$15 to get into BP early????

[IdahoPilgrim]

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...

 

The second part of my post was not aimed at you, so I hope you didn't take it that way. It was a general rant of my own aimed at no one (or everyone) in general.

 

And I, also, remember fondly sitting in front of the TV on saturday mornings watching looney toons.

[MWLFan]

Really. This is what passes for Twins Daily Site outrage of the Day. Is it because the winter won't end? Is it because the Gophers hired a 30 year old to coach basketball? What % of fans does this effect? Not me, because I take my family and guess what among the four of us someone is always running behind schedule causing us to get to a game just in time for first pitch. Even with my friends on the road we barely make it out of some watering hole in time to catch inning one in KC or Chicago. Now maybe for .0005% of the Twins fan base this is akin to a Fiscal Pearl Harbor, but for most of us...yawn. Got to be a bigger deal in the grand scheme of my life to get me worked up. But for those who need to endulge in the turmoil and anger at all things Front Office, have it.

[Rosterman]

The question also is access...so you can sit in primetime seats or have to sit where you have your ticket.

[Mike Sixel]

there is some great irony in this thread......

[Guest USAFChief]

Really. This is what passes for Twins Daily Site outrage of the Day. Is it because the winter won't end? Is it because the Gophers hired a 30 year old to coach basketball? What % of fans does this effect? Not me, because I take my family and guess what among the four of us someone is always running behind schedule causing us to get to a game just in time for first pitch. Even with my friends on the road we barely make it out of some watering hole in time to catch inning one in KC or Chicago. Now maybe for .0005% of the Twins fan base this is akin to a Fiscal Pearl Harbor, but for most of us...yawn. Got to be a bigger deal in the grand scheme of my life to get me worked up. But for those who need to endulge in the turmoil and anger at all things Front Office, have it.

Well, for some of us--myself and my two boys included--watching BP, and maybe snagging a ball, or an autograph, is part of going to a major league game. So for me, when the gates open IS a big deal. Not being able to get into the park early enough to watch the home team take BP lessens the experience of going to a major league game. I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way, since I've never been to a game where there weren't hundreds, if not thousands there to catch BP. IMO, it's bad enough the Twins are so cheap as to deny that experience to us normal folks, but to add insult to injury to then CHARGE for it? And to do so in a comically ham-handed manner coming off two consecutive terrible seasons, on top of drastically chopping payroll? Yeah, for me it doesn't set well.

[Valediction]

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.

 

Didn't watch Bugs Bunny much, did you?

What A Maroon! - YouTube

 

As for the proportionality, people are just reacting to the latest of what seems to be a non stop shots at the fan base. Twinsfest was one of my favorite times of year as a teen/early 20's guy. Meet the players, get autographs, talk baseball, get excited about the season coming up, even if you knew they were likely to struggle. It was fun, affordable, seemed like it was designed to give something back to the fans while at the same time raising some money for charity. I decided to go on a whim this year. $10 for parking, $15 to get in the door, every autograph station was $10-$35 (ok, the minor leaguers were still free), it was just under $15 for a cheeseburger, bag of chips, and a Pepsi. I paid $15 for a 'grab bag' when I got there, should have researched that first. 1:3 had a Twins autograph. Naturally, I fell in the 2:3 that didn't, so I got last seasons yearbook, a poster of the team that avoided 100 losses, a keychain, and a replica Mpls Millers pennant. I broke down and sprung for the $20 to get two of my favorite former Twins, Gladden and Oliva. I had spent $75 so far, and I hadn't even gotten to the baseball card show yet!

 

Same with the games. I took my younger nephew to a game last year, got us some $20 tickets, took the light rail in, had some ballpark food, a yearbook and program for him and I was over $80 for the day. For me and an 11 year old! Pretty much makes sure it isn't going to be any kind of regular excursion unless the lottery comes calling.

 

Then they sign a bunch of marginal pitchers, hoping something will stick, cut payroll, get us that early 80's vibe going again, and then they talk about $15 tickets to see batting practice. I keep hearing about extra security, how much freaking extra security do you need to keep 60 season ticket holders in line before they can even buy a beer? 3 guys maybe? Even at $50/hour that's three guys needed for an extra hour or so, so figure $150 (and I doubt they're paying $50/hr) As they pointed out, open the concession stand here and there. It doesn't take THAT many $4.50 20oz bottles of Mt Dew or $6 hot dogs to cover the extra costs.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't remember the last time the Twins made their batting practice viewable for fans. I used to go to the Dome when the gates opened 2001-2009, but I remember only seeing visiting team BP. (Maybe the very end of Twins BP too on weekend games? Don't recall)

 

It would be a neat perk, but charging for it is going to invite the "professional" collectors. I think it would be better to open it up for free for season ticket holders, for school groups or other groups, or just for kids and their parents. (At least make the "pro" ball collectors round up a kid to bring along.) Do it on Sundays only if you want, as part of kids day.

 

Otherwise, it comes off as a bit of money-grubbing ($15 extra just for a chance at a home team BP HR ball?) and part of a trend. Moving to Target Field meant fewer seats at higher prices. Then the Twins discontinued their weekly over-the-air TV broadcasts. Promotional giveaways and ticket perks have been reduced.

 

I love Twins baseball, but the business side of it has "modernized" really quickly the last few years, to the detriment of certain groups of fans, even if it's helped bring the major league payroll up.

[MWLFan]

Well, for some of us--myself and my two boys included--watching BP, and maybe snagging a ball, or an autograph, is part of going to a major league game. So for me, when the gates open IS a big deal. Not being able to get into the park early enough to watch the home team take BP lessens the experience of going to a major league game. I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way, since I've never been to a game where there weren't hundreds, if not thousands there to catch BP. IMO, it's bad enough the Twins are so cheap as to deny that experience to us normal folks, but to add insult to injury to then CHARGE for it? And to do so in a comically ham-handed manner coming off two consecutive terrible seasons, on top of drastically chopping payroll? Yeah, for me it doesn't set well.

 

USAFChief you are the hardcore exception to the rule here. BP is improtant to you and is part of the game experience. Seeing these guys take their whacks without holding back is a exciting part of taking in a game to some. But to me it is like seeing a preview before a movie. The only times I get excited about BP is if the Twins had a big time power guy in the mix. I remember going to County Stadium and seeing McGwire juice them out when he was with the Cards, and Canseco and him needle a few into the seats at the Dome. And when on the road it was always good to see Morneau take some swings and at Wrigley one year in September I recall catching a young and big Papi for the first time and wonder what was he doing in a Twins Uni. But in the end it is like watching pitchers fielding practice, too many Alexi Cassila's and Nick Punto's. Is it worth $15 to you it actually might be, to me. Eh...I would probably get a beer and wander the concourse most of the time. I just don't think it really rises to anything other then a "well that was a stupid marketing F-up." To borrow from Casablanca-""I am shocked. Shocked I tell you that a business would try to wring a few more bucks out their customers by charging some something that should be free as air." Now that they choose to do it so clumsily, that is just laughable and not worthy of my anger. But that is just me.

[Mike Sixel]

Good point on the tv, I forgot that. So after we give them milliions for a new stadium, they cut the taxpayers' ability to even watch the games. Gah, thanks for reminding me.

[edavis0308]

Howard has some good insight on the matter on the Strib site. Particularly, I find the Red Sox $15 deal to be pretty enticing if the Twins actualy did something like that.

 

www.startribune.com/sports/twins

[ashbury]

So after we give them milliions for a new stadium

 

That was then. This is now.

[Guest USAFChief]

Howard has some good insight on the matter on the Strib site. Particularly, I find the Red Sox $15 deal to be pretty enticing if the Twins actualy did something like that.

 

www.startribune.com/sports/twins

As usual, Howard Sinker is worth reading.

[Squirrel]

As usual, Howard Sinker is worth reading.

 

So, in other words, according to Sinker's article, the teams that do offer some kind of early entrance, you are still paying for the experience to do so. While the Twins PR gaffed big time in how they tried to present their possibility, the fact is that no one team seems to offer this experience for free, if at all.

 

Or are there teams that have earlier gate openings? For free? For all? In order to see the home team take BP?

[Mike Sixel]

I think earlier someone posted that Seattle does, but I did not read the actual link.

[snepp]

yes, I use maroons instead of morons...

 

http://badattitudes.com/MT/morans.jpg

[TheLeviathan]

So, in other words, according to Sinker's article, the teams that do offer some kind of early entrance, you are still paying for the experience to do so. While the Twins PR gaffed big time in how they tried to present their possibility, the fact is that no one team seems to offer this experience for free, if at all.

 

Except those three examples are very different. One is basically $60 for an autograph session at home plate during BP, another struck me as a one-time $15 fee for the season with extra perks, and the other was a season ticket holder perk. (Totally understandable) What these, and glunn's earlier suggestions, show is just how incredibly stupid this idea was. There are literally hundreds of ways to use the extra perk of BP to generate fan good-will and the Twins utterly failed to do so. In fact, their true motive was apparent to everyone but apparently them. (Or the intern who somehow has the power to release items to the press if you want to believe in fairy tales)

 

The problem is we have more than a few people in this fan-base that are apparently content to be slapped in the face by their team and turn around and say "may I have another please sir?" This borderline military-esque vision of fandom that some people have is truly astounding to me. You can be a critical fan! You don't lose your fan card just because you don't like the team gouging you. You don't have to put up with every ham-handed, money grubbing plot and shrug your shoulders out of fear of not being a "true" fan. I mean, my god, have some self-respect too. Just because you love the team doesn't mean every insult to your experience as a fan need be accepted.

 

I take going to the game as an event. I show up the minute they open those gates. I love to be among the first walking in and just enjoying the experience of the ballpark. That's part of the appeal of going to the game. HD TV has pretty much eliminated the "need" to be there. I go for the experience. For this team to try and jack $15 more out of me because they know some of us love that experience? It's insulting. It's petty. It feels like basic contempt for their customers. I wouldn't put up with that from any other industry I give my money, so just because it's sports and I'm a fan seems like a pretty dumb reason for this to be any different.

[Mike Sixel]

One of my favorite pictures from the recent news. R

[edavis0308]

So, in other words, according to Sinker's article, the teams that do offer some kind of early entrance, you are still paying for the experience to do so. While the Twins PR gaffed big time in how they tried to present their possibility, the fact is that no one team seems to offer this experience for free, if at all.

 

Or are there teams that have earlier gate openings? For free? For all? In order to see the home team take BP?

 

Lev touched on it pretty well. They actually offer more perks then just $15 for the BP experience. The MLB Audio option is $10 alone (or at least used to be, if it hasn't gone up more)..along with the other discounts etc that the card you would be purchasing would give you.

 

As far as the Braves' option that they offer - it may be more expensive, but that is just entering a complete apples to oranges comparison, being directly behind players on the field.

[SweetOne69]

I want to add that it appears the Twins do have this free perk for ST Holders. But it is for a limited number of games (all on weeknights) and has limited supply (good for you and 1 guest).

[jokin]

Really. This is what passes for Twins Daily Site outrage of the Day. Is it because the winter won't end? Is it because the Gophers hired a 30 year old to coach basketball? What % of fans does this effect? Not me, because I take my family and guess what among the four of us someone is always running behind schedule causing us to get to a game just in time for first pitch. Even with my friends on the road we barely make it out of some watering hole in time to catch inning one in KC or Chicago. Now maybe for .0005% of the Twins fan base this is akin to a Fiscal Pearl Harbor, but for most of us...yawn. Got to be a bigger deal in the grand scheme of my life to get me worked up. But for those who need to endulge in the turmoil and anger at all things Front Office, have it.

 

Sorry, invoking WWII absolutist strawmen arguments is an automatic loser. And so is veering past the obvious point of the matter-

 

a tin-earred PR department of a team in severe need of providing it's discouraged fan base with a Goodwill Transplant

[ashbury]

...I go for the experience...

 

Agreed. Front offices everywhere need to look up the word lagniappe if they don't remember and need a vocabulary refresher; it is the mot juste here.

[jokin]

Agreed. Front offices everywhere need to look up the word lagniappe if they don't remember and need a vocabulary refresher; it is the mot juste here.

 

I doubt the Twins PR crew has anyone that speaks French. "Goodwill" is an English vocabulary word apparently above their pay grade.

[notoriousgod71]

They would have to pay me $15 to watch any more of this miserable team than I already endure during the course of a game.

[The Greatest Poster Alive]

PR wise it probably wasn't a good move, but I really don't understand the outrage.

 

It's not like they're kidnapping people, taking 15 bucks out of your wallet and forcing you to watch BP...

 

It was likely...

 

"Hey baseball ops guy... fans always ask me why they can't watch BP... can we just start letting em in early?"

 

"how much would we have to charge to break even on having to staff the stadium early to let fans watch BP?"

 

"IDK... 15 bucks?"

 

"eh that's not that much... let them watch BP"

 

followed by RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE THINGS AREN'T FREE!

[snepp]

Rabble, rabble, context means nothing, rabble.

[ashbury]

followed by RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE THINGS AREN'T FREE!

 

I don't think anyone's asking to be let in free. The $15 is on top of the price of a ticket, no?

 

Moreover if the math is correct that they need 60 people at this price to pay for the extra staff, then they are saying that it's not a good investment of ~$1000 per game to let ticket holders in an hour earlier and enjoy themselves. Again, they're not letting hobos in from off the street, these are the folks who've ponied up something to attend the game.

 

Maybe it just gripes them that some are getting in cheap via StubHub, and this BP surcharge can't be gotten around that way, hah, take that, rabble!

[Riverbrian]

I will pay the 15 to watch batting practice... If they give me my 100 dollars back for the rainout last year.

 

That's the policy I want gone!!!

[Guest USAFChief]

pr wise it probably wasn't a good move, but i really don't understand the outrage.

 

It's not like they're kidnapping people, taking 15 bucks out of your wallet and forcing you to watch bp...

 

It was likely...

 

"hey baseball ops guy... Fans always ask me why they can't watch bp... Can we just start letting em in early?"

 

"how much would we have to charge to break even on having to staff the stadium early to let fans watch bp?"

 

"idk... 15 bucks?"

 

"eh that's not that much... Let them watch bp for free. We'll suck up the 900 bucks per game."

followed by rabble rabble rabble things aren't free!

ftfy.

[Twins Twerp]

I know it is cold out...and the snow wont go away...but lets talk about twins issues that matter. Now free slama

[Guest USAFChief]

I know it is cold out...and the snow wont go away...but lets talk about twins issues that matter. Now free slama

It matters to me. If it doesn't to you, perhaps you shouldn't click into the thread.