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Posted By: Joann

What a great discussion. Seriously. Even though it is a bit of a thread hijack, it's great to see topics like this that really display the passion for baseball on this board along with the financial knowledge and opinion.

I went to two games in Yankee Stadium in 2004. It was a great experience and all items - including beer - reasonably priced in my opinion. One thing that I was asbolutely struck by was how knowledgeable the fans were. I was surprised to hear them cheering and booing and generally reacting to some very subtle things within the game.

In short, the crowd was largely filled with fans. Not that corporate account holders can't be fans, but these people were clearly there because of a rabid draw to the game itself. There was no doubt they were paying attention too, that's for sure.

The problem with a transition to largely corporate ticket-holders is that that only works as long as going to a game remains an "in" thing - a trendy place to be seen. Most likely, as soon as the team isn't as good the glam factor will drop off and the corporate interest along with it.

And ... that's when the Yankees will need the everyday fans. The true-blue fans of baseball or the Yankess that will carry the franchise through losing years, just as they always do. I sat in Comerica Park for 12 games the year the Tigers lost 119, and believe me there weren't a whole lot of corporate guys looking to impress clients there.

So it may seem like a good idea to set prices that the market will bear, even if it seems clear that there are fewer individual buyers. But - like all professional franchises - the team should take care not to price out the individual middle-class fans that they will need as a core to get through the losing seasons.

Joann

Although .. this theory is completely kaput when it comes to the NFL. Seriously. Every game sells out. The Lions have sold out every game in Ford Field, and they suck. I guess if the brand is good enough, they really don't need a core. Maybe the Yankees will be one of the few baseball teams besides the Cubs to fit this mold.