Bowie Baysox made the playoffs - if anyone noticed
September 5, 2008
If the Orioles somehow made the playoffs this year, you can bet that Camden Yards would be brimming with media, fans and vendors all trying to get a piece of the action. In the very least, they sure as heck wouldn’t have trouble filling up the seats, even on a weeknight.
Not so, however, for the team’s Double-A affiliate, which has made it to the post season for the first time in more than a decade. According to Tom Sedlacek, the Bowie Baysox’ communications manager, the team drew 2,000 people — about 20 percent of capacity — to Prince George’s County Stadium for Wednesday night’s playoff game.
“The kids are back in school and we’re more of a family entertainment venue, so there isn’t a lot of interest on a Wednesday night,” Sedlacek said.
The attendance and profitability of hosting a playoff game on a weeknight don’t compare to a summer weekend or even a weekday game, he said.
“The big thing is the kids because we don’t really get any kids out here this time of the year during the week,” said Sedlacek. “We do have some hardcore fans that follow us all the time, but without the families out here it makes a big difference.”
I guess that makes sense when you think about it — minor league baseball marketing across the board is more about the event or experience rather than promoting the on-the-field results. After all, how many readers out there knew Bowie was in the playoffs this year? Or remembers the score of the last minor league game they went to?
LIZ FARMER, Business Writer
Sphere: Related ContentComments
Got something to say?