With Correa Gone, What Will Bring Fans Back to Target Field?

[Melissa Berman]

As we have all heard, the Carlos Correa era in Minnesota came to an end late Wednesday night. What started as an early morning shockwave one Saturday in March culminated in feelings of disappointment and missed opportunity for many.

Image courtesy of Melissa Berman

Fans will debate whether the Twins made Correa a quality offer and if a 13-year contract is viable and MLB's new direction or ridiculous. We do know that Correa was a significant draw to Target Field in 2022 and a lightning rod of excitement. He represented hope for a Twins fanbase reeling from a 2021 last-place division finish and signified a potential new direction for the Front Office and the franchise. Never before had the Twins gone out and gotten the top free agent in baseball. Plus, Correa chose the Twins. 

Now, he’s gone. And so are the majority of other impact free agents on the market. Twins fans reacted accordingly late Tuesday night with feelings ranging from frustration to disgust to profound disappointment. 

The Twins might still make a big move this offseason, like signing free-agent pitcher Carlos Rodón. Otherwise, the Twins have only signed free-agent catcher Christian Vazquez this offseason. It is looking increasingly likely the Twins will have to go back to the well and sign free-agent pitchers of the Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer caliber (the “bargain bin,” as some would pejoratively say). Would these moves be enough to “save” the offseason and spark excitement for 2023?

Even with the Correa hype and strong on-field play for much of the season, in 2022, the Twins finished 20th in MLB attendance, averaging 22,514 fans per game. We know team performance significantly impacts crowd attendance. In 2019, the Bomba Squad season, the Twins brought in about 28,000 fans per game. Would a 2023 team lineup that is essentially unchanged but sans fan favorites Correa and Gio Urshela substantially outperform its 2022 lineup? With a healthy Buxton and the continued development of its young stars, maybe, but I have my concerns, especially pitching-wise. 

Twins fans have a right to expect more out of their team. I don’t blame them if they are feeling disappointed, angry, or even a bit apathetic right now, whether it be because the Twins did not make a Correa contract happen, a feeling that they will never be able to compete with the big market teams, or because they think the Twins put all their eggs in the Correa basket and let the other free agents pass them by.

Next season, the Twins play 16 home games in April, the most of any month, so with the cold temperatures, the Twins will already be playing from behind attendance-wise. I doubt the new Twins uniforms and the giant new scoreboard will cause much of an attendance bump. Fans may pack the ballpark to see teams like the Padres, Giants, and Cubs, who the Twins would have been less likely to host before the 2023's new balanced schedule format.  Perhaps the Twins will implement more bargain ticket deals or schedule more postgame concerts; regardless, the Twins will have to come up with something to draw fans back to the ballpark because the offseason moves alone have not done much to energize the fanbase in the wake of a disappointing 2022 season. 

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[DJL44]

Maybe they could play professional pickleball there after the baseball game. That's getting more popular.

[Mike Sixel]

Nothing? Casual fans show up for home runs and winning. 

[dberthia]

IMHO the main focus of this team should be in identifying why we have so many more injuries than average and in creating a plan to keep our top guys on the field. It's still too early to speculate on what our roster might look like on opening day. Hopefully more quality help is on the way. As of today, the most positive thing I can say is that I like the new uniforms, Vazquez was a good pickup, and I'm thankful we didn't give Correa a mega-monster contract.

[Deadfan]

Bring back Dollar dog night 

[Melissa Berman]

3 minutes ago, Deadfan said:

Bring back Dollar dog night 

They have it on Tuesdays, thankfully, but why just one night, right!?

[RJA]

Hmm.  Let's see.  Two of your three most consistent hitters are gone--Correa and Urshela.  Buck may or may not stay healthy.  Kirilloff may or may not be healthy.  Mahle may or may not be healthy.  Larnach may or may not stay healthy.  Winder and Ober may or may not stay healthy.  Arraez may or may not be traded.  Gray, Maeda, and Mahle are all in the last year of their contracts.  The young pitchers, Varland, SWR, and others, may or may not have breakout years.  With so many "ifs", I think attendance will really plunge if they don't start strong, and even if they do, it will be later in the summer before fans really start to believe.  Swanson won't move the needle if acquired.  Rodon would move it a bit. Frankly, I don't see how attendance rebounds.  Sorry.  

[Nashvilletwin]

Minnesota is a classic front running market - winning brings fans.

2022 was saved by the club playing meaningful baseball into September.

A slow start and realistically out of it by mid-late June, coupled with this lineup, inflation pressures, and an iffy downtown, 18,000/game or under 1.5MM for the season sounds about right.

[Squirrel]

A proven winning team. 

[Nashvilletwin]

3 minutes ago, RJA said:

Arraez may or may not be traded. 

The only thing keeping fan interest by September may be Arraez competing for another batting title.  We’d better keep him now.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Nashvilletwin said:

The only thing keeping fan interest by September may be Arraez competing for another batting title.  We’d better keep him now.

I doubt casual fans would care. 

[D.C Twins]

Distant memories of the '87 and '91 world series?  Oh wait... I can enjoy those memories from home.... never mind!

[puckstopper1]

7 minutes ago, dberthia said:

IMHO the main focus of this team should be in identifying why we have so many more injuries than average and in creating a plan to keep our top guys on the field. It's still too early to speculate on what our roster might look like on opening day. Hopefully more quality help is on the way. As of today, the most positive thing I can say is that I like the new uniforms, Vazquez was a good pickup, and I'm thankful we didn't give Correa a mega-monster contract.

I agree with most of this dberthia.  However I do not like the new uniforms.  The "M" on the cap looks like Miami.  Teams who are not championship contenders change their uniforms to generate interest that their play on the field/rink/court does not (see Wild, Timberwolves).

As for the product on the field, the Twins need to try and be the "best of the rest" which in my opinion could include contenting for the A.L. Central. Fans SHOULD understand that they will not compete for a World Series title. 

Given that, how about lowering ticket prices...

[Fire Dan Gladden]

14 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Nothing? Casual fans show up for home runs and winning. 

You are correct.

Years past they had 1-2 guys that would draw in fans:
Kirby Puckett
Kent Hrbek
Joe Mauer
Johan Santana
Torii Hunter
Buxton could be that, but his health won't allow it

 

[TwinsDr2021]

How about the FO admitting they failed and lower ticket prices and running another get to know them campaign?

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

How about the FO admitting they failed and lower ticket prices and running another get to know them campaign?

Why do people keep posting this? Has it ever happened?

[Craig Arko]

Free beer.

[TwinsDr2021]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Why do people keep posting this? Has it ever happened?

Mike read the question being asked? I gave an answer, it is the only legit thing they could do to bring in more fans in 23 IMO. Chances of it happening are zero, but there might not be any answer that is higher than zero. Unless they plan on trading Lee and Lewis for some super star(s), I don't think it will be hard to get a ticket to games in 23.

[Melissa Berman]

Dollar Beer night definitely worked for the Saints indyball era! That line would stretch partway around the stadium lol

Edited December 14, 2022 by Melissa Berman

[TwinsDr2021]

3 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

Free beer.

I was wrong on a plan that would be higher than zero. ;)

 

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

Would borrowing the Saints pig spark interest?

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Mike read the question being asked? I gave an answer, it is the only legit thing they could do to bring in more fans in 23 IMO. Chances of it happening are zero, but there might not be any answer that is higher than zero. Unless they plan on trading Lee and Lewis for some super star(s), I don't think it will be hard to get a ticket to games in 23.

Ah. Got it.

[wsnydes]

53 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I doubt casual fans would care. 

Nor would they even notice that he was gone.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, wsnydes said:

Nor would they even notice that he was gone.

Agreed. 

[wsnydes]

30 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I was wrong on a plan that would be higher than zero. ;)

 

I was going to say that I doubted it would even need to be free, but free beer would certainly have a greater impact that not free beer even if it were cheaper than it currently is.

[Whitey333]

Carlos Correa was with the Twins at the start of the season and played all year with the Twins.  With that in mind, the Twins finished with their lowest non pandemic years attendance in Target Field history.  Yes that was with the great Correa here.  It could be argued that if he wasn't here the attendance wouldn't even been as high as it was.  But he played in front of a lot of crowds less than 18,000.  The Twins the past two years in particular have been awful.  They play boring, mistake laden, baseball.  They are often listless and, like their manager, have an I don't care attitude.  There's perhaps several reasons people don't go to games.  I guess that's for another topic.  But playing sound fundamental baseball with players that have not been found in baseballs bargain basement,  would be a step in the right direction.

[bloomwcjkl]

$35 million for 152 hits (22 HR) and 121 strikeouts for Correa. He had some long slumps and batted .292. Pretty good, but $35 million good?

I have a feeling some fans probably didn't go because they signed Correa. Sano hitting 45 bombs would have been better, but we went down that road one time too many.

Being competitive early in the season helps. The big mistake was not putting a roof on the new stadium. Outstate people like myself can't drive down and be assured a game. I know, it has been 10+ years of Target Field.

Freezing or cooking in the sun mid July probably is in the back of the fans minds. When we go mid summer, we think about shaded seats. Never had to do that in the Metrodome. Too late to turn back now.

I'll watch and listen to the Twins all summer no matter what. Try to hit a few games each summer. Everything is better with baseball on the air.

[Melissa Berman]

15 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Carlos Correa was with the Twins at the start of the season and played all year with the Twins.  With that in mind, the Twins finished with their lowest non pandemic years attendance in Target Field history.  Yes that was with the great Correa here.  It could be argued that if he wasn't here the attendance wouldn't even been as high as it was.  But he played in front of a lot of crowds less than 18,000.  The Twins the past two years in particular have been awful.  They play boring, mistake laden, baseball.  They are often listless and, like their manager, have an I don't care attitude.  There's perhaps several reasons people don't go to games.  I guess that's for another topic.  But playing sound fundamental baseball with players that have not been found in baseballs bargain basement,  would be a step in the right direction.

Thanks for your thoughts. Regardless of the Twins on field performance with him last season, if the Twins had indeed found a way to sign Correa to a long-term contract, it would have generated a lot of buzz and excitement. Especially at the start of last season, there was a not insignificant amount of people who showed up just to see him. How many additional people that would be or wins that would result in, no one can say

[Muppet]

I'd go to more than twice the number of games I go to if they dropped the ticket price by 50%. 

[Melissa Berman]

2 minutes ago, bloomwcjkl said:

$35 million for 152 hits (22 HR) and 121 strikeouts for Correa. He had some long slumps and batted .292. Pretty good, but $35 million good?

I have a feeling some fans probably didn't go because they signed Correa. Sano hitting 45 bombs would have been better, but we went down that road one time too many.

Being competitive early in the season helps. The big mistake was not putting a roof on the new stadium. Outstate people like myself can't drive down and be assured a game. I know, it has been 10+ years of Target Field.

Freezing or cooking in the sun mid July probably is in the back of the fans minds. When we go mid summer, we think about shaded seats. Never had to do that in the Metrodome. Too late to turn back now.

I'll watch and listen to the Twins all summer no matter what. Try to hit a few games each summer. Everything is better with baseball on the air.

Definitely more of a gamble. But on those perfect summer nights when the weather aligns, it's divine. The picture I included with this article looks like one of those nights