell the Red Sox fans have always been very loyal to their team. I know they've been great for most of this decade but they haven't exactly been perennial winners. The first time I saw a game at fenway was in 1994 and the next time I went back was early this season. All the games were sellouts and the atmosphere was exactly as I remember it. In 94 they were coming off of multiple losing seasons and weren't that great a team, and it had been nearly a century since they won a world series. I guess it helps that they have a huge fan base - all of New England. And I think New Englanders are rabid sports fans, more so than most of the country. But they are particularly fond of their red sox compared to patriots or celtics.

[dadofandrew]

Fielder alone will get a huge raise, as will several arby eligible players like Weeks, Hart, Bush, and so on...which will take much of the proposed Cameron money, not to mention replacing Mike.

[trwi7]

Fielder alone will get a huge raise, as will several arby eligible players like Weeks, Hart, Bush, and so on...

None of those three are going to get huge raises. Fielder is only get a $4M raise as well.

[PeaveyFury]

None of those three are going to get huge raises. Fielder is only get a $4M raise as well.

 

But 4 million + even 1 million per for the other three is 7 million, plus you have to replace Cam like Al said. That pretty much eats up the 10 million 'savings' right there.

[trwi7]

None of those three are going to get huge raises. Fielder is only get a $4M raise as well.

 

But 4 million + even 1 million per for the other three is 7 million, plus you have to replace Cam like Al said. That pretty much eats up the 10 million 'savings' right there.

But you could also see the $4.5+M of Hardy traded and replaced with the $500K of Escobar and then Kendall and possibly Weathers replaced with cheaper and better options.

[Polish Falcons]

Yeah but if Cameron, Kendell, Looper and Hardy all are gone next year that's actually about $24M not $10M. So even if that hypothetical $7M turns out to be $10M considering some releivers too, then there is still $14M of the 'single quotation' 'savings'. And like I was saying I'm hoping Attanasio is willing to add on another $5-$10M to the bottom line in order to make things competitive. Definately something to work with either way.

[Invader3K]

I could see Attanasio bumping the payroll up, not sure by how much. They have to realize this "window of opportunity" is closing pretty quick. With Fielder certainly gone with two years, they should do something this off-season to really go for it this year. I'm just not sure if it's fiscally possible.

[dadofandrew]

I see Weeks and Hart each getting $2M more, and that's conservative. If you let others go, you have to replace them as well. Guys like Escobar and McGehee will help, but they will alos be paying Hall and Riske for nothing.

[hawing]

Just to touch back on the attendance issue, the 2009 home attendance total is 3037451, an average of 37499.

[logan82]

If the Brewers are expecting a drop in attendance, I think we will also see a drop in payroll. My guess is that they expected attendance to be good this year and raised payroll accordingly. I doubt they raise payroll much if any next year. The only wild card is their new TV deal.

[jjkoestler]

I see Weeks and Hart each getting $2M more, and that's conservative. If you let others go, you have to replace them as well. Guys like Escobar and McGehee will help, but they will alos be paying Hall and Riske for nothing.

 

There is no way Weeks and Hart get $2M raises. Weeks was injured the majority of the year and Hart was injured and sub-par. I imagine they hold steady or get a slight increase.