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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 20, 2022 0:23:08 GMT -5
I would say the Futures League is in trouble everywhere. The league has poor baseball played in high school or former minor league stadiums (Brockton, Worcester, Nashua). The American Legion should take it over and add two years to the age cap. The Bravehearts new approach will relegate baseball to a side show at a circus. Relief pitchers won't walk in from the bullpen, they'll be shot out of a cannon. No disagreement here but the attendance numbers last year in the futures league. Vermont Lake Monsters - 63,104 37 1,706 Worcester Bravehearts - 36,875 30 1,229 Nashua Silver Knights - 33,293 29 1,148 New Britain Bees - 31,509 29 1,087 Pittsfield Suns - 19,828 22 901 Norwich Sea Unicorns - 28,507 34 838 Westfield Starfires - 17,139 25 686 Brockton Rox - 13,567 25 543 Total: 0 243,822 231 1,056 How do you survive as a franchise with sub 1k fans average?
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Post by thecrossisback on Apr 20, 2022 6:55:55 GMT -5
The American Legion should take it over and add two years to the age cap. The Bravehearts new approach will relegate baseball to a side show at a circus. Relief pitchers won't walk in from the bullpen, they'll be shot out of a cannon. No disagreement here but the attendance numbers last year in the futures league. Vermont Lake Monsters - 63,104 37 1,706 Worcester Bravehearts - 36,875 30 1,229 Nashua Silver Knights - 33,293 29 1,148 New Britain Bees - 31,509 29 1,087 Pittsfield Suns - 19,828 22 901 Norwich Sea Unicorns - 28,507 34 838 Westfield Starfires - 17,139 25 686 Brockton Rox - 13,567 25 543 Total: 0 243,822 231 1,056 How do you survive as a franchise with sub 1k fans average? I don't know they have survived for 7 years! Maybe more people like and follow then you think? I don't think they are trying to outdraw the Red Sox. Also many kids that play for them are local and from the area.
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Post by lou on Apr 20, 2022 7:50:11 GMT -5
We went to a Bravehearts game before covid with some friends. Kids loved it and a great time for everyone. And they sold awesome hats
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Post by Tom on Apr 20, 2022 8:42:07 GMT -5
I would say the Futures League is in trouble everywhere. The league has poor baseball played in high school or former minor league stadiums (Brockton, Worcester, Nashua). It still has the advantage over the Woo Sox of being a cheaper night out. Just peeking at the websites, Sox look like $9 for standing room. $15 down the third base line, $23 down the first base line, and $29 behind home plate. Bravehearts were $10 right behind home plate. Polar concessions seem priced like the majors to me. Doesn't help central MA, but the Cape League is better baseball than the Futures League and it's free
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 20, 2022 8:42:10 GMT -5
No disagreement here but the attendance numbers last year in the futures league. Vermont Lake Monsters - 63,104 37 1,706 Worcester Bravehearts - 36,875 30 1,229 Nashua Silver Knights - 33,293 29 1,148 New Britain Bees - 31,509 29 1,087 Pittsfield Suns - 19,828 22 901 Norwich Sea Unicorns - 28,507 34 838 Westfield Starfires - 17,139 25 686 Brockton Rox - 13,567 25 543 Total: 0 243,822 231 1,056 How do you survive as a franchise with sub 1k fans average? I don't know they have survived for 7 years! Maybe more people like and follow then you think? I don't think they are trying to outdraw the Red Sox. Also many kids that play for them are local and from the area. There are three owners in the league that each own two squads.
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 20, 2022 8:43:44 GMT -5
I would say the Futures League is in trouble everywhere. The league has poor baseball played in high school or former minor league stadiums (Brockton, Worcester, Nashua). It still has the advantage over the Woo Sox of being a cheaper night out. Just peeking at the websites, Sox look like $9 for standing room. $15 down the third base line, $23 down the first base line, and $29 behind home plate. Bravehearts were $10 right behind home plate. Polar concessions seem priced like the majors to me. Doesn't help central MA, but the Cape League is better baseball than the Futures League and it's free NECBL is much better than the Futures. The Futures League has had three alumni play MLB.
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Apr 20, 2022 8:47:09 GMT -5
For the poster wondering how the lower attendance summer collegiate clubs survive:
- no pay for the members of the club obviously
- majority of summer collegiate clubs are funded by MLB
- grants from MLB are readily available
- little or no cost to use the fields the clubs play on
- selling food, drinks, and merch at stands staffed mostly by volunteers to 800 people a game makes not an insignificant amount of $
- local sponsorships in the form of program ads and signage at the yards adds to the coffers
- many needed services such as transportation and rooms to put up visiting clubs in are bartered for sponsorsorships
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 20, 2022 8:56:35 GMT -5
For the poster wondering how the lower attendance summer collegiate clubs survive: - no pay for the members of the club obviously - majority of summer collegiate clubs are funded by MLB - grants from MLB are readily available - little or no cost to use the fields the clubs play on - selling food, drinks, and merch at stands staffed mostly by volunteers to 800 people a game makes not an insignificant amount of $ - local sponsorships in the form of program ads and signage at the yards adds to the coffers - many needed services such as transportation and rooms to put up visiting clubs in are bartered for sponsorsorships They have lost at least two teams since 2019 in North Shore and Bristol. The league has been losing teams for years and that trend will continue.
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Post by Tom on Apr 20, 2022 9:00:43 GMT -5
The American Legion should take it over and add two years to the age cap. The Bravehearts new approach will relegate baseball to a side show at a circus. Relief pitchers won't walk in from the bullpen, they'll be shot out of a cannon. No disagreement here but the attendance numbers last year in the futures league. Vermont Lake Monsters - 63,104 37 1,706 Worcester Bravehearts - 36,875 30 1,229 Nashua Silver Knights - 33,293 29 1,148 New Britain Bees - 31,509 29 1,087 Pittsfield Suns - 19,828 22 901 Norwich Sea Unicorns - 28,507 34 838 Westfield Starfires - 17,139 25 686 Brockton Rox - 13,567 25 543 Total: 0 243,822 231 1,056 How do you survive as a franchise with sub 1k fans average? What are your expenses? You don't pay the players. I don't think the Bravehearts pay anything for the field. If your expenses are low, you don't need a lot of revenue to break even
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Post by rf1 on Apr 20, 2022 10:39:19 GMT -5
The Worcester area will not be able to adequately support two baseball team operations. The Woosox are now getting all the attention and money of local residents. The future of the Bravehearts in Worcester is very much in jeopardy. Look for them to either move or shut down in the next few years.
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