Bad sign for K-zoo
After reportedly losing $108,000 last year, in large part because they gave away free tickets by the fistful, here another bad sign for the Kalamazoo Kings: Though they have won eight of their last nine games, the Kings have been outdrawn at the gate the last two nights by Slippery Rock, which is dead last in the Frontier League in attendance, averaging 622 per game. The announced attendance for Kalamazoo's game Tuesday against Southern Illinois was 574.
posted by Chris Dugan at
11:10 AM
4 Comments:
Hey Chris, Paints fan here.
Where do you think the Kings would go if things don't improve next year for them? They'll stay for 2008, but I remember reading an article with the Kings owner not being so happy.
I'd like to get Phil's take on this as well. Also, you do a great job covering the Wild Things, Chris. Keep up the good work.
Chillifan
If you're talking about the same article I read, it stated that Bill Wright, the Kings' owner, is committed to keeping the team in Kalamazoo in 2008. Beyond that is unclear.
If, by chance, the Kings try to relocate, I have no idea where they would go. I have not heard of one city that is ready to take a team next year. Everything I've heard and read mentions 2009.
The league will likey have to make a decision on Slippery Rock at season's end. It was always considered a temporary location and it's future is in doubt.
Keep in mind that the salary cap goes up next year, so it will be very difficult to keep a team afloat that draws less than about 1,200-1,400 per game. Bill Wright has to be thinking about this.
It all goes back to franchise stability. I tried to make a point about that a few weeks ago but took a beating from Chris and others.
The Frontier League just seems to hand out a franchise to anyone with the money to buy it. Don't they do ANY market research??
Anonymous, you really need to be a little more clear on the point you're trying to make.
The fact is, aside from the very first year when two teams folded during the season, the Frontier League has a darn-good track record of placing teams. That's especially true since the league shifted to its current focus of placing teams on the doorstep of major metro regions (Washington/Pittsburgh; Florence/Cincinnati; River City and Gateway/St. Louis). The only exception to this is the first couple years in Florence, when Chuck Hildebrant pulled one over on the league, but he pulled one over on a LOT of other people too, and now the Freedom are one of the most stable franchises in independent baseball.
And, as for stability in Kalamazoo, don't forget that the Kings have been in operation since since 2001, and the Kodiaks were in Kalamazoo for three years, starting in 1996.
The bottom line is that the Frontier League is changing. With Southern Illinois pulling 5,000-plus per night, Traverse City and Gateway both around 4,000 and two more teams getting more than 3,000 butts in their seats, it isn't the same game as it was when Chillicothe and Kalamazoo led the charge with 1,000 or so every night.
That's not a stability issue. That's just the growth of a business.
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