Are the Padres just going to watch their fans leave?

by Dex on Nov 10, 2008 2:55 PM PST Comment 22 comments

Earlier this week, my wife's uncle emailed me and Jonny Dub, asking us if we wanted to take over his season ticket package. Unfortunately, the price was much too much to justify spending, especially considering Elliott and the fact that we hung out more in the Park in the Park than our seats anyway. On top of that, despite all our doing, we couldn't even really come up with a practical group that would be willing to buy the package.

What's weird too is that Rumors and Rants is basically going through the same thing.

This one just came hot off the wire and it’s a doozy. My family, long-time San Diego Padres fans and franchise supporters through thick and thin, may not renew our season tickets for next season. I don’t know if I can adequately explain how much of an indictment that is of how awful things have gotten in Friar-ville.

The seats that we're passing on have been continuously owned for almost 30 years. Sure, there are obviously economic reasons involved, but still...

To me, this somehow all goes back to the Padres getting rid of the Compadres Club and attaching an annual membership fee to it. We're supposed to pay them to be a part of their customer loyalty program. How does that make any sense? It's like filling in a Subway Sanwich Card and being told you have to pay for your free sandwich. WTF, Padres. Seriously.

In all, there's just been this general, unshakable feeling that fans aren't appreciated. It's hard to explain, but even little things like not having a bobblehead giveaway night when the bobblhead giveaway is consistently the most popular giveaway anywhere makes me wonder.

So what does this mean for the Padres? Are season ticket holders just going to completely bail out on the team? Has the team done anything to encourage people to stay? If so, why haven't we seen it?

The Padres better start working on their marketing, like... stat.

Poll

If you had a season ticket package last season, are you renewing this season?

Yes. Never. Say. Die.

39 votes

No. I have better things to spend my money on.

89 votes

128 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

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Comments

You don't like the new "That train has left the station" slogan?

by Dalton on Nov 10, 2008 3:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

haha

Padres 2009: That train has left the station

by Dex on Nov 10, 2008 3:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't even read the site anymore, do you?

by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 10, 2008 5:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

What’d I miss?

by Dex on Nov 10, 2008 7:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You got punched in the guy

by Dalton on Nov 11, 2008 6:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

what the heck are you talking about?

I’m just kidding. Don’t everybody get all mad at me. Unicorn! Right! Unicorn!

by Dex on Nov 11, 2008 6:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I work so hard on all these slogans

and then just get punched in the guy like that.

by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 11, 2008 7:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm in

I’m probably going to buy a small set of games for this season. I haven’t gotten a season deal since they’ve moved to PETCO. I can’t come up with a good reason for why I’m buying this season, other than they’re the Padres and I like to go there.

Now that I think about it, I would probably save money with a season ticket thing.

(if this reads funny, it’s because I overused the word ‘package’ and became uncomfortable)

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by Axion on Nov 10, 2008 3:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I renewed my 20-game season tickets package

Because I dont want to lose my seat package.

The deadline for half of the total package was today. We paid half of the package yesterday. The paperwork said that once you paid half of said package there is no turning back.

This is the first year we discussed it before re-upping our package.

We love our package so much we never wanna lose it.

Chicks Dig the Bullpen.

by eastbaysd on Nov 10, 2008 3:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The decision is easy for me

I love baseball. The Padres are my favorite team. I enjoy the new stadium. I like going downtown.

If I don’t do that at least 20 times each year, I’d be pissed at myself. And getting the 20 game set saves me a little money.

I also got some tickets for the WBC that I really like.

Thats win-Win-WIN!

Except for the Padres. That’s Lose-Win-Lose. (33% sounds about right)

Homer: Ohhhh, The Denver Broncos.
Marge: Whats wrong with the Denver Broncos?
Homer: Marge you just don't understand football.

by Wonko on Nov 10, 2008 7:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Preach it!

Ron Rivera. Change we can believe in. YES WE CAN!

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Nov 10, 2008 8:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's pretty much it for me, too

I just couldn’t find anywhere where I feel like whoever is on the field is going to deter me from attendance.

I went to games last year knowing that Paul McAnulty would be in the starting 9, I guess that’s my testament, I don’t care.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by Axion on Nov 11, 2008 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

me and my dad are renewing

i know its a lot but we cant stay away
hopefully we have some miracle season….who am i kidding bring on the misery

I hooked up my accelerator pedal in my car to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and I'm gone.

~*Chicks Dig 3rd Basemen*~

by iLOVEkouz5 on Nov 10, 2008 3:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Another motto

Padres 2009: Bring On the Misery

:-(

Chicks Dig the Bullpen.

by eastbaysd on Nov 10, 2008 3:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i think it fits

I hooked up my accelerator pedal in my car to my brake lights. I hit the gas, people behind me stop, and I'm gone.

~*Chicks Dig 3rd Basemen*~

by iLOVEkouz5 on Nov 10, 2008 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Padres Baseball...

At least its better than getting punched in the guy…

by Steve (Grey Suit) on Nov 10, 2008 3:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

That guy has punched the station

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by Axion on Nov 10, 2008 5:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd prefer another option in the poll

My wife and I won’t be renewing our 20-game package, but it has nothing to do with financial considerations or the quality of the team. We just bought a new house that we actually like spending time in, so I just imagine we’ll be coming to fewer games, period. Also, since my dad is retired military, I get $6 off tickets anyway, which matches the price I was getting for my LF seats last year under my season package.

My parents, to the best of my knowledge, will be renewing their tix. They share a full season package with another family (and honestly, we usually end up sitting around them since the park is typically not full).

But yeah, it seems like for whatever reason that the City has quickly turned on the Padres. For a team that had four winning seasons and two playoff appearances in a brand new park, it’s stunning to me that apathy has switched on so violently after one bad season. I think attendance was naturally going to decline because the newness of the park was wearing off, but I was pretty stunned by how sharply attendance fell off last year.

by Phantom on Nov 10, 2008 4:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Petco

The Pads have had four winning seasons and two playoff appearances at Petco, but I only was slightly excited about the team. I was much more excited about the ‘96 and ’98 teams. The new park is a draw, but I’d much prefer to watch the ‘96/’98 Pads at the Q then the 2000’s Padres at Petco.
And the “new park” feel has worn off… and I think that was a big reason people didn’t complain about the price hikes when leaving the Q.
I also think people see the writing on the wall…This team is going to suck for some time to come. When there is hope people are much more willing to spend some money.

by Jonny Dub on Nov 10, 2008 5:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I commented on this awhile ago

My wife’s family have had our 9 seats since 1971. Since 2001 season, my wife and I have “bought” two seats from the group, but over the past 3 years the jump in season ticket prices have gone from an average of $24 a seat to a whopping $50 a seat. The growth increase has been huge in every part of going to a game, from parking/concession/handling charges. Now its to the point that had to “sub lease” the whole entire season to another buyer, and I think we will still pay out of pocket expenses to not go to games.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra

by Sammy G on Nov 10, 2008 4:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs