Missouri's Football Attendance (Revisited)

I went back in and added the numbers for the 2012 season, which were a record (with the help of 3 sellouts during the season) As you can see the attendance shot up drastically with the introduction to the SEC. They will go down this year with the loss of nearly 4,000 seats for this season. Take at what I said about this season last January and see that I was short on my prediction of 66,000 fans. It was closer to 67,500.

I know that you when you go to Columbia to watch the Tigers you hear a lot of negative things about the empty seats at Memorial Stadium. Well that got me wandering. I was on TigerBoard and one poster pointed out that Mizzou finished 2011 ranked 25th in average attendance. I was surprised. I thought that with the underwhelming outcome at the Texas game and Tech game that we surely wouldn't rank that high, but we did. I then decided to do some further investigation and look up the numbers from past years. The latest data at NCAA.com was 2005. I thought that would be a good starting place because that was the Senior Year of Brad Smith. Let's look at the Data.

Year	Rank	Avg Attendance	Capacity	Percentage
2005	36	53364	68349	78.08%
2006	33	55918	68349	81.81%
2007	31	60232	68349	88.12%
2008	26	64520	68349	94.40%
2009	28	64120	71004	90.30%
2010	26	61540	71004	86.67%
2011	25	62095	71004	87.45%

As you can see from the chart, MU has been moving up the rankings in the last seven years. I just wanted to show you how the program has been improving and the fans have been coming out for the games. After Chase Daniel left the program to go to the NFL, the seating capacity in the stadium was expanded to 71,004. We have dropped a few thousand in numbers but I think we are beginning to gain that back. Next year I predict we will have 66,000+ in average attendance

Mizzou Facilities Upgrade (Paraphrase)

Here is the original article, if you would like to read it in it's entirety.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/more-on-mizzou-s-facilities-facelift/article_f125d834-44cf-53df-a5ca-e6225693b8ce.html

Football Stadium:

1. Stage #1: Dig New utility/pipe lines - Done
2. Stage #2: Add new elevator for press, move press to from 5th to 6th floor, will be done for the start of season.
3. Stage #3: Moving the North End closer to the playing surface. It will reduce the seating capacity and the wall will mimic the contour of the South End.Will be done by seasons start.
4. Stage #4: East Side Construction - we started and there will be parts of the stadium barricaded off for the games this season - Completion August of 2014.

Hill Movement: 

• We needed more concourse space with there being no pass outs. We aren't putting the bleachers up there and we are going to keep it clean
• Capacity will be near 68,000 for 2013
• We don't see the big traveling groups of fans for 2013

Moving the Football Offices:

• Putting the football offices and locker rooms behind the south end of the stadium - it's in the concept stage and no time table has been set.
• Same for a new indoor facility

There is more to do but we need more money and more donations. Also demand for the stuff needs to be higher to justify the changes.

Taylor Stadium:

• New 4,000 sq. ft clubhouse to be done by January
• We can't improve the quantity but can improve the quality, some seating will be added.
• Baseball hasn't warranted a larger capacity - we aren't bringing in 10,000 like LSU is every night.
• We are terrible so expanding wouldn't be a good idea (emphasis mine)
• So we are going to focus on making the stadium look better, we want one of the best stadiums in the country but not necessarily the biggest

New Softball Stadium:

• There is talk of a new stadium, but "Not so fast my friends"
• Best option is to build a new stadium
• New stadium cost between $12 and $20 Million
• Coach Earleywine has built a Nationally competitive program, softball has earned a new venue
• When we have big games and big series the place is busting at the seams, we need more seating.
• Coach Earleywine isn't going anywhere for a long time.

Hearnes Center:

• We aren't going to tear down Hearnes. We use the building for 4 sports and many other events during the year. It is the Workhorse of the Athletic Department.
• Opened in 72' with some systems failing it is still too useful to tear down.

Tennis:

• Getting a new building. Yeah, we decided to actually care a little about that now (emphasis mine)

SEC Brought:

• More revenue, higher amount of tickets sales and more donations

Year 2 Dip:

• Yes, there is concern, since football was a huge let down(emphasis mine). We predict less tickets sales than last year.

Athletic Budget:

• Missouri ranks 11th or 12th, tied with Ole' Miss for that spot. Above MSU and Vandy, and about 15$ Million less than UK, USCe, and Arky. 

Travel Expenses:

• Travel Expenses were slightly more than predicted
• Big 12: 5 Million
• SEC Prediction: 6 Million
• 2012-2013: 7 Million
• Reasons:
• One: Missed on estimate
• Two: Growth in air travel
• Three: Carter issues with basketball
• The 50 seat regional jet went away for a while (Columbia Regional Airport)
• The 50 seat jet inventory was low, so they had to get larger planes.

Lack of Royal developed power?

The Kansas City Royals are a team that lacks power to a great extent. The current single season home run record holder at 36 is Steve Balboni. That has stood since the 1985 season. This lack of power tends to put Kauffman Stadium as a pitchers park, but numbers from Baseball-reference indicated that Kauffman is equally fair to both hitters and pitchers. So what is the problem? Well let's break down the single season home run leaders for the Royals.

Single Season Home run Leaders:

1. Steve Balboni - 36,29,28,24
2. Gary Gaetti - 35
3. John Mayberry - 34,26,25,23,22
4. Dean Palmer - 34
5. Danny Tartabull - 34,31,26
6. Jermaine Dye - 33,27,26
7. Bo Jackson - 32,28,25,22 
8. George Brett - 30,25,24,24,23,22,22
9. Chili Davis - 30
10. Carlos Beltran - 29,26,24,22
11. Billy Butler - 29
12. Mike Sweeney - 29,29,24,22,22
13. Jeff King - 28,24
14. Hal McRae - 27
15. Bob Oliver - 27
16. Amos Otis - 26,22
17. Bob Hamelin - 24
18. Raul Ibanez - 24
19. Willie Aikens - 23
20. Al Cowens - 23
21. Alex Gordon - 23
22. Miguel Olivo - 23
23. Craig Paquette - 22
24. Frank White - 22,22

I think the biggest problem is that the Royals can't develop power hitters, and really have never been able to do so. They must rely on trading players away or free agency to obtain these power hitters. That is an indictment of the current regime more than anything. Maybe it is time for the Royals to get a OBP strategy to their offense to win games.

How were those players aquired?

1. Steve Balboni - Trade/Yankees/1983
2. Gary Gaetti - Free Agent/Angels release/1993
3. John Mayberry - Trade/Astros/1971
4. Dean Palmer - Free Agent/1997
5. Danny Tartabull - Trade/Mariners/1986
6. Jermaine Dye - Trade/Braves/1997
7. Bo Jackson - Draft/1986
8. George Brett - Draft/1971
9. Chili Davis - Trade/Angels/1996
10. Carlos Beltran - Draft/1995
11. Billy Butler - Draft/2004
12. Mike Sweeney - Draft/1991
13. Jeff King - Trade/Pirates/1996
14. Hal McRae - Trade/Reds/1972
15. Bob Oliver - Expansion Draft/1968/Twins
16. Amos Otis - Trade/Mets/1969
17. Bob Hamelin - Draft/1988
18. Raul Ibanez - Free Agent/2001
19. Willie Aikens - Trade/Angels/1979
20. Al Cowens - Draft/1969
21. Alex Gordon - Draft/2005
22. Miguel Olivo - Free Agent/2007
23. Craig Paquette - Free Agent/1996
24. Frank White - Undrafted Free Agent/1970

Let's break that down even further. The Royals had to sign free agents or a trade for all the players that have hit 33 home runs or more. That tells me that the Royals aren't great at developing power, or at least early power in the careers of players. Carlos Beltran would be the leader in season home runs if he would have stayed. 16 of the 24 players who are in the top 50 in home runs in a season were acquired from another team via the draft, expansion draft, or through Free Agency (I put Frank White as a developed player because the Royals were the first and only team he played for) and that is exactly 66% of all the Franchise's "elite" home run hitters we not developed by the Royals. That leaves 33% for players were drafted by the Royals and developed by the Royals.

In closing, the Royals have never been a great team at finding talent with power, and may never be a team that can develop one once they do. It is time for the organization to change it's mind set and realize that you may get 10 hits a game, but if you never drive them in you aren't going to win very often. It won't matter how good of a pitching staff you have. It won't matter how great a coach you have, until they find someone who can get over 30 home runs in a season on a constant basis.

Cardinal's Attendance 2010 to 2012, What teams bring the crowds to Busch Stadium?

In a discussion with one of my friends at work, we were debating how the opposing team has an effect on who the people come to watch and how many come to watch the team play that opponent. Without taking, in account the day of the week, because a Thursday get away game will draw less than a Friday night game pretty well all the time, I compiled the teams that the Cardinals played in the Central, East and West of the National league and the few American League teams that they played in those few years. I also found out the total numbers of attendance and average number per game, as well as the highest attended game and the lowest. Let's look at the yearly breakdowns first

2010: 86 W, 76 L

• Total Attendance: 3,300,588
• Empty Seats: 261,387
• Average: 92.66% Capacity or 40747
• Largest Attendance: 4/12/10, Houston Astros, Opening Day, 46,918, 106.69%
• Lowest Attendance: 4/27/10, Atlanta Braves, 35,257, 80.18%

2011: 90 W, 72 L

• Total Attendance: 3,093,954
• Empty Seats: 468,021
• Average: 86.86% Capacity or 38197
• Largest Attendance: 3/31/11, San Diego Padres, Opening Day, 46,368, 105.44%
• Lowest Attendance: 4/5/11, Pittsburgh Pirates, 32,007, 72.78%

2012: 88 W, 74 L

• Total Attendance: 3,262,109
• Empty Seats: 299,866
• Average: 91.58% Capacity or 40,272
• Largest Attendance: 4/13/12, Chicago Cubs, Opening Day, 46,882, 106.61%
• Lowest Attendance: 9/5/12, New York Mets, 30,090, 68.43%

Now lets take a closer look at each individual team that brings the fans in to the games to watch or root against the Cardinals. First we will start with the NL Central.

National League Central

1. Chicago Cubs, 43,293, 98.45%
2. Milwaukee Brewers, 40,956, 93.13%
3. Cincinnati Reds, 39,887, 90.70%
4. Pittsburgh Pirates, 38,882, 88.41%
5. Houston Astros, 37,022, 84.19%

There are no real surprises here, the Cubs, the Cardinals bitter and long time rival, lead that way as it should with 98.45% attendance rate. The Brewers came in second thanks mostly to their 2011 campaign with Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. The Reds came in third and outside of Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto it doesn't seem to peak the fans interest like the others. The Bucos are about where you would think them to be with teams that don't seem to have the star power to bring in the fans. Then there is the lowly Astros, it may be a good thing that they are no longer in the NL Central, because now the Cardinals can bring in a team that fans will want to go see and fill the stands (I know that MLB sets the schedule).

National League East

1. Atlanta Braves, 40,242, 91.51%
2. Philadelphia Phillies, 39,139, 89.00%
3. Florida/Miami Marlins, 38,670, 87.94%
4. New York Mets, 38,151, 86.76%
5. Washington Nationals, 37,250, 84.71%

The NL East doesn't surprise me much outside of the Marlins. The Braves have been one of the best NL teams, outside of the Cardinals, in the last 20 years. The Braves also bring some history to Busch Stadium. The Phillies have many well know stars and names that people would like to come see play, but after their start this year it is clear to see that their window maybe closing in the city of Brotherly Love. The Marlins, oh the Woeful Marlins, they get a new stadium, sign a bunch of players and then the owners takes a dump on all his fans...but they seem to bring more interest than the Mets which is interesting. The Mets were the Cardinal's bitter rival in the 1980's but since the Mets have fallen into the doldrums after Adam Wainwright buckled the knees of current Cardinal Carlos Beltran they just haven't been the same team, well save for David Wright. The Nationals still probably have that moniker as that team that is fairly terrible but with up and coming stars like Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper they might start to become a fairly big draw in STL in the future. 

National League West

1. San Diego Padres, 39,617, 90.09%
2. San Francisco Giants, 39,393, 89.58%
3. Colorado Rockies, 39,036, 88.77%
4. Los Angeles Dodgers, 38,833, 88.31%
5. Arizona Diamondbacks, 37,228, 84.66%

The NL West is a big surprise to me, just for the fact that the Dodgers are fourth. What this tells me is that folks from the Midwest don't care as much about the Dodgers as the rest of the country would like us to, I'm talking to you ESPiN. The Padres come in first in this group and they are here because of two weekend series which draw more crowd, but they beat out the World Champions from 2010 and 2012. The Giants are about where they should be as far as attendance numbers. The Rockies are a more know commodity around here and draw better that the last two. The Dodgers are sitting there less than some teams they should be above and have the star power that should bring people to the park but it just doesn't seem that way. The D'Backs are last and for good reason, just like the people of Phoenix, Cards fan are apathetic to their games at Busch Stadium.

American League Teams

1. Los Angeles Angels, 43,540, 99.01%
2. Cleveland Indians, 42,397, 96.41%
3. Oakland Athletics, 42,012, 95.54%
4. Kansas City Royals, 41,856, 95.18%
5. Chicago White Sox, 41,494, 94.36%
6. Seattle Mariners, 38,801, 88.23%
7. Toronto Blue Jays, 38,185, 86.83%

The American League teams coming and playing inter-league games are kind of a novelty in a way and fans don't get to see these teams as often. The first five teams in the AL that played the Cardinals averaged more fans than only the Cubs. This might be because they see the National League teams once each and every year. The Angels managed to almost draw 100% attendance for a series in 2010. In 2012, the Cleveland Indians did a great job of bringing the fans for a team that wasn't in a pennant race last season. The "Money Ball" Oakland Athletics managed over 95% attendance, and the Royals in two series with the Cards in 2011 and 2012 managed over 95% attendance as well. The White Sox also managed to bring the folks in. Now the Mariners and Blue Jays weren't as high because they played the Cardinals during the week, so that skewed the numbers for them a little bit.

As you can see that sometimes teams with cache don't bring the fans out, see the Los Angeles Dodgers. Also teams that have been your long time rival will continue to draw the fans, 'Da Cubs. Some teams will surprise you like the Padres, who haven't been a great team in years past. And then some teams will be where you would imagine them to be like the Braves. All these attendance numbers are relative to time of week and if the Cardinals are in contention or even the results of the previous year. Look at the numbers from 2011 after the Cardinals lost in 2010. The average attendance went down to near 86%. Conversely after the Cardinals won the World Series in 2011, the average attendance went up to 91.58%. It is all relative in a way. As of today, so far in 2013 the Cardinals are around 91.5% average attendance and on line for the same numbers as 2012. I hope you found these stats entertaining and interesting.