Super Conferences

Unless baseball becomes a more entertaining venue fans will never return to the parks to watch.

This was the ominous prediction of the New York Times some eighty years ago.

It is also the cry from many minor league venues.

College baseball has become the ugly stepchild. No bands, no cheerleaders, no concessions and in some cases no rest rooms.

Further, no noise makers, no coolers and no loud cheering.

Many times it is more like a day visiting someone in a sanitarium rather than going to an athletic contest.

And in some cases they even want us to pay for this abuse.

Looks like the Big 12 is toast...

Quincy

Do we need bands and cheerleaders/ They are not part of baseball

Many fields have Port o Potties that serve the needs--they can be cleaner than many "rest rooms" at fields

No noise makers--no cheering--where do you watch baseball

A prediction in the Times 80 years ago---__WOW--now that is scary

There is no place like Nebraska,
dear ole Nebraska U.

Be careful what you post. You'll be getting e-mail from the New York Times Editorial Staff.

It seems once I get away from major metropolitan areas that have franchise teams, I find more hospitable (or attempted hospitable) ball parks.
That seems to be the rule until I hit New Jersey.

Once up in the northeast, I find that football stadiums (even public facilities) have better public accommodations than the baseball programs.

Once I hit Connecticut womens' field hockey and mens' lacrosse were drawing larger crowds than baseball.

There seems to be a move towards consolidation in NCAA baseball as the Ethical Culturists continue their assault on all things associated with the USA.

Maybe baseball has gone from the American Pasttime to the 'Preferred Sport of Old White Americans'

quote:

Once I hit Connecticut womens' field hockey and mens' lacrosse were drawing larger crowds than baseball.

A few weeks ago I was at a Tufts baseball game. You have to walk by the baseball facility to get to the lacrosse facility behind left field. As I watched all the coeds walk right by the baseball field I turned to a parent and said, "Who said chicks dig the long ball? I think they dig long, wavy haired lacrosse warriors." The crowd at the lacrosse game was triple that of the baseball game. Lacrosse had a concessions table. Baseball did not.

Quincy

If that was 80 years ago as you say they are long gone--- and ghosts don't bothers me--my wife visits and follows them

May I ask what your problem is ???--

My biggest problem with high school and college baseball is that they do not include the fundamentals in their style of play.

Baseball became a popular spectator sport because the game was exciting to watch. Bunts, hitting behind runers etc.

Many times baseball games even at the professional level are less exciting than watching chess or Texas Holdem Poker.

As an entertainment venue, baseball at all levels has to have at least some consideration for the fans or families watching the games. I've been at Little League parks with better fan ammenities than many high schools and colleges.

rumors are getting wild...

Texas and Texas A&M now to the Big 10? Can you say, "me too"?

http://www.kctv5.com/sports/23860558/detail.html

quote:

Do we need bands and cheerleaders/ They are not part of baseball

They are where I live!

I'm not opposed to cheerleaders.

Attendance and popularity I think is a regional thing. The SEC has some of the highest attendance and high energy crowds ever.
Florida State games are downright wild at times.

As for Quincy; if you think the "fringe" fan wants to see bunts and itting behind runners you are definitely clueless. Most borderline fans wouldn't recognize a player hitting behind the runner. They want to see HR's and 98MPH fastballs and go to the game as a social event.