quote:
Originally posted by RJM:
What happens if the Marlins spend a ton of money and the history of fan attendance doesn't change. It seems the team is banking on people coming to see the new stadium, fallng in love with the team and returning. The problem is the area doesn't have the reputation of supporting a winner. Shall we start the poll on where the Marlins relocate within ten years?
Interesting question. I suspect the Marlins will be in Miami for many years beyond the next decade. The stadium they built is state of the art, and may very well be one of the best of all the modern stadiums.
As to fan support, it will take them investing money in players to put a competitive team on the field. Had the previous owner/s not dismantled the teams after they won championships, attendance would have been better. The fans were disillusioned and heartbroken after it happened to them not once, but twice.
That combined with so many things to do in S Florida left fans with little interest in driving an hour up to a football stadium to sit in one rain delay after another. Miami has a ton of rain along with sweltering heat during the months of June-August.
Now they have a more centrally located stadium that will never experience a rainout and will have A/C when the roof and side panels are closed.
They are also hoping that the Hispanic community which is a majority in Miami, will start coming out to the games more often since most Cubans love baseball. Trouble is many other Hispanics are from Latin American countries that do not play baseball. Still if they get the Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Venezuelans out along with the few Anglos left, they might have a decent fan base. They will also start making some money off the parking, concessions, club level seats, and luxury suites which they never got a taste of at the old stadium.
So I would not at all be surprised if they make a good showing of it as long as management does not find a way to alienate the fans again. The new team colors and uniforms was not a step in the right direction.
