Article: The Independence Day Baseball Blackout

[Nick Nelson]

On Monday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins tweeted an invitation to fans: "Let's spend the afternoon with America's favorite pastime as the Twins host the A's."

 

Only one problem: unless you were at Target Field, watching the action was nigh impossible. Incredibly, the July 4th Twins game was not televised locally, on any channel. In a year characterized by "Total System Failure" for the franchise, this misstep must rank quite highly among irredeemable moments.Naturally, the aforementioned tweet was met with scornful responses from individuals across Twins Territory, stunned to scroll through their TV guide only to learn that the game was nowhere to be found.

 

July 4th is not only a patriotic national holiday and celebration of summer, but also a date where America's pastime takes center stage. Every single team in the majors plays. Flipping on the ballgame while grilling and enjoying time with family is an entrenched tradition for many fans of all stripes – one strong enough to outweigh the generally painful proposition of watching this Twins team play.

 

This year, baseball enthusiasts in the Twin Cities were deprived of that opportunity. And why? Star Tribune beat man Phil Miller ties the absence of this broadcast – and all other midweek day games the rest of the way – to a lack of interest. As he puts it, "the price of going 27-54."

 

In other words, because this club has scuffled to such a pitiful first half, fans are the ones who pay the price. As if it weren't enough to drop out of relevance before the season is six weeks old, and to deliver jolt after jolt to any long-term hopes, the Twins are now ruining annual rites of summer.

 

Has this happened in the past? Were Independence Day matinees non-televised on other occasions during the past five years? It is possible; I certainly don't ever recall it, but don't feel like doing the research. And it doesn't really matter. All I know is that, in this season – with the Twins already driving nearly every loyalist to either anger or apathy – the terrible optics of this thing are impossible to ignore.

 

Even without being able to watch the Twins limp to their 55th loss against another bad team on Sunday, I was able to enjoy my holiday. I hope that you all were too. In fact, maybe you didn't even notice the absence of baseball on your televisions.

 

That, however, would strike me as the saddest part.

 

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[theBOMisthebomb]

Wait, isn't the TV schedule set out in advance before the season even starts? Why would FSN want fewer Twins games as it seems the Twins would be their highest rated show by far, even if the Twins had a winning percentage of .000. Miller's theory might be true yet seems odd and like you just don't care enough to research it.

[dougd]

Someone must have known the Twins would be 27-54 back in early April, because the schedule I received back then showed that the games of July 4 and July 6 would not be televised. 

 

The Fox North presentation of the Twins games that are shown is among the league's worst, in addition.

[Nick Nelson]

 

Wait, isn't the TV schedule set out in advance before the season even starts? Why would FSN want fewer Twins games as it seems the Twins would be their highest rated show by far, even if the Twins had a winning percentage of .000. Miller's theory might be true yet seems odd and like you just don't care enough to research it.

It's not so much that I don't care to research, it's just a little out of my realm. The broadcast schedule system is a bit tricky to understand. The way I understand it is that many of these midweek day games are left unscheduled at the start of the season, and then picked up as the summer goes on. 

 

But, gawd, shouldn't July 4th be an absolute automatic?

[alarp33]

I was at the game yesterday, and shocked at how few people were in the seats.  That place is going to be EMPTY come September.  

 

They announced it at 23,000, I would guess more like 18-20k in the seats. 

[blindeke]

"... and all other midweek day games the rest of the way"?

 

Really? No day games on TV any more this season? I was hoping to watch Wednesday's game while I work on a few projects.

[blindeke]

Q: Why wouldn't FSN want to show these games? Don't they just broadcast re-runs of fishing or golf or poker instead?

[Vanimal46]

 

I was at the game yesterday, and shocked at how few people were in the seats.  That place is going to be EMPTY come September.  

 

They announced it at 23,000, I would guess more like 18-20k in the seats. 

For sure in September it's going to be a ghost town. Perhaps even in August too when people are taking their last summer vacations before schools get back in session. 

It's not a good sign at all when it's the dog days of summer, only women's basketball to compete with for sporting events, and they're drawing ~20k in the stadium. 

[alarp33]

 

For sure in September it's going to be a ghost town. Perhaps even in August too when people are taking their last summer vacations before schools get back in session. 

It's not a good sign at all when it's the dog days of summer, only women's basketball to compete with for sporting events, and they're drawing ~20k in the stadium. 

 

Yeah, probably can include August as well.  The schedule does not do them any favors either.  The only non-division home opponents in August and September are the Astros on a Monday-Thursday, and the Mariners on a weekend in late September.  

[MplsFan]

This really was sad. Whole season has been sad, but I was really surprised to not be able to watch the Twins on the Fourth. Who do you think would be better to send a complaint to: the Twins organization or FSN?

[Mike Sixel]

Easiest way to attract fans and keep them interested.....don't make your product available!

[DaveW]

Sounds like the best thing the Twins have done all year for their fans, let them spend some time with friends and family instead of wasting 3 hours watching the same old dumpster fire.

[wsnydes]

 

I was at the game yesterday, and shocked at how few people were in the seats.  That place is going to be EMPTY come September.  

 

They announced it at 23,000, I would guess more like 18-20k in the seats. 

It has gotten hard to believe any of their attendance figures.  Sunday's game was similar.  announced was 26k and I would bet that it was in the 18k-20k range as well.  Those are the good ones.  There have been a few games that I've been to where I'd venture to guess that it's around half of what they announce.

 

Games that have had decent crowds, Toronto in particular, turn out to be home games for the opposition.

Edited July 5, 2016 by wsnydes

[Don Walcott]

This was not isolated to the Twins yesterday.  I live in Santa Fe, NM, and it is considered part of the broadcast territory of both the Rockies and the D-bags.  Yesterday, the Rockies did not have a broadcast in San Francisco, though the Giants did.  Because I'm in Rockies "territory" (5.5-hour drive away), the Giants broadcast was blacked out for me on MLB.TV, just as the Oakland broadcast would have been blacked out in Twins "territory".  This was the case even though the game was in San Francisco (20-hour drive from here)!  

 

I think a lot of the blame here is more on MLB, and stupid outdated blackout rules to protect regional monopolies.  Though both the Twins and Rockies are to blame for deciding before the season to give their broadcast crews the day off on July 4, when more people would have had work off and would have been able to watch the game, rather than give them a day off on some other random, non-holiday day game.

[fittdogg]

I saw that the game was blacked out yesterday, so I said I'll just watch it with my MLB.tv subscription. Nope, blacked out because I'm within the local broadcast area. Blacked out from what? Dead air? I don't understand why I wasn't able to watch Oakland's feed. The game wasn't broadcast locally in Minneapolis and there was no national television broadcast as well. I'm sure it was an MLB.tv issue, not the Twins, but it sure was annoying. At least I don't live in Iowa and have blackouts by 6 different teams.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I saw that the game was blacked out yesterday, so I said I'll just watch it with my MLB.tv subscription. Nope, blacked out because I'm within the local broadcast area. Blacked out from what? Dead air? I don't understand why I wasn't able to watch Oakland's feed. The game wasn't broadcast locally in Minneapolis and there was no national television broadcast as well. I'm sure it was an MLB.tv issue, not the Twins, but it sure was annoying. At least I don't live in Iowa and have blackouts by 6 different teams.

 

I hate the blackout rules....and I really hate them when they are stupid bad, like Iowa and blacking out an opposing feed when the game isn't shown locally. I am amazed there are any young baseball fans at all, given how hard they make the product to see.

[TheLeviathan]

Sadly, baseball decided long ago that the almighty dollar mattered more than exposure of their product.  

[wsnydes]

 

Sadly, baseball decided long ago that the almighty dollar mattered more than exposure of their product.  

Keeping making it hard for people to view said product and keep it affordable for families and that almighty dollar will disappear quickly in the not so distant future.  kids are that future dollar.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Keeping making it hard for people to view said product and keep it affordable for families and that almighty dollar will disappear quickly in the not so distant future.  kids are that future dollar.

 

I totally agree, I haven't watched a Twins game in months thanks to the price they charge for out of market viewing.  And I would pay if the prices were even remotely reasonable.  But I've stopped going to baseball games and paying for a product that prices itself out of the average fan's market.

 

I'll pay for other sports that I'd rather invest in.

[jeffn48]

I hate the MLB blackout policy so much. I live in Buffalo and subscribe to MLB.tv so I can watch the Twins. We don't have a team here, so naturally MLB has decided we are the home territory for the Yankees, Mets, Pirates and Indians. Whenever we are playing any of these teams, I can't watch the game on MLB.tv. To make matters worse, only the Yankees are actually on TV here. It's particularly annoying because we play the Indians so frequently.

 

It's funny though because I spend a good amount of time in Toronto and I can watch the Jays on MLB.tv when I'm there.

[dxpavelka]

 

Wait, isn't the TV schedule set out in advance before the season even starts? Why would FSN want fewer Twins games as it seems the Twins would be their highest rated show by far, even if the Twins had a winning percentage of .000. Miller's theory might be true yet seems odd and like you just don't care enough to research it.

Have you seen this team play?

 

[wsnydes]

 

I totally agree, I haven't watched a Twins game in months thanks to the price they charge for out of market viewing.  And I would pay if the prices were even remotely reasonable.  But I've stopped going to baseball games and paying for a product that prices itself out of the average fan's market.

 

I'll pay for other sports that I'd rather invest in.

I'm in a similar boat, but I'm in market .  I attend the games that I've already paid for, but refuse to buy more.  I used to buy concessions at games almost every game we attended.  Between the shear cost of those now and the fact that I don't want to give them any more of my money, I've stopped buying anything at all.  I don't have kids, but I don't know how a family of 4 on an average income can afford to go to many games.  Even kids days on Sunday's seem to have a dwindling following, but that could just be because of the putrid product.  Target Field gets less family friendly with each passing year.  It's an absolute shame.

[TheLeviathan]

Cost isn't the only factor, Target Field is friendly to craft beer lovers, hipsters, and 20-25 year olds.  It isn't a place particularly friendly for a family.

 

Only on Sundays would I even consider bringing my family the last few years and even then my attendance dwindled out from being a former season ticket holder, to a once a year family tradition, to several years we just haven't gone at all.

[DaveW]

Only blaming MLB for the blackout rules is letting off the greedy/terrible networks and cable/satellite providers off the hook.

They are the backwards thinking greedy idiots who are making MLB put in those blackout zones.
The good news is, this will all work itself out soon enough.

[DaveW]

 

 

Between the shear cost of those now and the fact that I don't want to give them any more of my money, I've stopped buying anything at all.  I don't have kids, but I don't know how a family of 4 on an average income can afford to go to many games.  Even kids days on Sunday's seem to have a dwindling following, but that could just be because of the putrid product.  Target Field gets less family friendly with each passing year.  It's an absolute shame.

Much like the on field product/staff, the marketing/business side of the business clearly are behind the times as well and don't come up with any real good ideas to benefit the fan base as a whole (DSP I'm looking at you)

I get putting in a bar to create a "gathering space" but why on earth did they need to open TWO huge new bars in Target Field this year anyways? (The one in CF, and the one in LF).

Were their not enough bars already? Opening one, I can sort of understand, especially if the operator is paying big bucks, but two is just overkill as that space could be made significantly more family friendly. Put in a fun picnic area for families to hang out and enjoy the game (with plenty of overprice vendors nearby to sell $8 hot dogs and the like)

Even in NYC, the money hungry capital of the world you don't see that many ridiculous bars, the Mets for instance realized that one major "bar" area was enough, and added in a bunch of things for your families and everything else.

This is all also coming from the "prime" target of these new bars anyways: early 30's, no kids, love beer, disposable income. If I think it's a bad idea and overkill, I can't imagine what folks with actually families and non social drinkers think.

Sure, you may get a few younger (20-35) people to come out for a game or two a year, but it's not like they are gonna pay the price of a ticket, and $10-$14 a beer to make the bar in Target field their "goto" hangout. They can goto any of the nearby 100+ bars with patios etc that have better prices, better product and a better atmosphere.

Edited July 5, 2016 by DaveW

[DaveW]

 

I totally agree, I haven't watched a Twins game in months thanks to the price they charge for out of market viewing.  And I would pay if the prices were even remotely reasonable.  But I've stopped going to baseball games and paying for a product that prices itself out of the average fan's market.

 

I'll pay for other sports that I'd rather invest in.

Feel free to PM me and I will give you access to my account.
Normally I would feel bad about "stealing" in cases like this, but I don't watch many of these dumpster fire games anyways these days, and IMO the Twins owe us all.

[Mr. Brooks]

It would have been an affront to America to put this garbage on television on a day as revered as the 4th of July.

[wsnydes]

 

Much like the on field product/staff, the marketing/business side of the business clearly are behind the times as well and don't come up with any real good ideas to benefit the fan base as a whole (DSP I'm looking at you)

I get putting in a bar to create a "gathering space" but why on earth did they need to open TWO huge new bars in Target Field this year anyways? (The one in CF, and the one in LF).

Were their not enough bars already? Opening one, I can sort of understand, especially if the operator is paying big bucks, but two is just overkill as that space could be made significantly more family friendly. Put in a fun picnic area for families to hang out and enjoy the game (with plenty of overprice vendors nearby to sell $8 hot dogs and the like)

Even in NYC, the money hungry capital of the world you don't see that many ridiculous bars, the Mets for instance realized that one major "bar" area was enough, and added in a bunch of things for your families and everything else.

This is all also coming from the "prime" target of these new bars anyways: early 30's, no kids, love beer, disposable income. If I think it's a bad idea and overkill, I can't imagine what folks with actually families and non social drinkers think.

Sure, you may get a few younger (20-35) people to come out for a game or two a year, but it's not like they are gonna pay the price of a ticket, and $10-$14 a beer to make the bar in Target field their "goto" hangout. They can goto any of the nearby 100+ bars with patios etc that have better prices, better product and a better atmosphere.

If you're talking about Barrio in LF, that was already a bar area.  It just got rebranded.  I'm with you, one new bar is unneeded but I get it.  I'm 35 and don't really drink beer (whiskey!!!), but otherwise fit into your demographic and I have no interest in it.  Even if I wasn't boycotting the concessions, I wouldn't then either.  We simply don't go to a baseball game to drink.  We're there to watch a ballgame.  I know that we're in the vast minority.  I'm more interested in the food options, but even those just keep getting spendier and spendier.  We may have one drink at a game, but that's it.  It does seem as though they're losing touch with what going to a baseball game should be about.  You can have the beer and the bars, but you're just driving away families.  

[Mike Sixel]

 

If you're talking about Barrio in LF, that was already a bar area.  It just got rebranded.  I'm with you, one new bar is unneeded but I get it.  I'm 35 and don't really drink beer (whiskey!!!), but otherwise fit into your demographic and I have no interest in it.  Even if I wasn't boycotting the concessions, I wouldn't then either.  We simply don't go to a baseball game to drink.  We're there to watch a ballgame.  I know that we're in the vast minority.  I'm more interested in the food options, but even those just keep getting spendier and spendier.  We may have one drink at a game, but that's it.  It does seem as though they're losing touch with what going to a baseball game should be about.  You can have the beer and the bars, but you're just driving away families.  

 

and, you won't attract the super casual fan w/o a great team anyway, so planning around them is probably not a great idea if you value consistency in your revenue stream. The prices? Not great....not great at all.

[DaveW]

 

If you're talking about Barrio in LF, that was already a bar area.  It just got rebranded.  I'm with you, one new bar is unneeded but I get it.  I'm 35 and don't really drink beer (whiskey!!!), but otherwise fit into your demographic and I have no interest in it.  Even if I wasn't boycotting the concessions, I wouldn't then either.  We simply don't go to a baseball game to drink.  We're there to watch a ballgame.  I know that we're in the vast minority.  I'm more interested in the food options, but even those just keep getting spendier and spendier.  We may have one drink at a game, but that's it.  It does seem as though they're losing touch with what going to a baseball game should be about.  You can have the beer and the bars, but you're just driving away families.  

You hit the nail on the head. People don't goto the ball game to drink, they have several better options all over the place. They go to watch baseball OR catch up with friends once in a while. Making the "bars" the centerpiece of the new things going on at Target Field is just so stupid and lazy. It's pretty embarrassing actually that the best idea a company valued at 500+ million could come up with is "Let's put in some more bars that sell $8 beers!"

This team, front office, and entire business honestly just needs new blood throughout.