Playoffs Equals Big Attendance

Year in, year out, I am always happy to see teams packing their ballparks to over capacity limits in the playoffs. Teams that only averaged around 25,000 fans a game during the regular season are now jamming their parks full with 45,000 fans.

This is always attributed to fair weather fans. But is that truly the case? I actually wish it was the case, as it would excite more fans into attending regular season games the next year. But unfortunately, they are filling the parks with the same fans that attended 5 to 10 games during the regular season. The problem is, that with the potential of only 2 or 3 home games in a playoff series, these same fans are forced to have to attend the same 2 or 3 games versus spreading it out over a full season.

Where the fair weather fans come into play is with TV audiences. Ratings jump through the roof with fans who haven't watched one game the entire year now glued to their TV. All the sudden your dentist, doctor and neighbor is talking about the big game the night before.

What we hope to see is the fair weather watchers of the post-season translate into fair weather attendees come the 2008 regular season. Put on a good show for the TV audience with huge crowds behind you and these fair weather TV fans are sure to bite.

I for one hope this is the case. Teams like the D-backs, Indians and Rockies should be playing in front of 45,000 fans all season long and not just the playoffs. What fans are seeing now in the playoffs is absolutely wonderful, but is actually only a replay of what half the fans have been seeing all season - Great Baseball.