Phil Castellini surprised that Opening Day tickets still unsold

[Big Red Smokey]

Bengals had how many consecutive sellouts in the mid-late 2000's? If you build it, they will come.

I respect the fans/city for not supporting the clubs financially when they actively don't try to compete.

The Castellini's should be THRILLED that the emotion of the day is anger and not apathy.

[fearofpopvol1]

The saddest (worst) part is that I thought originally that Phil actually verbalized the apology that would have been written. No, instead, he just put out a statement. What a coward.

[corkedbat]

With all the varied revenue streams available to MLB franchises and you say you can't be profitable with any payroll over $100M, you're simply admitting you're incompetent, a liar or both.

[Z-Fly]

I really do think they want to win. I think we all pretty much believe that. The problem is they are incompetent. They want to build like the late 1990s Yankees, but they don't have the resources to do so. Bob makes irrational illogical emotional decisions like he is a teenager. They can't stick to a plan. Then he doesn't have the capital to sustain a loss.

I was surprised that a person such as Bob was able to build wealth to the point where he could purchase the leading share of the Cincinnati Reds, with his list of attributes I described previously, so I looked him up. He graduated and was immediately put in as the executive vice president at the "Castellini Group of Companies" then three years later was made the president. I pulled this from wikipedia, so it could be slightly off. It makes so much sense now. That's why all of the kids work on the executive team. That's what he was taught. He never had to build anything. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Maybe he took the business to a new high. I don't know much about the guy and his history at all. Regardless, he wasn't someone that came up through the mail room, because he had amazing ideas.

[REDREAD]

If the Reds lose like 20 of their next 30 and are looking at 12-24 record, or something similar, the attendance is going to get reaaaaaaaalllll bad. I just saw some images from todays game. I get it, early afternoon weekday game with poor weather, it looked like a Rays game. If people shun the Reds the owners will have to sell. I am starting to think this is the beginning of the end.

Let's hope so.
Unfortunately, I suspect that even if the Reds sell a ridiculously small amount of tickets, it's still economically beneficial to own the team.
My fantasy (which will not happen) is that fans of all tanking teams just stop showing up, and stop watching the game, so that the next TV contract actually goes down.
I think that's what it would take to fix competitive balance.
Again, it will never happen, and I am not trying to shame anyone on this board that still watches games.

[LeatherPants]

Let's hope so.
Unfortunately, I suspect that even if the Reds sell a ridiculously small amount of tickets, it's still economically beneficial to own the team.
My fantasy (which will not happen) is that fans of all tanking teams just stop showing up, and stop watching the game, so that the next TV contract actually goes down.
I think that's what it would take to fix competitive balance.
Again, it will never happen, and I am not trying to shame anyone on this board that still watches games.

FWIW Reds TV ratings ranked 5th in the majors in 2020

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinna...#39;s%20record.

The Reds averaged local ratings of 4.67% in 2020, ranking fifth among Major League Baseball's 30 teams. The Reds finished two games over . 500 and made the expanded playoffs last year. The numbers show viewership isn't necessarily predicated on the team's record.

[LoudounReds]

It's been almost 48 hours now and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the Tuesday Massacre. And trust me, I know bad ownership as a fan. Reds, Knicks, and the team formerly known as the Redskins have been my favorites for over 50 years now.

And yet Tuesday's events still have me shaking my head wondering if that really happened.

[REDREAD]

FWIW Reds TV ratings ranked 5th in the majors in 2020

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinna...#39;s%20record.

yep, I imagine their "undisclosed" TV contract is pretty good.
We all knew that they wanted to keep their new TV deal secret so they could continue to cry poor.
Once they lock in that good TV contract, along with all the other MLB money they get.. the Castallanis don't fullfil their end of the deal, which is
to provide an entertaining product. They think we are all rubes that will continue to support the Reds no matter how badly they tank (Where else are you going to go? Just calm down and continue
to give us your money).
IMO, this year is tanking. The last tanking session began with relatively promising young arms too.. Finnegan, Lorenzen, etc.. Just because we are fortunate enough to have Greene and Lodollo on the roster doesn't mean it's not tanking.

[SidneySlicker]

yep, I imagine their "undisclosed" TV contract is pretty good.
We all knew that they wanted to keep their new TV deal secret so they could continue to cry poor.
Once they lock in that good TV contract, along with all the other MLB money they get.. the Castallanis don't fullfil their end of the deal, which is
to provide an entertaining product. They think we are all rubes that will continue to support the Reds no matter how badly they tank (Where else are you going to go? Just calm down and continue
to give us your money).
IMO, this year is tanking. The last tanking session began with relatively promising young arms too.. Finnegan, Lorenzen, etc.. Just because we are fortunate enough to have Greene and Lodollo on the roster doesn't mean it's not tanking.

My problem is that they trade guys, but they don't trade the guy that is the biggest trade chip that should bring back major league ready young talent (Luis Castillo). They should have kept Sonny and traded Castillo.

[HalKing]

My apologies if this has already been shared. This is from a Cardinals fan blog, which makes it sting all that much worse:

https://redbirdrants.com/2022/04/13/...dumpster-fire/

[Sea Ray]

My apologies if this has already been shared. This is from a Cardinals fan blog, which makes it sting all that much worse:

https://redbirdrants.com/2022/04/13/...dumpster-fire/

We're not going to be signing free agents for awhile anyway

[bm1475]

My problem is that they trade guys, but they don't trade the guy that is the biggest trade chip that should bring back major league ready young talent (Luis Castillo). They should have kept Sonny and traded Castillo.

Or they package guys who should bring a big return with terrible contracts, turning what should have been a good prospect return into a pure salary dump. Or they trade a reasonably-priced starter for one kid who's five years away from the majors in a perfect world and even have to attach a prospect to get the receiving team to do it.

[Roy Tucker]

Used to be I felt like only us at RZ were the old men shaking our fist at the sky and the masses were sedated and placated. But I thing the masses have joined in the fist shaking.

[George Anderson]

Used to be I felt like only us at RZ were the old men shaking our fist at the sky and the masses were sedated and placated. But I thing the masses have joined in the fist shaking.

I rarely post anymore simply because this franchise just doesn’t matter to me that much anymore. Phil’s comments simply reinforce my belief that the Reds care more about the dollar than winning.

[Chip R]

Bengals had how many consecutive sellouts in the mid-late 2000's? If you build it, they will come.

I respect the fans/city for not supporting the clubs financially when they actively don't try to compete.

The Castellini's should be THRILLED that the emotion of the day is anger and not apathy.

Those Bengals sellouts were not always legit cause sometimes guys like Chad Johnson would buy enough tickets to make it a sellout. But your point is taken. A couple of three years ago, people were as down on the Bengals as they have ever been. Right now if Mike Brown wanted to build a publicly financed new stadium where Fountain Square is, people would be down with it. But even if the Reds have a winning team, it seems it takes them a while to warm up to it. Historically, they have started cold and the attendance followed. If they improved, people started coming out later in the summer. If they didn't people would show up on special occasions or when the Cubs came here.