[king10]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Technically, the Cats only just started making a profit in the new stadium. And The Cats will be making a profit for the first time since 1972 because of the new stadium. The quality product that franchise executives are monetizing is not the team. It is the stadium. Young's accomplishment is essentially that of owning the team at a time when the stadium was being replaced. The rest is textbook pro-sports civics.

FWIW, the Cats' performance has had little to do with turnstile numbers. They were Eastern Division champs in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989, yet were averaging just over 16,000 fans a game across the 1984-1989 seasons. A newer, smaller venue may allow them to suck with greater impunity, at least for a time, but improving the team isn't likely to mean much to the club's bottom line attendance. The team's average gate from 2004-2012 was 24,736 a game — even with all of IWS' negatives and even with an underwhelming team. The average crowd at IWS in the Bob Young era would be a capacity crowd at Tim Hortons Field. The financial incentives are not on the field, they're at the snack bar.

well put. to compete with the wide range of entertainment options in the city the football game must be seen as an "event"