Slayers GM Anxious Over Fan Support

via the Slayer Times
MINAS MORGUL - The Slayers have drawn approximately 47,000 fans per night. Hardly a poor showing, but still less than teams like Mirkwood, Misty Mountain and their ilk that routinely break 50,000 fans per game. The Slayers are also borderline to being a small-market team if the reported team budgets are to be believed. The Slayers have the 20th ranked budget, lower than any of the other playoff contending teams.

"We have the #1 team in the SGCBL by record, and we can't even draw 50,000 fans a night? This is upsetting - I hope the ticket prices aren't keeping them away," Slayers GM, K.L., said.

The owner has set the Slayers' tickets at $11 and some think that is what is keeping the fans away. The Slayers used to have $9 tickets, a price that was set pretty much since the team started their climb to becoming a contending team. Now, the prices are $11 on average and some think that might be keeping fans away, at least for this season.

"It figures - I expand the stadium because we were pretty much selling out every game and now only a few more thousand fans show up. I hope it's just an initial shock or protest over the ticket prices." K.L. commented.

Increased fan support would be nice as the Slayers are trying to maintain their quality team for the long term. It looks as though the team will secure their 5th consecutive playoff appearance and have a 16 game lead in the division, making them the clear favorite for defending their division crown for the 4th consecutive year. The Slayers' payroll is $88 million, one of the top 5 in the league - although $18 million of that is in Imrilron, and he may be retiring sooner than later. Even if he doesn't retire, he will be a free agent at the end of next season, and the team will have a decision to make with him as he's not the 50 HR per year player he once was.

"Hopefully, by then the money and the contracts will be such that keeping Imrilron in a Slayers uniform until he retires will be easily done. Getting more fans in the seats would help that cause. The dryads love Imrilron, hopefully, more will start coming to see him and the rest of their hard-working team play." K.L. spoke.

Posted at January 2, 2007 07:55 AM | more from Minas Morgul