Debate: lack of sell out for Mets Hall of Fame game

It’s another steaming day here on the deck at Mets Police HQ – thought I’d see what was happening in the comments section, and it’s a good day to catch up on the inbox [email protected]

MattFitz writes:

As a HUGE Mets fan of the 80′s and a vendor for 10 years I can see the pain of deciding to pay for a day of reminiscing of good times versus feeling that you paid the devil to do it. I painfully think you have to pass. The owner has put up a below par staff (GM and coaches) and an average performing team. Remind yourself they need you you do not need them. 3 years no effort and to their credit this year they wont break our hearts in September, they are doing it in July. Stay home and play catch with your kids.

There are 80 other games to blow off.  If we (you and I) don’t sell this out then Dave Howard gets a free pass on never having Old Timers Day or Banner Day or even hanging a picture of the 1986 champions anywhere because clearly fewer than 45,000 people can be bothered with Mets history.

I’m going to rail about this all week, but I’m just a dopey fat guy on a deck with a reasonably popular blog…need you other bloggers to help move the needle on this (especially YOU, cough) and from there hopefully an actual newspaper and maybe some chatter on the sports talk stations.

45,000 people out of the entire tri-state area.   Show up.

Brian:

Let me be clear: I’m the farthest thing from a Wilpon apologist. However, I respectfully, but very strongly, disagree with any argument that these Mets HOF inductions are meant as a pure money-grab.

Will the ceremony possibly increase attendance? Sure. But, this is a summer Sunday afternoon, involving a team that only visits once a year–already a desirable game. If they just wanted to cynically sell a few thousand extra tickets, why not a September Tuesday? Or a cold April Sunday?

I think these inductions are unquestionably a response to the criticisms of Citi Field from last year (i.e. no celebration of Mets history, etc.). They actually listened to fans and constituted a committee this past winter (including Howie Rose and Gary Cohen) to evaluate who should be inducted:http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2010/01/19/gooden-strawberry-among-mets-hall-of-fame-inductees/ (last paragraph).

The fact is, these inductions are overdue no matter what (and I’m not being a Strawberry or Gooden apologist by saying that, either–both have been far from perfect). Actually, the Mets are overdue for ANY inductions; these are the first since Agee in 2002.

I mean, if they’d done these inductions in 2006, for the 20th anniversary of the championship, or next year for the 25th anniversary, would it make a difference? Of course not. It would still cost plenty to attend, and it would still boost attendance for that 1 game–and the most cynical of Mets fans would still suggest impure motives by the Wilpons. So, why wait any longer?

In the end, we can debate the particular date chosen this year, or ticket/food/parking prices in general, or whatever else. But, I think the last thing this event can be called is a pure money-grab. (If you want a prime example of a money-grabbing, slapped-together event, how about Gary Carter Night in the dark days of 2003, right after his HOF selection?) And even if this event were a money-grab, I don’t think complaints about a happy event should be used as the springboard into every saved-up Mets-related complaint fans have. That’s not fair to anybody.

Amen.   We call them sons of witches for not honoring the past, and then when they do honor the past nobody can be bothered to come.    It’s a disgrace.   And I don’t want to see 45,000 people at game one of the NLDS when tickets are MORE expensive.  Cut the front-runner crap.   You can be mad the other 80 days and all 81 next year.   Don’t let Howard be right about this one.

Here’s Dave Howard in the Times last year, speaking about a lack of Old-Timers’ Day:

“It was particularly unpopular as a promotion. We didn’t see an increase in ticket sales or interest from sponsors or even from people who already had tickets. It died of its own unpopularity in the early ’90s.

“We felt we were better served by bringing our alumni back over several days instead of one day.”

Although it will not be an official Old-Timers’ Day, Howard said, the team plans to bring back every living member of the 1969 World Series championship team on Aug. 22 to celebrate its 40th anniversary, just as it did to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1986 team in 2006. And 45 former Mets attended last year’s farewell to Shea Stadium.

“We feel that’s far more effective, far more dignified,” he said. “A lot of our alumni have no interest in getting back in uniform. We feel it’s a better way to honor them. It’s more celebratory, and we get a better response from our fans.”

That quote has ticked me off since I read it – and now it turns out he’s RIGHT?

Tom:

I disagree. I’m as a big a Met fan as anyone. My earliest memeories in life were the 1986 World Series, where I got to see my father, a retired police officer, on TV at the parade next to Keith Hernandez because he was assigned as his bodyguard that day. (Can actually see him for a split second in “Simply Amazin’”) But I work until 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings, so I’d have to sleep about 3 hours then wake up and head out to Queens. Plus I play softball in the afternoon. I can’t go to Sunday games. Thats why I got a weeknight plan, because those are the game I can go to. And I’ll get tickets to other games through out the year that are convinient for me. So I’m gonna DVR the ceremony and the game and watch it later on. That means I suck as a Mets fan?

No, it doesn’t mean YOU suck – but I bet there are 45,000 Mets fans who aren’t working overnight, playing softball or living out of town.

It’s a weekend day game in the middle of the summer.   This is not some ridiculous timing by the Mets.

Island Fan:

I find it insulting that you insist I spend $50 to go see a game (23+fees+parking). $50 to see a game by myself, $80-plus if I want to take a date. Those numbers are obscene.

Ticket prices are high and ticket fees are awful.  I have written about that in the past, and will again in the future.   Buy the cheapest ticket available and bring a bottle of water and a sandwich.

Paul:

I don’t really see how you can be a Mets fan in 2010 without financially supporting the Wilpons.

If you’re a Mets fan, you’ll show up to support Doc, Darryl, Davey & Frank Cashen if you are able to.

If you’re not a Mets fan, please do everyone a favor and stop pretending. There are plenty of reasons to be unhappy with the 2010 team, ownership and the ballpark. But this is a chance to celebrate better times for the franchise.

Even more important, it’s a chance to show ownership that we will actually support them when they do something that we say we want them to do.

Corey:

“This is the Wilpons trying to manipulate Mets fans to get more money out of them.

For example, the cheapest seat is $23.00. Throw in parking or a train, food, etc. you are already over $50.”

I didn’t realize the Mets run the MTA, also you can bring in as much food as you want. No one is forcing you eat there.

“However, you’re paying this amount to watch the game on the field until the ball is hit into either LF or RF, and then you are stuck looking for a TV to discover what is transpiring.”

This is no different from countless stadiums, including Shea.

“Now, I will not begrudge the Mets for trying to sell out games and make money.”

Except that is EXACTLY what you are doing.

What has this world come to?   I am calling half the fanbase idiots and siding with Dave Howard.   I feel like Superman realizing Lex Luthor is good for the Metropolis economy.

Other bloggers, I’m calling you out.  I don’t want links or traffic or credit or anything.  It’s the right thing to do.

Write your own articles.  The off-day on Monday will leave everyone digging for content.  This is a great topic.

We have 6 days.

Help.