Attendance-Gate?

[MFS62]

Last night I got into my car and turned on the radio. It happened to be tuned to the MFY station. Sterling and Georgie's Girl were waxing rhapsodic about how the ballpark in KC was full. They went on and on about how the last rows of the outfield upper deck were full and folks were even standing on the greensward in the outfield "next to the water fountain". They love to say how big a draw the Yanks are around the league.
I was waiting for the score when the official attendance was announced over the PA in the pressbox. It was a little over 30,000. Sterling couldn't believe it. Then, he said he was told by the KC public relations person that "there are many seats above and behind us that aren't good ones, and that there aren't too many of those seats taken".

Huh?
10,000 empty seats? And all of them behind home plate?
Aren't the upper deck seats behind home plate a great place from which to see a ballgame? Y'mean fans would rather stand in the outfield and sit in the upper deck than sit there? Isn't Kaufmann Stadium one of the best in which to see a baseball game?
Aren't the Yankees the "biggest draw in baseball"?

Or (conspiratorial whisper here):
Is the management of KC holding back in attendance figures so they will again qualify for Salary tax money? Anyone know if/how attendance figures are audited? Something doesn't sound right here.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

More likely that the announcers had an agenda and reported their view of the world through the filter of that agenda. Happens all the time.

[MFS62]

Probably right.
I've never heard anything negative about the KC front office. (From a business point of view)
But I'm still curious about how attendance figures are audited.


Later

[metirish]

MFS62 wrote: Probably right. I've never heard anything negative about the KC front office. (From a business point of view) But I'm still curious about how attendance figures are audited. Later

I would think that there is plenty to feel negative about with the KC front office the last few decades,at least if your a KC fan.

[MFS62]

That's why I specified "business".
From a baseball POV they have left a lot to be desired. (I'm being polite)
But they built a beautiful ballpark, pay top dollar to keep it looking great, have the water show for entertainment, etc.
But, you're right. To the baseball fan that's all just bread and circus.

Later

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Should I believe the Yankee broadcasters unofficial proclamation after eyeing the crowd from the announcers box or the official turnstile count by thwe Kansas City Royals? Seems pretty clear cut to me. If it comes down to trusting the word of the Kansas City Royals management or the ramblings of the Yankee announcers, I'll go with the Royals.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Do you really think they're laundering income, and have the gatekeepers in on the fix?

The real way to hide profits is to overspend on money that comes back to you (salary to directors and partners and whatnot), not lie about ballpark revenues.

And you think John Sterling is the detective who has caught them?

Why should teams juggle their books in reporting to MLB. MLB has been juggling the books for them for a long time.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: And you think John Sterling is the detective who has caught them?

Of course not. he made his comments before the attendance was announced. I just found the lack of fans in of 10,000 of the "best seats in the house" odd while the outfield was (according to Sterling) filled.
And of course I believe the KC management.

But I am still curious about how/ if gate figures are audited. Anyone care to answer that question?

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

MFS62 wrote: ="Edgy DC"] And you think John Sterling is the detective who has caught them? Of course not. he made his comments before the attendance was announced. I just found the lack of fans in of 10,000 of the "best seats in the house" odd while the outfield was (according to Sterling) filled. And of course I believe the KC management. But I am still curious about how/ if gate figures are audited. Anyone care to answer that question? Later

The truth, I'm certain, is that neither the outfield, nor the field level, nor the upper deck were truly filled, and that Sterling incorrectly estimated the crowd's density.

[MFS62]

As has been said of some reporters, he never lets the facts get in the way of a good story.

Later

[Centerfield]

MFS62 wrote: As has been said of some reporters, he never lets the facts get in the way of a good story. Later

Or a catch-phrase. I forgot which of the hundred HR's the MFY's hit this weekend it was, but one of them was a line drive that reached the seats in no time. It didn't prevent Sterling from proclaiming that "IT IS HIGH!...."