Future of the SCL

[kekemortson]

Is the league in financial trouble? Is every team in the red as well? Is there going to be a SCL next season?

[LHSTrojan]

I don't know, but I sure hope not. From what I've seen, fan support has been strong and attendance has been good, so I don't know how it could be as bad as it is said. Of course, I don't know how much the stadium leases and employee contracts have cost.

[Mr.Ed]

I haven't seen any info regarding the league being in trouble.
Attendance is down,at least reported attendance,but the heat has a lot to do with that(along with highschool football practice beginning !)
I'm sure losses were expected for a few years.The teams as well as the league have to become a part of the communities.
The communities will have to embrace the teams and provide financial support through sponsorships as well as decent attendance.
...what was the question?

[beetm]

Ive heard some grumblings about the financial situation too. I honestly don't know if it's just a natural "Belt-Tightening", or something more serious.

The recent credit squeeze can't be having a positive effect on an organization that plans on operating in debt for the first few years. (Interest Rates gone up?)

The tail-off in attendance recently isn't going to boost any Bank-Managers confidence either.:(

[kekemortson]

Well, Macon started the year off with a bang at the gates, but that has dropped in recent weeks. My take on the situation is:

1. The new has worn off. Macon was without ANY minor league baseball for a few years and the fans were excited with it's return. But historically, Macon is not a fan-frenzied fan base.

2. School has started back and the extra-curricular activities that go along with it. Families don't have time for a baseball game during the week.

3. IT IS HOT! Most people (JoesFan being the exception :rolleyes: ) do not want to sit out for 3+ hours in this heat and humidity.

4. Since it is not affiliated with a Major League team, most common fans do not have a "familiarity" with the players. Having former big leagers in the organizations (Plantier, Florie, Fielder, Backman, etc.) does help.

I have no idea about leases, equipment, income, bills, overhead, etc.

I just hope that they manage well and keep promoting and can field a product next season.

[SCL CEO]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As I have enjoyed visiting our sports central often to catch up on the postings of those interested in Independent Professional Baseball and The South Coast League in particular....... I thought I would say hello and thank each of you for your interest and comments regarding the SCL. Good, Bad, or indifferent it is nice to see folks interested in the League.

While the first year of any business or company will bring adversity and challenges, being two weeks away from the completion of the league's inaugural season is tremendously exciting. The adversity and challenges have been viewed by myself and league/team officials as opportunities to learn from our mistakes and create a better product for our fans as we move into what is certain to be a very exciting 2008 season.

Again, I appreciate each and everyone of you taking the time to communicate your feelings on the direction of the league and look forward to checking back often to our sports central to catch up on resent postings.

[JoesFan]

Jamie Toole is that REALLY you? :rolleyes:
JoesFan

[SCL CEO]

Yes this is really Jamie Joes Fan! Feel free to share your comments with me via this platform or contact me via email at jtoole@southcoastleague.com or by contacting our league office at 770-761-1555.

[Grrrowlguy]

Thats cool. Good to see a CEO step to the plate and actually speak out on a league forum. if the ECHL or the Grrrowls people would have posted on there forum I would have dropped out from shock. lol Welcome SCL CEO

[JoesFan]

Hey Jamie,
Great job this season. SCL has done a lot more right than wrong this year!
Even though it doesn't look like my beloved Joes are going to pull it out in the second half, we'll get 'em next year! You guys have handled the startup with class, and while I haven't agreed with EVERY decision made, I'm not the one with all of the responsibilities either!
My family has enjoyed seeing QUALITY baseball in Anderson again. I got the chance to meet Cecil Fielder - just strolling around Anderson Memorial Stadium. We enjoyed screaming for "our" Joes, tellin' old Blue when he made a bad call, and picking on the opposition. My son caught a foul ball, and ate about double his weight in cotton candy. For Less than ten bucks we got the best seats in the stadium. I'm still looking forward to those SCL hats though.
So keep swinging and we'll see you next year!
JoesFan

[kekemortson]

Welcome Jamie! Great job on keeping up with the "pulse" of the league here and the great job you guys have done in the first season of the SCL!

[Nuckinfuts]

Thanks Jamie Toole for your involvement and desire to "grow" this league. And, may I say ,the officiating was better in the last two nights of the Macon/Peanuts game than it has been in a while. Hope this means the play-offs will be an even challenge to both teams -- games that are enjoyable to watch instead of frustrating. And, is there an Allstar game or not?

[oldfatguy]

Hey Bitter,

You criticize the league officials for what they do, yet don't offer a solution. Quite easy to sit back and say 'you suck', while not even attempting to help.

If you think getting a league off the ground and making it somewhat viable is easy... try it sometime instead of sitting back and criticizing those who have the courage to do so.

I don't know Jamie, the SCL or how it's run, but I do know sports management, and I know full well that just to get a league through a first year is just about impossible.

I challenge you to find any league, any level, any time whose first-year teams all made it financially. Check the first year of the NFL... Massillon, Canton, Decatur... who? Check the first year of any independent league against where their teams are now, if the leagues exist at all.

Check www.indyleaguesgraveyard.com for a pretty good list of dead teams. As a matter of fact, it says the New York State League, whatever that was, folded a month ago.

So, if you want to criticize, perhaps a suggestion or two on how to make it better would be welcome. The SCL has made it this far - who knows if they'll be back for year two, but they've almost made it through year one, unlike many other leagues.

I know that your 'bitter' comments don't phase Jamie or the SCL in the least, but I've been on the end of those kind of comments and they just make the commentator look like an idiot... as your posting does for you.

Just saying... it's easy to sit and and whine. I have an ex that does it every day. :-)

[Grrrowlguy]

At least they are trying, its better to try and fail than never to have tried at all. If its for only one year in Anderson i have enjoyed this year and look forward to hopefully doing it again next year.

[LHSTrojan]

Aw I think the SCL will make it. The first year's always the toughest because a new league has to pay for offices, for printers and computers in those offices, for upgrades to stadiums, a website, etc. All of this money that is spent on just getting a league off the ground almost always puts it in the hole for the first year or two. Of course this means that the first couple of years are always the thoughest and are the most likely to see a league fold, but once you make it past that, that's when you see whether or not the league is viable. As is the case with the SCL, I think that they've got a good thing going. While attendance is down a little, that is to be expected with any league late in the season (when the wow factor wears off). They've made several mistakes (such as scheduling the All Star game so late) and a few gambles that didn't pay off (like having the season run all the way into late August), but I think that they'll learn from these and correct any errors that they see next season. And yes, I think that there will be a next season. The greatest challenge I still see ahead of the SCL is the future of the two Florida teams. There is no way the league can operate with just four teams or be financially sound with two travelling teams. Personally, I also think that it would be a very poor choice to keep a team in Charlotte County if they are going to be forced to play on a practice or high school field. I'd risk moving the team quickly to somewhere like Tallahassee or Valdosta, even if I had to play on a community college field or share the facilities with a university. At least you'd actually be generating a revenue and have stands for fans to sit in. How the SCL approaches this major issue, I think will ultimately determine the future of the league. They've got a great vision and a supportive fan base in the South, it's just going to be how quickly they can respond to these sorts of challenges that decide whether it makes it over the hump or not.

[Nuckinfuts]

Hey, maybe I missed this one -- I don't see it anywhere, where is the "bitter" message you speak of?

[kekemortson]

I'm with Nuck....where is the "Bitter" post? And just for the record...I'm with you guys. I think the SCL did pretty well for a 1st year start-up Indy league!:-D

[Mr.Ed]

Why be bitter ?
WE as fans need to carry the SCL "flag" and spread the gospel of the SCL if we want it to stick around.
I hope the SCL leadership will do their part.
I am going to do mine.
I am going to let everyone that I can know about the great entertainment value and good product that is being presented.
Hopefully with a few tweaks this offseason it will be a better product.
I am looking forward to a great finish to a great first season.
I am also looking forward to an awesome second season!
I feel like this is my league and I am going to do all I can to help it stick around for many years to come.