Updated Nov 27, 2012 - 11:00 am

Mariners earn unwanted spot atop new list

Comments (40) |

Print |

E-mail

By Josh Kerns
MyNorthwest.com Reporter

A decade of futility has led the Mariners to the biggest decline in attendance of any pro sports team. (AP)

zoom

listen Listen: Empty seat alert: Mariners lost the most fans of any pro sports teams

Mike Salk from 710 ESPN Seattle discusses a new study finding the Mariners lost the most fans of any pro sports team

When the Mariners finished with a 93-69 record in 2002, fans regularly filled the seats at Safeco Field. A decade of futility, however, has increasingly kept them away and earned the M's the dubious distinction as the team with the biggest drop in attendance among all teams from the four major pro sports.

A new analysis by 24/7 Wall St. reveals Seattle saw a 51.4 percent decline over the past decade. Stadium capacity last year was just 44.4 percent, a Major League Baseball low. And the study finds season ticket sales have plummeted by 61 percent since 2002.

It's understandable. The report says on-field performance is the biggest driver of attendance. The Mariners stumbled to a third straight losing season in 2012, finishing the year last in the AL West with a 75-87 record.

All those empty seats mean more than just lost ticket revenues. A fan who doesn't go to the game "isn't going to buy concessions, isn't going to pay for parking, spend the other money in the ballpark or arena that they would have otherwise," Sports Business Journal research director David Broughton said.

Despite the huge drop in attendance, the Mariners aren't about to go broke. Ticket sales are no longer the primary source of revenue.

"Baseball's a little different the way money's made these days," 710 ESPN's Mike Salk said in an interview with "Seattle's Morning News". "They get revenue-sharing dollars from around the league. So all 30 teams put money into a hat and then they spread it out."

An even bigger factor is TV revenue. The richest teams like the Yankees and Red Sox make far more than anyone else thanks to billion-dollar deals with their own networks. But even the Mariners make a good chunk of change from their agreement with Root Sports, where ratings remain strong despite the team's performance.

"Ratings are enormous for Mariners games on TV and on the radio as well," Salk said. "All those people that love baseball still watch the team."

But Salk points out the fewer fans in the stands, the less the team can make.

"All the advertising that is done in stadium is not revenue shared. The better you are, the more people that show up, the more money you can make on in-stadium revenue," he said.

Ironically, the Mariners have been far from frugal over the past decade. "It has not been an issue of them not spending money. A couple of years ago in 2008 they were the first team ever to spend $100 million to lose 100 games," Salk said.

The Mariners' 51.4 percent attendance decline is far greater than any other team. The Cleveland Indians saw attendance drop 38.7 percent over the past decade, while the Houston Astros lost 36.1 percent of their fans during the same 10-year span.

Follow Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter

share this story:

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (40)

Add A Comment

0

0
shark75 wrote...

Lower the prices. I no longer go...

November 27, 2012 8:54 am

It aint worth $150 with tix, parking, food, beer, etc. It just aint worth it!

506983

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
Ernie in the East wrote...

build a better team and they will come

November 27, 2012 9:27 am

Build a better team and they will come to see them play. As has already been noted, the only time the stands even begin to get filled is when a high profile team like the Yankees or Red Sox come to town and then it's to see them not the Mariners play. I've been saying this for a while, give me a reason to see, in person, our Mariners play. I don't need high paid players, just a solid team that plays baseball well on a consistent basis. This is a possible. Other teams are doing it without breaking the bank on player's salaries. Personally, this past World Series was a great series, along with the whole postseason after the Yanks were eliminated. Baseball was played without the focus on big named players and whether or not they would come through. Baseball is a team sport. It takes the coordinated effort of the full roster to bring in the wins. Mariner management, give us a team that we can enjoy to watch in person and the crowds will return to Safeco Field.

506993

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
mpgunner wrote...

Gave up my seats

November 27, 2012 9:43 am

Behind home plate about 5 years ago and haven't regretted it. The quality of product is a joke. I don't want to pay for "hope" but playoffs.

506998

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
Nardi Contreras wrote...

what a miserable

November 27, 2012 9:48 am

sports town. I really think the city of seattle from a sports perspective has alot of issues and mabye the city itself contributes to them. As it is noted in the Native American NW Scriptures, the S in Seattle means SOFT. 35 plus years of failure and mediocrity encompasses are sports teams like the never ending rain. "Sell them maybe?"

507003

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
Hank Reardon wrote...

Rip Off

November 27, 2012 10:04 am

I went to see the Mariners host the Cubs a couple of years ago. After being charged $40 for parking at the stadium I thought you won today, but I will never return for another game. I would need free tickets along with free parking for me to even think about going to another Mariner game. They could leave town and I wouldn't even care.

507007

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
KentFan2 wrote...

Insulted by dynamic pricing

November 27, 2012 10:25 am

Speaking from the heart here.. I am a lifetime Mariners fan, and I've always enjoyed going to the games regardless of how bad the teams have been. Last year changed everything when the ownership group rolled out the scam known as 'dynamic pricing'. Originally advertised as a way to adjust the price based on demand, they used it as a way to sink to the low of operating like ticket scalpers. In the end, it was not based on demand at all.. 17-20,000 fans showed up and paid the sky-high 'variable' price for their tickets to the Red Sox games, the other 10,000 per game who normally showed up didn't want to pay the price gouging to watch two terrible ball clubs. I applaud the people who continue to stay away until the Mariners can at least return to running their business in an ethical manner. They insulted their fans, and articles like this are what they deserve.

507016

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
john_s wrote...

Ticket Prices

November 27, 2012 10:44 am

In addition to the variable pricing, they RAISED ticket prices without telling their season ticket holders. The PR team headed by Kevin Martinez are wonderful people and work within the constraints of trying to prop up Dumb and Dumber. Just think of this Chuck Armstrong has been the president of the Mariners since 1993, almost 20 years. In what other world would a president keep his job while the team is a loser 15 out of the 20 years?

507025

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

507016
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
Lessmith50 wrote...

John s

November 27, 2012 1:43 pm

I have been asking that for the past decade. DUMB AND DUMBER NEEDED TO GO TEN YEARS AGO

507091

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

507025
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
Lessmith50 wrote...

Kentfan2

November 27, 2012 1:42 pm

Welcome back from the dark side. What took you so long? You blinded by dumb an dumbers bobble heads? Anyway welcome to this side.

507090

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

507016
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
flipper wrote...

Players

November 27, 2012 10:42 am

If the Mariners re-sign Olivo again to catch, I think I may get sick. The guy can't catch, can't block the plate, can't call a decent game. Montero isn't a catcher. He's just a guy that can hit. Maybe teach him how to play First Base and tell Smoak to hit the road. Eating the Figgins salary should have been done last year. Don't sign Hamilton; too much risk.

507024

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
irony wrote...

priorities...

November 27, 2012 11:32 am

maybe that new video screen can show movies while the game is on so the fans can avoid watching the game.

507044

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
Skeeter Diarbo wrote...

mariners management

November 27, 2012 11:34 am

I could really relate to the Season Ticket Holder that talked about raising the prices w/out telling anyone. I heard the VP of Communications respond on a KIRO talk show about why. His answer infuriated me. He said it was OK to do so. It made my really angry. The Mariners management is completely dysfunctional. Add in Griffy, Figgins, and the rest of those loudmouth punks, and you get what you got. A city that just wont support the team until it changes....in a big way. The Mariners...completely dysfunctional organization.

507045

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
irony wrote...

cheapskate chuck is jacks boss so ...

November 27, 2012 11:35 am

jack can't sign a free agent. george argoros brought chuck armstrong to the mariners from his california business. chuck has been there ever since. cheapskate chuck has run off more top level superstars and signed no superstars.

507046

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

0
0
- Reply
- Report this as abuse
64814

{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
- Reply
- Report this as abuse