Author Topic: The Florida Marllins of Las Vegas? (Read 4233 times)

OldBlevins · « **on:** November 22, 2005, 05:00:03 pm »

No surprise here.

The Link

the KEG · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2005, 05:22:12 pm »

It just goes to show what a mistake it was for baseball to expand as quickly as they did in the 90's. All 4 teams that have come since '93 seem to be lost causes.

If Miami can't support a team that won it all TWICE in a period of 11 years, then that's just really sad. It seems baseball did a poor job of zeroing in markets that can't really support ML teams.

Although Florida and Arizona were successful on the field, in terms of championships, all four of the newest expansion teams are clearly not doing well financially.

Limey · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2005, 05:24:37 pm »

Quote:

Although Florida and Arizona were successful on the field, in terms of championships, all four of the newest expansion teams are clearly not doing well financially.

Careful, the Commish will suggest a solution: contract the Twins!

Gizzmonic · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2005, 05:50:24 pm »

As much as I admire Oscar Goodman, would the interests of baseball be served by moving a team to Vegas? When awarding the All-Star game to Vegas a few years back, the NBA made them promise to take no action on the game. It seems like that would be a gambling problem waiting to happen (but I bet the stadium would kick ass)!

Frobie · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2005, 06:00:38 pm »

I know some here do not look favorably on the publication, but the most (IMO) interesting article in the 2005 Baseball Prospectus was about the Marlins. It discussed the team's mismanagement and stadium woes, the resulting alienation of whatever fan base they had, and why they would NOT move to Vegas.

If I remember I'll try to post some excerpts when I get home from work.

andyroo25 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2005, 06:12:47 pm »

It seems to me like they would get more visiting team fans than home team fans. Even the residents of Vegas are all recent transplants from elsewhere. There's not much of a community identity. For every single NFL team, you can find a sports bar in Vegas that caters to only that team's fans. Seriously, you could probably find a Houston Texans bar somewhere in Vegas that is filled with former Houstonians. When the Cubs play Vegas, a Vegas fan would probably get beat up by all the drunk Cubs fans.

Also, half of Vegas works the night shift and might have trouble getting to games.

Fredia · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2005, 06:41:36 pm »

maybe the las vegas vegans (if they eat nothing but vegetalbes then they would not have to worry bout what the cattle producers put in their meat that might cause a faLSE positive reading.. have to think ahead on these things) on a less silly note can you imagine a basball stadium vegas style..

Craig · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:01:32 pm »

A Vegas stadium would be fucking awesome, but I'm not sure they could have one finished for the 2008 season. The AAA 51s use Cashman Field, and it would never do for major league ball. In fact, the Dodgers nearly dropped their affiliation this year because Cashman doesn't even meet AAA standards. It's not so bad for the fans, but apparently it sucks ass for players. Something about weight machines in the hallways.

Reggie Jackson has been working hard to get a team here, and the two most-mentioned teams are the Fish and the Twins. But what Oscar Goodman really wants is an NBA team (and I think Magic Johnson is leading that effort).

I'm not sure how well the Vegas community would support an MLB team, but as someone else mentioned, you'd get a shitload of visitor traffic.

But as long as Oscar Goodman is mayor, I predict that soon Vegas will get either an MLB or NBA team. Oscar always gets what he wants. Always. And then he has a huge-ass party with titty-girls and Elvis impersonators.

Not that it any of it will matter to me, because we're leaving Vegas as soon as our house sells.

Nate in IA · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2005, 07:15:04 pm »

For what it's worth, the sCrUB fans come out of the woodwork for Rockies games in Denver. I attribute this to WGN and nothing else. Otherwise though it's a pretty decent home crowd for most games. In fact, the only time I'm not rooting for them is when the Astros are in town

the KEG · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2005, 09:25:07 pm »

Although Colorado did draw well initially, they are going to have a tough time regaining momentum because they need to put a good team on the field again. Again, most of this can be attributed to management as they seem to have been a directionless team for quite some time now. But they are always going to have trouble attracting pitching and the homegrown pitching they bring up will continue to be tough to hang on to.

Tampa and Arizona's ownership/management has plain sucked.

Just out of curiousity, if Tropicana Field wasn't new for the Rays (I recall threats to move the Giants there about 10 years ago) why was it originally built?

Ty in Tampa · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2005, 12:52:40 pm »

The City of St. Petersburg built the domed stadium using tax dollars in an effort to attract a MLB team, even though MLB told them not to build it. Other than being the home of the NHL Lightning for 3 years, it sat empty for 8+ years. It is a poorly designed, poorly located stadium and can be blamed partially for the bad attendance.

I agree with Arky. Piss-poor management has doomed the Rays. I have no doubt a downtown Tampa, retractable-roof stadium like MMP would see the Rays fully supported by this community.

BTW, I have been to Marlins games in July-Sept. and fuck if it isn't the most uncomfortable place I've ever seen a baseball game.

Ty in Tampa · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2005, 02:56:32 pm »

Some of the best Rays games I've been to have been spring games at the park about a block from the bay.

I wouldn't say traffic is any worse than any other stadium I've been to but it's easily 30-40 minutes from a large part of the potential fan base. While there's business going on in downtown St. Pete, it's nothing like Tampa. To commit to 70+ nights of driving 1 1/2 hours is more than most would consider.