Question for the York/Lancaster folks

[Duckfan]

What do you think is going to happen to the attendance in Lancaster when York opens their gates? On Long Island the population density is such that there are 2 million people within a 30 minute drive of CitiBank park. Even though most of those people are in the upper middle class income group, they don't go to see the Ducks to save money. They go to the Ducks games mainly because they don't want the aggravation of traveling into NYC for a Mets or Yankees game. Long Island could probably support another team but I'm sure the Ducks would take a major hit at the gate. The days of averaging 6000 a game would be over for us. I'm not that familiar with that area of PA. I know Lancaster has been doing great at the gate but do you guys have the population density to fill both parks? Is York going to kill the attendance in Lancaster? Is a team in York a good idea?

[barnstormin]

Well I hope the attendence for Lancaster would not drop off all that much. The 2 stadiums are probably 40 minutes away from each other at the maximum. I think the closeness will bring attendence either way...our fans going to York for the games and vice versa. It certainly will create a great rivalry that will be fun for all involved. I am not sure the population density of both areas...I think Lancaster is 70,000 and York may be the same. Then again you have Harrisburg and Reading all within this area too. all of these teams are less than an hour. I would like to say someones attendence will drop...but I feel it would be Harrisburg, even though they are affiliated ball. Their stadium has taken quite a beating over time and I am thinking people around this area will take to York because of the newer stadium. But you never know. I thought it was odd for the York area to get a team but then again...they were supposed to be in the league BEFORE Lancaster so its hard to tell. Hope it all works out for the best as I will be able to enjoy baseball in BOTH places. I am a full season ticket holder in lancaster but plan to see as many games in York as the schedule will allow!

[Duckfan]

I have no doubt there will be a great rivalry between York and Lancaster. I hope that will be enough. The region has shown it deserves and can support a team. I'm just not sure they can support two.
How many of the fans who went to the Barnstormers games over the past two years will now go to York instead? Empty stadiums are bad for the league. It's better to have one team averaging 5000 per game than two averaging 2500.
When the league first started I went to quite a few Bluefish games. It's only 15 miles away as the crow flies, but because we're separated by Long Island Sound, it's a long drive(90 miles). A local ferry company has a deal where you get a round trip ticket on the ferry, a good seat at the game and $5 for concessions for $25. A boat ride, a ball game and a beer for $25, it's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Now I only go now if they're playing the Ducks. That's not to say I believe the Ducks are the reason for the Bluefish's recent problems at the box office. Their problem is deeper than that. My point is that most people, when given a choice, will stay closer to home.
Good Luck.

[barnstormin]

Oh I totally agree with you about everything. I am not really sure that the people from York will even cross the river for the Lancaster games. Unless they are diehards like me. I know people in York who like baseball alot...Orioles fans etc...never been to games here at all. But they will go to York because its home..as you say. That being said....its pretty hard to say how attendence will be but I am venturing a guess that Lancaster will still do fine. Don't know how it will all work out but it will be very interesting to see don't you think?

[Duckfan]

Let's both keep our fingers crossed. The League needs both teams to be a financial success. If either of those teams goes belly up and sticks the local taxpayers with a white elephant stadium, if going to be difficult to get politicians in other markets to push for stadiums and expansion will stop. I would eventually like to see a 12 team league. I think that's do-able.

[barnstormin]

Yeah true. I don't think we are going to have to worry about either of these teams going belly up. Definitly not lancaster.