$15 to get into BP early????

[TheLeviathan]

The Twins have not changed the amount of time before games that they allow fans into the stadium. It's been 90 minutes before weeknight games and 2 hours before weekend games. Because of the fan outrage, won't be able to see Twins batting practice. So, I guess, good job!

 

So wait, you're blaming fans for being outraged at what was clearly a money-grabbing scheme spurred by utter contempt for fanbase feelings? I mean, cmon man, that's just credibility crushing to defend that.

[Guest USAFChief]

The Twins have not changed the amount of time before games that they allow fans into the stadium. It's been 90 minutes before weeknight games and 2 hours before weekend games. Because of the fan outrage, won't be able to see Twins batting practice. So, I guess, good job!

I don't think it's because of "fan outrage" that Twins fans can't see BP. I think it's because the Twins don't open up the stadium in time, which is easily solved. The fan outrage is over a ham-handed attempt to weedle out yet another cash stream, for no good reason and for very little cash, at that.

[snepp]

Yeah...the optics of this are really, really bad. Terrible. A big ol' FU to fans, for $900 per game. Open the GD gates and let people watch BP. Have a couple concession stands open, and you'll easily pay for the extra hour or so of security.

 

And they just might generate a little extra goodwill in the process to help make up for the embarrassing seasons and ridiculous decline in payroll.

[Squirrel]

How many of you would go early enough to catch Twins BP? Every game you had a ticket for? Or just every so often?

[BrentMpls]

This is truly sad. I used to love watching bp as a kid.

 

The Twins finish before the gates open so it could be used as a 'sweet spot' reward for randomly selected low tier season ticket holders, and now this. Pretty sad, I think it comes to $900 total if they sell all 60 spots? Talk about milking every last dollar out of people. They want to take all the joy out.

[BrentMpls]

So wait, you're blaming fans for being outraged at what was clearly a money-grabbing scheme spurred by utter contempt for fanbase feelings? I mean, cmon man, that's just credibility crushing to defend that.

 

Yeah I don't get that comment either. The move prior to charging for what was once part of the game day experience before Target Field was deliberate to use it as a 'perk' to STHs (which also was pretty poor treatment to fans)

[Seth Stohs]

So wait, you're blaming fans for being outraged at what was clearly a money-grabbing scheme spurred by utter contempt for fanbase feelings? I mean, cmon man, that's just credibility crushing to defend that.

 

I don't blame some fans for being outraged. Some fans get outraged over a lot of little stuff. I think the concept is weird, but other teams do it, so I have no problem with the Twins considering it, or looking into it. I think that theTwins likely used social media to gauge fan interest, and the response they heard was quite clear.

 

I'd have to do some research (and won't) but I'm pretty sure that all MLB teams go by pretty much the same pre-game schedule.

 

I wouldn't pay extra for it. I'd love to see them open the gates earlier. But I certainly don't blame them for looking into options and things that other organizaitons are doing.

[snepp]

Instead of following other teams off a cliff maybe they should look into doing something positive instead.

[Ultima Ratio]

Instead of following other teams off a cliff maybe they should look into doing something positive instead.

 

You, sir, are weird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oops, fake name-calling.

[TheLeviathan]

I think the concept is weird, but other teams do it, so I have no problem with the Twins considering it, or looking into it. I think that theTwins likely used social media to gauge fan interest, and the response they heard was quite clear.

 

A) There's a saying we have for school children about jumping off a bridge I'd like you to consider with that logic.

 

If the Twins are dumb enough to have to gauge how their fans will react to something like this on social media - I have even more issues with the front office than I previously thought. It's nothing short of incompetence to be that ambivalent to your fanbase that you don't realize when you're soaking them for the sake of soaking them. Over peanuts to boot. Is there no one with half a brain in the decision-making room that said "Um, we just cut payroll two years in a row....this seems like rubbing salt in a wound"?

[snepp]

You, sir, are weird.

 

This is truth.

[Thrylos]

Whatever

 

I don't get it, but they do it in Spring Training as well and nobody whined

 

My issue with the complaints here is that people are whining about spending $15 for exclusive access to the Twins' players vs for a bud an a hot dog..

[Highabove]

Whatever

 

I don't get it, but they do it in Spring Training as well and nobody whined

 

My issue with the complaints here is that people are whining about spending $15 for exclusive access to the Twins' players vs for a bud an a hot dog..

 

Fans have always paid something for food and drink. Coming early to watch the pregame drills is another matter.

 

Maybe the Wild should start charging for their pregame Skate.

[TheLeviathan]

Fans have always paid something for food and drink. Coming early to watch the pregame drills is another matter..

 

Coming next - $1 per "moment of fun" and additional $1 if it was something the Twins actually did on the field that caused it.

[Twins Twerp]

I don't have a problem with it to tell you the truth. Everything cost money in pro sports. They could do what alot of teams do and not open the gate for home team bp. But if twinsdaily fans can find something to slam the twins on they jump at it.

 

How about taht liriano trade we all hated. Looks pretty good with a back end major arm and a very good utility infielder. Tr is a genious and it has taken him a year to turn around the farm and build a better rotation (better than worst ever at least).

[Squirrel]

Coming next - $1 per "moment of fun" and additional $1 if it was something the Twins actually did on the field that caused it.

 

They probably won't make that much on that.

[Guest USAFChief]

They could do what alot of teams do and not open the gate for home team bp.

Ell-Oh-Ell.

[TheLeviathan]

How about taht liriano trade we all hated. Looks pretty good with a back end major arm and a very good utility infielder. Tr is a genious and it has taken him a year to turn around the farm and build a better rotation (better than worst ever at least).

 

Woofta. Someone isn't going to be able to resist this one. I'm straining here.

[70charger]

Would it be better if the Twins opened it up for free? Yep. And beer would be better at $0.50. Tickets would be great at $2. That doesn't seem to be in the cards.

 

And if free BP isn't in the cards, why are we bitching about them charging for it if the alternative is not having it at all?

[TheLeviathan]

And if free BP isn't in the cards, why are we bitching about them charging for it if the alternative is not having it at all?

 

You know what bugs me? That they don't charge parents $15 a pop to use those changing tables in the bathrooms. Those screaming infants need them, but I mean, if they want to bitch about what poor customer service that is.....maybe they should consider the alternative of not having it at all?

 

If I did hashtags it would be "missing the point".

[70charger]

Yep, those changing tables take extra security guards and personnel too, so it's totally the same thing.

[TheLeviathan]

Yep, those changing tables take extra security guards and personnel too, so it's totally the same thing.

 

Of course there is investment. There is always investment in positive consumer relations. The point is you don't blatantly sabotage that for pennies. It's either utter stupidity or contempt, I guess I'm not really happy with either.

[glunn]

Of course there is investment. There is always investment in positive consumer relations. The point is you don't blatantly sabotage that for pennies. It's either utter stupidity or contempt, I guess I'm not really happy with either.

 

I agree with the sentiment, but not the invective.

 

Obviously this was not intended to increase profits -- $900 per game would be a "rounding error" compared with other revenue streams. I genuinely believe that at least someone in the front office intended it as a nice opportunity for some hard core fans to have a special experience. But then a questionable decision was made to recover $900 per game to cover the extra security.

 

With all due respect Levi, my friend, I don't think that any contempt was intended. On the other hand, if I were making the decision, I would place a huge value on cultivating fans who are the type of people who will come to the ballpark early enough to watch BP. These are your hardcore fans, and I suspect that many of them would be kids. Kids eventually grow up and become potential season ticket holders. Those golden memories of BP would translate into more revenues for decades.

 

For $900 per home games times 81 home games per year -- $72,900 per year, the Twins could easily see a return exceeding 100% per year cumulative after those kids grow up.

 

That said, if they give this away for no charge, then how can they ration it so that the limit is 60 fans per game? That does not seem workable. I would suggest that for adults the charge should be in the range of $10-15, but for children under age 18, the charge should be $5, but they should each get a free baseball signed by at least on Twins player. That baseball may cost $5, but the chances of having a future season ticket buyer (or TV viewer and merchandise buyer) will be increased.

 

The Twins used to have a program where fans could donate $1 and get a tax deduction, and each $1 would result in a ticket for a child who might not otherwise be able to afford to go to a game. I liked that program, both because of its charitable nature and because it helped get kids to see the beauty of baseball. I would like to see more of that this year, while there are plenty of seats available. So I would respectfully ask the front office to give this some additional analysis.

[TheLeviathan]

But then a questionable decision was made to recover $900 per game to cover the extra security.

 

With all due respect Levi, my friend, I don't think that any contempt was intended.

 

The rest of your analysis shows then how it was the other suggestion - stupid. You have many good ideas here for how to turn what was a customer relations disaster into a customer relations boon!

 

Businesses sacrifices profits all the time in the name of image. (Hell, they frequently absorb unnecessary costs for this as well) What is so baffling in this move is that the Twins seemed completely unaware of how damaging this would be to their image. I tend to agree with you that it wasn't contempt, but it sure as hell was utter stupidity.

[Mike Sixel]

It's not baffling. This FO and ownership team has shown a complete lack of understanding and empathy to its fans since they got the stadium, imo. It is hard to think of one thing they've done since then that has been done with fans in mind first......

[Boom Boom]

I don't see how the Twins think that spinning this disaster as a "premature press release" makes them look any better than admitting that the idea was scrapped because of negative fan reaction.

 

The Twins pay a lot of money to people to manage their PR. It would take a colossal blunder to send out a press release prematurely.

[ThePuck]

I don't see how the Twins think that spinning this disaster as a "premature press release" makes them look any better than admitting that the idea was scrapped because of negative fan reaction.

 

The Twins pay a lot of money to people to manage their PR. It would take a colossal blunder to send out a press release prematurely.

 

It seems the Twins announcers, manager, GM and everyone in Twins management act as if Twins fans are maroons....or at least the fans who questions the organizations actions. They can say whatever and we should just accept them at their word.

[Mike Sixel]

they do expect us to believe

 

They can't give their money away

Budget is not an issue, they can spend as much as they want

Spending money on good players has no correlation to winning

They will be competitive right up to the end of the season

Trees somehow keep the best hitters on the planet from doing their job

Taking away the large standing room area, which they touted as one of the best parts of the stadium when it rolled out, to replace it with seats that will be sold to full games, is a good idea

Beer is worth $7-9 per beer

......

[IdahoPilgrim]

It seems the Twins announcers, manager, GM and everyone in Twins management act as if Twins fans are maroons....or at least the fans who questions the organizations actions. They can say whatever and we should just accept them at their word.

 

They think we are a color?

 

And addressing the topic of this thread as a whole, let's lighten up a bit. Was it a mistake? Yes. But the level of invective this seems to be causing here far outweighs the seriousness of the offense. It's become a rallying point for everybody who has an axe to grind (real or perceived) against the organization. Proportionality, people.

[ThePuck]

They think we are a color?

 

And addressing the topic of this thread as a whole, let's lighten up a bit. Was it a mistake? Yes. But the level of invective this seems to be causing here far outweighs the seriousness of the offense. It's become a rallying point for everybody who has an axe to grind (real or perceived) against the organization. Proportionality, people.

 

yes, I use maroons instead of morons...goes back to my days of watching a bunch of Bugs Bunny cartoons

 

and, sorry, I don't take every slight against the fanbase on an individual basis. They are piling up fast. That's like saying, it's just a small leak, let's patch it up...all fine until all that's left of the boat is patches...