whats with attendance?

[redman123]

I know we've had on going problems, and I don't mean to be a dead horse but st Louis had nearly double our attendance when we played there and the fact we are close to the worst streak of futility (pirates) is ridiculous. What's the deal with this? I haven't lived in Cincinnati in quite some time but its embarrassing what's the deal?

[KYBatsFan]

I think they're on pace to break the single-season attendance record at GABP this season, not that that is saying much

[dfs]

Attendance is a long term function of winning. The Cards have been winning for a long time. It doesn't shock me at all the the folks in St. Louis care more than the folks in cincy.

Lots of folks remember the Linder years. Just to pile on here.....They are celebrating the quickest season to 2 million at GAB tonight and you know what the team is doing? .....dollar hot dogs. No lie. Straight out of the book of John Allen.

[NebraskaRed]

Plus, St. Louis (and surrounding areas) have a higher population. Someone smarter than me should figure out what is the percentage of the population when comparing Reds and Cardinals average attendance levels.

That number is problematic because you'd have to figure out how many fans of the visiting team are traveling to St Louis, etc. But it would still give a more fair comparison.

[RedFanAlways1966]

City population
* Cincy = 296,223
* St. L = 318,069

Metro Area
* Cincy = 2.1 million
* St. L = 2.9 million

Embarrassed by my fav team's MLB game attendance? If so, then my life is pretty stress free lol. ;)

[westofyou]

Attendance is a long term function of winning. The Cards have been winning for a long time. It doesn't shock me at all the the folks in St. Louis care more than the folks in cincy.

Lots of folks remember the Linder years. Just to pile on here.....They are celebrating the quickest season to 2 million at GAB tonight and you know what the team is doing? .....dollar hot dogs. No lie. Straight out of the book of John Allen.

When it was Lindner folks remembered the lockout, then prior it was the 81 strike, prior to that it was probably Dick Wagner, prior to that Crosley was a dangerous area, prior to that the Reds couldn't score and the Deacon loved defense more than offense, all the way back to 1869 they stopped coming because they lost a couple of games.

Seems folks in Cincinnati have holding a grudge down pretty well to me.

[Bob Sheed]

City population
* Cincy = 296,223
* St. L = 318,069

Metro Area
* Cincy = 2.1 million
* St. L = 2.9 million

Embarrassed by my fav team's MLB game attendance? If so, then my life is pretty stress free lol. ;)

Also,

Cincy= zero playoff wins since 1995.
St. Louis = 57 playoff wins :eek:, 3 World Series appearances, and 2 world series championships since 1995.

But yeah, let's blame the fans. :thumbdown:

"but but... Bob is REALLY REALLY trying REALLY hard!!!!1111"

My crackhead cousin is really trying hard too. He doesn't get any money either.

tl;dr
Win, or quit yer yappin' when no one shows up to watch you blow it. Again.

EDIT: I have been to 6 games already this year, by the way. But I'll be darned if a bunch of millionaires who can't seem to win when it counts, are going to give me a guilt trip because their taxpayer paid palace isn't full on a Wednesday night. BIG thumbs down there.

[Bob Sheed]

When it was Lindner folks remembered the lockout, then prior it was the 81 strike, prior to that it was probably Dick Wagner, prior to that Crosley was a dangerous area, prior to that the Reds couldn't score and the Deacon loved defense more than offense, all the way back to 1869 they stopped coming because they lost a couple of games.

Seems folks in Cincinnati have holding a grudge down pretty well to me.

The last time the Reds won a playoff game, Seattle rock and flannels were all the rage, and Mel Gibson won a bunch of awards for his new film, Braveheart.

But we can blame the fans if that is what you are in to. :beerme:

[westofyou]

The last time the Reds won a playoff game, Seattle rock and flannels were all the rage, and Mel Gibson won a bunch of awards for his new film, Braveheart.

But we can blame the fans if that is what you are in to. :beerme:

The Reds have had attendance trouble their whole existence, prior to the grunge movement too. Last MLB team to top a million, only current team to have it's top attendance year in the 70's.

It's why they almost moved in the 30's and the 50's, let's at least acknowledge that fact before we draw an imaginary line in 1995 saying they "used to show up" because they only did briefly

[mdccclxix]

Bob, you are incorrect, the score is 2 playoff wins to 57 st. louis wins. Big difference.

[Salukifan2]

City population
* Cincy = 296,223
* St. L = 318,069

Metro Area
* Cincy = 2.1 million
* St. L = 2.9 million

Embarrassed by my fav team's MLB game attendance? If so, then my life is pretty stress free lol. ;)

When you include Dayton in the cincy metro (which it probably will be next census) cin-day has about 3.1 million. Add on lexington, which can be driven even in a work day, its more like 3.7 million. Make it a two hour radius around both cities and the population for the reds is about 7.5 mil. While that same radius with st. Louis would only add another 200,000 to 300,000.

The "cincy's to small" argument is untrue.

[mdccclxix]

I am now completely resigned to the fact that school in session is an almighty, the almighty, force behind this yearly drop. If it is this drastic this year, it will always be this way. If they win the WS this year (fingers crossed), I can see another 3-5k in season ticket sales which would make a 20k night a 25k night, etc. For the season they could reach 35-37k per game which would be top 10 in baseball, I'm sure. Remember one factor as well, that the stadium only seats 42k or something. If it had another 10k seats like the doyers do, the sell out games would pickup the dud games and there would be more better seats (more better!).

[westofyou]

Last years NL Playoff teams

Washington - Up - 260,478
San Francisco - DOWN 46,598
Atlanta - UP 165,272
Cincinnati - UP 133,833
St. Louis - UP 78,868


IF the Reds continue to draw they will draw about 2.5 million, a number they have reached 4 times prior... FOUR TIMES and the last was 2000 and the three before that were 76-78

The Cards have topped that 26 times including the last 18 years in a row.

[armybrat45103]

3 things come to mind here. 1. The Dayton Dragons are a huge drawl. 2. The Louisville Bats. 3. Fox Sport Ohio. Would you rather spend $10 at a sports bar, nothing while watching at home, or drop $200 to go down and watch in person?

[westofyou]

3 things come to mind here. 1. The Dayton Dragons are a huge drawl. 2. The Louisville Bats. 3. Fox Sport Ohio. Would you rather spend $10 at a sports bar, nothing while watching at home, or drop $200 to go down and watch in person?

Even more too... look at a map of St Louis and a map of Cincinnati, draw a 250 mile circle around each city, now imagine getting in a car and driving within that circle. From Cincinnati name all the major league teams in all sports, all the colleges with their sports (IU, UK, UC, OSU, Louisville)

Then do it from St Louis.

A lot less

[Salukifan2]

Even more too... look at a map of St Louis and a map of Cincinnati, draw a 250 mile circle around each city, now imagine getting in a car and driving within that circle. From Cincinnati name all the major league teams in all sports, all the colleges with their sports (IU, UK, UC, OSU, Louisville)

Then do it from St Louis.

A lot less

What college/professional sports are occupying people from June-aug? No one cares about football at iu, UK, UC. OSU AND louisville are the only ones where should take away. Only one of those towns has NBA to steal away during baseball season, Indy.

Also add on top to Cincy that they are connected to all those major metropolitan areas by interstate. Making the drive much easier than for most Missourians and southern illinoisans

[westofyou]

What college/professional sports are occupying people from June-aug? No one cares about football at iu, UK, UC. OSU AND louisville are the only ones where should take away. Only one of those towns has NBA to steal away during baseball season, Indy.

Also add on top to Cincy that they are connected to all those major metropolitan areas by interstate. Making the drive much easier than for most Missourians and southern illinoisans

I'm talking dollars to sports year round (IE season tickets, travel plans etc)

[redman123]

Okay, Minn and Milwaukee draw more for as much futility. And Pittsburgh isn't far behind and they've literally been the worst sports franchise since kids of drinking age were born. Atlanta draws poorly and they get a lot of grief.
Yes it is "embarrassing" and that has nothing to do with my life (what else would I be embarrassed about in my everyday life?)
Regardless, for what we all say of this team we are still making excuses ourselves and justifying mediocrity. And despite not living in cinci now like I said I've been to two of their games this year.

[Mutaman]

St Louis is a great baseball town.

Cincinnati isn't.

End of story.

[757690]

When you include Dayton in the cincy metro (which it probably will be next census) cin-day has about 3.1 million. Add on lexington, which can be driven even in a work day, its more like 3.7 million. Make it a two hour radius around both cities and the population for the reds is about 7.5 mil. While that same radius with st. Louis would only add another 200,000 to 300,000.

The "cincy's to small" argument is untrue.

Who drives two hours to see a baseball game?

I grew up in Dayton and wished I lived in Cincinnati because we only saw 3-5 games a year. We just didn't have the time to see anymore. Anything over a half hour and people just aren't going to make an effort on a regular basis to go. It becomes a special event, like going to Ozarks is in Saint Louis.

[oregonred]

St Louis is the outlier for a market of its size. Of course 7 NLCS appearances in the last decade+ doesn't hurt.

Reds attendance is fine and has taken a big step forward over the last few seasons. The local TV ratings are off the charts and the summer weekends are now a tough ticket. 3K per game higher and the Reds are top 9 in baseball this season with the 28th sized local market.

Have to keep building the season ticket base, that is the only way to draw 25-30K on the early season/Sept weeknights.

Baltimore high teens this week, Arizona and Oakland mid teens this week, ATL low 20s, Yankees low 30s, lovable losers low 20s. Attendance is down 5-10K from average across the board. '

But that's not as fun as blaming the locals for not getting too revved about a 2nd/3rd place showdown that is essentially arranging the chairs for playoff seeding. MLB and Football has succeeded in making September baseball almost completely irrelevant to the masses.

[NebraskaRed]

Who drives two hours to see a baseball game?

I grew up in Dayton and wished I lived in Cincinnati because we only saw 3-5 games a year. We just didn't have the time to see anymore. Anything over a half hour and people just aren't going to make an effort on a regular basis to go. It becomes a special event, like going to Ozarks is in Saint Louis.

While I lived in Indianapolis I drove to Cincinnati many, many times. When I lived in central California I drove 3 or 4 hours to see Dodgers, Giants, and Angels games.

Last summer I drive 6 hours to Denver to see the Reds play the Rockies.

[Salukifan2]

Who drives two hours to see a baseball game?

I grew up in Dayton and wished I lived in Cincinnati because we only saw 3-5 games a year. We just didn't have the time to see anymore. Anything over a half hour and people just aren't going to make an effort on a regular basis to go. It becomes a special event, like going to Ozarks is in Saint Louis.

This thread isn't a cincy VS. st. louis type thread. Its about the reds, so it doesn't make sense for you to draw comparisons to st. louis just because you know i'm a cards fan. That said, I live in Carbondale, 2 hours from st. louis and go to a minimum of 5 games a year. And unlike the folks in Indy, Louisville, Dayton, Columbus and Lexington I have to take a two lane state highway half the way to st. Louis. Meaning that if i get behind the right driver it may add 15 mins to my trip.

Cincinnatii is at the cross roads of so many inteerstates that are connected to large markets 100 miles or less away, all of which are without MLB. They may have some old MLB allegiances like Louisville does with St. Louis, though I'm sure that is changing, and Noerthern Indy folks are mostly cub fans from what i've heard.

Don't make the "the drive is too far" argument. If the product on the field is good, which it has been, then people will drive from a long way to see it. The argument that hasn't been brought up yet is that northern kentucky and southern indiana are basketball dominated areas and Ohio is a football dominated state (generalizations of course). More of you live in the area, are people there just not big baseball fans?

[757690]

This thread isn't a cincy VS. st. louis type thread. Its about the reds, so it doesn't make sense for you to draw comparisons to st. louis just because you know i'm a cards fan. That said, I live in Carbondale, 2 hours from st. louis and go to a minimum of 5 games a year. And unlike the folks in Indy, Louisville, Dayton, Columbus and Lexington I have to take a two lane state highway half the way to st. Louis. Meaning that if i get behind the right driver it may add 15 mins to my trip.

Cincinnatii is at the cross roads of so many inteerstates that are connected to large markets 100 miles or less away, all of which are without MLB. They may have some old MLB allegiances like Louisville does with St. Louis, though I'm sure that is changing, and Noerthern Indy folks are mostly cub fans from what i've heard.

Don't make the "the drive is too far" argument. If the product on the field is good, which it has been, then people will drive from a long way to see it. The argument that hasn't been brought up yet is that northern kentucky and southern indiana are basketball dominated areas and Ohio is a football dominated state (generalizations of course). More of you live in the area, are people there just not big baseball fans?

Exactly, you made my point. You go to five plus games a year. Most likely, weekends, or mid summer games. You probably can't afford the time to go to weekday games. If you have kids, it's even more difficult to go when school is in.

The Reds do just fine mid summer and on weekends in terms of attendance, because they have fans coming from far away to see them. They come close to selling out most of those games. The big difference between St. Louis and Cincinnati attendance is the attendance of mid week games when school is in session. Reds have far fewer fans in the immediate area who attend those games, thus their attendance is low for them. The Cards have many more fans who live 20-30 minutes away from the stadium (around a million more or 40% more), so they have a much higher attendance for those games.

The numbers for the Reds make sense for their market. They draw extremely well when people have time to make a day of going to the game and don't have to worry about getting up early the next day, because they have a large market within a two hour drive. They have one of the smallest markets of people who live within a 30 minute drive, and that shows up in the attendance of games played during the school year, during the week.

[Salukifan2]

Exactly, you made my point. You go to five plus games a year. Most likely, weekends, or mid summer games. You probably can't afford the time to go to weekday games. If you have kids, it's even more difficult to go when school is in.

The Reds do just fine mid summer and on weekends in terms of attendance, because they have fans coming from far away to see them. They come close to selling out most of those games. The big difference between St. Louis and Cincinnati attendance is the attendance of mid week games when school is in session. Reds have far fewer fans in the immediate area who attend those games, thus their attendance is low for them. The Cards have many more fans who live 20-30 minutes away from the stadium (around a million more or 40% more), so they have a much higher attendance for those games.

The numbers for the Reds make sense for their market. They draw extremely well when people have time to make a day of going to the game and don't have to worry about getting up early the next day, because they have a large market within a two hour drive. They have one of the smallest markets of people who live within a 30 minute drive, and that shows up in the attendance of games played during the school year, during the week.

The only thing with this that I disagree with is that folks in Dayton can't make it to a weeknight game. I don't care how successful the minor league team is. The st. Louis metro area may have a slightly larger corporate presence than cincy too and those folks buy up lots of season tickets. But, the ticket prices combined with the great product is why I think they should be drawing more

[Larkin88]

The only thing with this that I disagree with is that folks in Dayton can't make it to a weeknight game. I don't care how successful the minor league team is. The st. Louis metro area may have a slightly larger corporate presence than cincy too and those folks buy up lots of season tickets. But, the ticket prices combined with the great product is why I think they should be drawing more

As much as you might think there aren't regional factors that are (and have always) contributed to the Reds attendance figures, I'm really going to have to respectfully disagree with you.

Over the last 40 or so years, the Reds have averaged about 26,000 per game. That includes the 70's and Big Red Machine era. Yeah, they lead MLB in attendance in 1976, but averaged 32,500 a game. They have never sniffed 3,000,000 total attendance in a season. Basically, the 2013 Reds are just a little bit off pace of the 1976 club.

There's some variance and there's some anomalies year-to-year, series-to-series, and even game-to-game. But by and large, and it sort of pains me to say this, the attendance "is what it is." Competitive teams help with ticket sales and the Reds have been trending in the right direction for the last four years... but by and large, the attendance ceiling is just not as high as it is in St. Louis'.

As a Reds fan, it sucks. Certainly there's room for improvement and the fanbase should aspire for it. But history seems to indicate there is definitely a cap of reasonable expectation. And given that reality, it's hard not to partially attribute it to some of the regional and logistical realities that are associated with living in Southwest Ohio.

[dabvu2498]

The only thing with this that I disagree with is that folks in Dayton can't make it to a weeknight game. I don't care how successful the minor league team is. The st. Louis metro area may have a slightly larger corporate presence than cincy too and those folks buy up lots of season tickets. But, the ticket prices combined with the great product is why I think they should be drawing more

I used to live in Centerville, just south of Dayton. Right at 45 miles north of the Brent Spence Bridge. So for a 7:10 game, 3 hour game, 15 minutes back to my car, minimum 60 minutes back to my house, lucky to be in bed by midnight. Have to be in the office by 8. Not to mention, I had to leave south Dayton by 5:45 to be in the park by first pitch.

For a weeknight game, I would do it on the rare occasion that someone gave me tickets or there was a special event or a great pitching matchup. But on the regular? No. For weekends, yeah. Did it all the time. Sometimes for all 3 games of a weekend series.

When you go more than about 30-45 minutes drive for a game, you start losing a lot of people for midweek games.

I will also add that I-75 between Cincy and Dayton is ALWAYS under construction and a lot of folks don't like fighting it.

[Salukifan2]

sort of OT, but is cincy planning to ever build some sort of light rail between Dayton and Cincy? I think the metrolink has played a huge roll in drawing people to games in StL that maybe wouldn't have come.

[reds1869]

sort of OT, but is cincy planning to ever build some sort of light rail between Dayton and Cincy? I think the metrolink has played a huge roll in drawing people to games in StL that maybe wouldn't have come.

Don't won't to get political, but anything requiring cooperation between multiple governments will probably not happen in Southwest Ohio.

[Chip R]

Don't won't to get political, but anything requiring cooperation between multiple governments will probably not happen in Southwest Ohio.

Like the Banks?

[dfs]

sort of OT, but is cincy planning to ever build some sort of light rail between Dayton and Cincy? I think the metrolink has played a huge roll in drawing people to games in StL that maybe wouldn't have come.

Light Rail in Ohio was seriously torpedoed by our current Governer.
It would be shocking if it could start happening in the next 5 years.

More probably belongs in PandR.

[757690]

sort of OT, but is cincy planning to ever build some sort of light rail between Dayton and Cincy? I think the metrolink has played a huge roll in drawing people to games in StL that maybe wouldn't have come.

I love the metrolink in St. Louis. When I'm there, that's my choice to get to the stadium. It's fast, cheap, and lets you off rght at the stadium. It's also a great way to get to the airport.

[reds1869]

Like the Banks?

Let me rephrase: it won't happen quickly or easily. I love The Banks, I live there. But it was many years in the making due to politics. Light rail is always politically charged to start with.

[nmculbreth]

Don't make the "the drive is too far" argument. If the product on the field is good, which it has been, then people will drive from a long way to see it. The argument that hasn't been brought up yet is that northern kentucky and southern indiana are basketball dominated areas and Ohio is a football dominated state (generalizations of course). More of you live in the area, are people there just not big baseball fans?

There is a big difference between "too far" for weeknight games and weekend games. I live in Centerville (south side Dayton) and need to be on the road by 5:30 to be in my seat by opening pitch, if you live north of Dayton you'd probably need to tack on another 30 - 45 minutes to the drive because of the construction on I-75 and standard rush hour traffic. For a lot of people that means leaving straight from work or trying to get out of work early to have enough time to go home to change, pick up your kids / significant other, etc. Most people aren't going to go through that sort of hassle on a regular basis, nor do I particularly blame them.

I usually do it once or twice a year, but for the most part it's just a whole lot easier to do a weekend game where you're not running around like crazy to get there or leaving in the 7th or 8th inning to get home at a reasonable hour.

[Falls City Beer]

I'm with woy on this. Tons and tons of other teams to choose from @ Cincy, St. Louis area, it's, who?, the Rams? SLU? Mizzou? (lol). Please.

Ohio's a football state to the marrow; Kentucky and Indiana, basketball. Add in the fact the Reds have a habit of going on 2 decade skids of not just mediocrity, but total irrelevance, and there's your answer.

The better point of comparison is Pittsburgh.

[Roy Tucker]

I will say the Reds market the heck out of this team. And they run the stadium well too.

Lots of ticket specials, lots of advertising, and GABP is a great MLB game experience.

I think given the demographics and history of the area, they do well to pull in as many fans as they do.

[KYBatsFan]

I can make it from my place in Southern Indiana to GABP and in my seat in two hours, and that includes the ridiculous backtracking west/east I have to do to cross the Ohio in downtown Louisville. I've thought about driving up river on this side and crossing at Vevay or somewhere further east just to try it out. However in a couple years it won't be as much of an issue as the new East End Bridge should shave about 30 min off a trip to Cinci from here.

Either way it beats the 4hr trip from east KY we made regularly in the 70s to see the Reds/Bengals games.

[redman123]

Guys I understand the difficulties, but why is everyone concerned with St. Louis? I've been to a game there and it's a much better experience with an entirely different and dedicated fan base. My original post had nothing to do with St. Louis, it's more about why there is so much lacking in Cincinnati. The team is sizzling hot right now, as we were last year and we get these terrible crowds. How are guys going to want to play here when our college games draw more in one game as the Reds draw in an entire series.

Instead of comparing ourselves to an organization like Cardinals we should be looking at the Pirates as a closer model to us. Our attendance is pitiful besides being competitive, if we were under .500 would we look like the Marlins ballpark

[R_Webb18]

Gonna guess players look at the pay check before the attendance

[Hoosier Red]

If we're looking at Pittsburgh as a model, the Reds look much better in comparison.

Overall, it shows how hard it is to consistently sell tickets once you've hit a low point. The main problem is selling tickets beyond what you sell as season tickets is almost non-existent.

If I'm going to two or three games/year, I'm almost always going to buy my tickets from stubhub. Unless the games close to a sellout, I know I'll get below face value seats. So the other factors which could potentially impact a walk up crowd are nullified.

Overall, the Reds are going to set a GABP attendance record, and so long as they don't A) completely embarrass themselves in the playoffs, or B)Do something ridiculously stupid in the off season, they'll be surpass this year's total next year.

[RedFanAlways1966]

The team is sizzling hot right now, as we were last year and we get these terrible crowds. How are guys going to want to play here when our college games draw more in one game as the Reds draw in an entire series.

Instead of comparing ourselves to an organization like Cardinals we should be looking at the Pirates as a closer model to us. Our attendance is pitiful besides being competitive, if we were under .500 would we look like the Marlins ballpark

Terrible crowds? I guess it depends on your definition of "terrible". Terrible might be the Rays, Indians, Astros and Marlins. Comparing that to this season in Cincinnati? Not even close. Unless you expect a sellout/near-sellout in all games. But click below to get a full understanding of your overstatement.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance/_/sort/homePct

College games?!? Tell me about this high-drawing college BASEBALL game that I missed. Perhaps you mean college FOOTBALL. If so, apples vs oranges... unless you want to tell all NFL teams they have terrible attendance too. This team was under .500 for many years and NEVER did it become like the Marlins. Nor is the attendance pitiful this year. It is middle of the road for all MLB teams. And when you consider market size and the economy... it is not so bad.

[SporkLover]

Exactly, you made my point. You go to five plus games a year. Most likely, weekends, or mid summer games. You probably can't afford the time to go to weekday games. If you have kids, it's even more difficult to go when school is in.

Lol. I live 30 mins from the ballpark and that's about my habits for going to the games.

Ive always wondered, if attendance figures are based on ticket sales or fans through the turnstiles. Every time I see STL on TV and they say a sellout crowd, but there are always a few sections with very few people.

[westofyou]

Gonna guess players look at the pay check before the attendance

Because they don't pay the bills sure

[Fil3232]

Reds/Cards series drew huge TV ratings:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/09/05/reds-series-against-cardinals-sets-tv.html

Two specific nuggets from the story:

1) Reds rank 3rd in MLB in regional TV ratings
2) Said ratings are down 11% from 2012

Thought this was applicable to a discussion on attendance.

[redman123]

Reds/Cards series drew huge TV ratings:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/09/05/reds-series-against-cardinals-sets-tv.html

Two specific nuggets from the story:

1) Reds rank 3rd in MLB in regional TV ratings
2) Said ratings are down 11% from 2012

Thought this was applicable to a discussion on attendance.

Interesting. There are some positives in there but at the end of the day a god mid size Midwestern city where I know people love sports I hope they can come up with attendance. Yes I know the team is a story of chokes, letdowns, and frankly failure but not everyone can be The Cardinals. I'd like to see a push into the top third.

[SpiritofStLouis]

3 things come to mind here. 1. The Dayton Dragons are a huge drawl. 2. The Louisville Bats. 3. Fox Sport Ohio. Would you rather spend $10 at a sports bar, nothing while watching at home, or drop $200 to go down and watch in person?

Good one.

What can you get for $ 10 at a sports bar ? Something out of a restroom vending machine and directions to a shelter ?

What's a Dayton ?

[CrimeDoc]

I'd go every game if it meant not hearing Thom Brenaman ever again

[Beer&Bourbon]

We went to our 24th game of the season last night. We'll be there on Sunday for the last regular season game, too.

Attendance has looked pretty good to me. Almost 29,000 last night and averaging almost 1,500 more fans per game than last season. We're on pace to break 2.5 million total visitors this year; that number has only been broke here 4 times in the past (76, 77, 78, and 2000) - so I think we're doing pretty well.

That's also 440,000 more people than 2010. I don't think we could possibly keep on pace with that rapid expansion of attendance, but another 100,000 more and we'll at least be sitting at the NL average.

[Beer&Bourbon]

My bad. It actually looks like we won't quite make 2.5 million. The July 4th game that was made up in SF means we'll probably be just under that for the season. It's still a high attendance year though.

[redman123]

Looks like Ludwick thinks the same http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130925/COL03/309250180/Daugherty-Ryan-Ludwick-calls-out-Reds-fans?nclick_check=1

[Redsfansince72]

14 sellouts on the year? how many did they actually win?? thats the sad part. they lost 2/3rds of them :(

[dougdirt]

14 sellouts on the year? how many did they actually win?? thats the sad part. they lost 2/3rds of them :(

I'm not Frank Einstein or anything, but it is impossible to lose 2/3rd of 14 games since 2/3rds of 14 is 9.38.

[Eric from NC]

If you look at the final attendance, it really seems hard to be critical with Cincy being a small/mid market city. http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

It would be great if they could bump it up to 2.7 million, but almost all the cities ahead are huge cities like LA, Dallas, and Boston.

[SporkLover]

Interesting list there..... Dodgers have the largest overall attendance but at only average 82% capacity..... that's eye popping. If the Dodgers were good all year long they could have had considerably higher attendance rates....

[oregonred]

If you look at the final attendance, it really seems hard to be critical with Cincy being a small/mid market city. http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

It would be great if they could bump it up to 2.7 million, but almost all the cities ahead are huge cities like LA, Dallas, and Boston.

Another 10% bump next year and the Reds get at the back end of the top 10. The GABP Math of a 40K stadium sellout makes it hard. Atlanta draws a lot of high teen/low 20s crowds on mostweekdays and 45-48K on Fri/Sat night.

You need to average low 30s on the weekdays assuming all weekends sellout to have any chance to get to 2.9-3M.

Weekday and early/late season crowds are highly dependent on season tickets. Grow the season ticket base by 10% again next year and you are looking at another 150K through the gates over the course of the season. When the locals realize the weekend tickets are scarce and expensive, they'll be more likely to consider adding a few weeknight games.

Cleveland - 1.5M. Ugly.