Rank your city's sports teams by popularity

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by homebucket

I think basketball is definitely overtaking baseball in popularity. There's probably only a handful of cities that have both NBA and MLB teams where the MLB team is more popular.

if you combine the cubs and sox together, baseball overall might still be #2 in chicago ahead of the bulls (the bears are obviously #1).

but if you split the baseball teams, i think the bulls easily take the #2 spot over the cubs because half of the metro area fucking HATES the cubs.

[Investing In Chicago]

Originally Posted by pj3000

I'm going on what my cousin told me. I have no insight into his financial records. No one gives a fuck if you "don't actually buy it".

And based on what you say above, it doesn't seem like you are too aware of junior hockey at the elite national level. It wasn't youth hockey in Minnesota.

But rather, more along the lines of playing junior national teams throughout Europe, in addition to traveling domestically and in Canada year-round. Not to mention traveling every early Thursday and Monday mornings for long weekend 4-night stays to practice and play with a select team. Let's not even talk about airfare, hotels, transportation costs, etc. Instead, I'll just say "private tutor"... because he was barely in school from around 8th to 12th grades... to go along with a personal trainer and nutritionist when he was 17 and 18. You don't think all of that adds up pretty quickly?

I know people who've played college hockey at both St Cloud State and UofMinnesota and UofMichigan and I know people who've played professionally in europe, who don't have those costs.
I don't know anyone who played 18U Elite Hockey internationally, was he not able to get on a college team or play pro? If you're at that level, paying those costs doesn't make sense to me.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by pj3000

How about the constant barrage of promos, blasts of music, etc. throughout the game? Fucking sensory overload. I hate going to baseball games unless it's a afternoon game with barely anyone in the stands.

Every single break in the action is filled with an explosion of media. Even just in between batters... it's like the entire stadium is tweaking on meth.

o geez that too. gawd i h8 that.

and good luck with finding afternoon games. its like mlb forgot all about those.

don't get me started!

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Investing In Chicago

It must depend on where you live, and the program you are involved in. Because $1M from 5 - 19 years old is over $70,000 per year, which is nuts.

Holy shit. I lived in hockey country (Upstate NY) and it cost no where near that to play. It wasn't cheap which is why I never played but no one in my school would have played if that was the actual cost and we spawned several NHL players. One of them is now a scout with the MN Wild

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Investing In Chicago

"Parents are told to expect ~$8-10K of out of pocket costs for kids prior to HS, this includes Ice time, equipment, travel, registration, uniforms, etc. At the HS level it depends, travel costs are higher, but subsidized with sponsors. I think $15K annually for HS is realistic. If you continue playing organized post HS, you are either playing in College (which doesn't have direct fees) or you're good enough to get paid to play".

This also tracks, I think. The sheer density and support in a place like Minnesota for the sport would go a long way to either covering costs or reducing travel.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Investing In Chicago

I'd say the without a doubt cities are:

Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Washington, DC
Chicago
Minneapolis
Atlanta
St Louis

I think LA and SF lean MLB, but it's close.

Interesting. My sense is that Philly leans MLB but the Sixers are very close, and will probably overtake them soon. For LA, I think the Lakers have long surpassed the Dodgers, especially after the Showtime and Kobe/Shaq/Phil eras.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

o geez that too. gawd i h8 that.

and good luck with finding afternoon games. its like mlb forgot all about those.

don't get me started!

More doubleheaders!

Also, pitchers duels are just as fascinating as home run derbys.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Interesting. My sense is that Philly leans MLB but the Sixers are very close, and will probably overtake them soon. For LA, I think the Lakers have long surpassed the Dodgers, especially after the Showtime and Kobe/Shaq/Phil eras.

Stares Gritty-ly

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by pj3000

How about the constant barrage of promos, blasts of music, etc. throughout the game? Fucking sensory overload. I hate going to baseball games unless it's a afternoon game with barely anyone in the stands.

Every single break in the action is filled with an explosion of media. Even just in between batters... it's like the entire stadium is tweaking on meth.

The old stadiums typically didn't have very good public address systems. I remember being startled by how soft the announcements and music were at Yankee Stadium in the 90s...the fans, meanwhile, were of course super-intense. It was like a football atmosphere. I remember Tiger Stadium and Fenway being similarly low-key.

I went to a White Sox game around 2000 that was the first super-loud baseball game I had ever been to. There was non-stop commotion. It was awful. That's now the norm at games.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by Investing In Chicago

I know people who've played college hockey at both St Cloud State and UofMinnesota and UofMichigan and I know people who've played professionally in europe, who don't have those costs.
I don't know anyone who played 18U Hockey internationally, was he not able to get on a college team or play pro? If you're at that level, paying those costs doesn't make sense to me.

When he was 18, he made it to the USHL (the American version of the CHL), which is the top junior league in the US, and where top talent goes to be seriously scouted by NHL and Division I NCAA teams.

To get to that level, it costs the family tons of money over the years. Once there, the USHL pays costs for equipment and game travel for the player, but the players are amateurs and not paid (not even a stipend) because doing so would eliminate their ability to play in college. So even after getting to that tier I level when he was 18-19, there are still significant costs for the family.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by JManc

Holy shit. I lived in hockey country (Upstate NY) and it cost no where near that to play. It wasn't cheap which is why I never played but no one in my school would have played if that was the actual cost and we spawned several NHL players. One of them is now a scout with the MN Wild

It's not about what it costs to play for one's school or for a local club team.

My cousin's kid didn't even play for his high school team, because he was good enough to play for one of the elite developmental teams starting when he was 14... and that is associated with paying the big bucks.

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by Acajack

My observation is that poor kids are playing less and less sports in general, be they organized or pick-up games near where they live.

Even "poor" kids typically have access to electronic devices, video games, etc. these days, and that's what occupies most of their leisure time.

Only a minority of them are probably going out into their neighbourhood to shoot some hoops or kick a ball around any more.

(Obviously this at least partly explains the spike in obesity rates.

I was a kid when the first Nintendo hit the market. A kid got it on our street got it and it was like nuclear winter for pickup games, since 4-5 more families got it within a year.

Video games didn't seem to affect girls, though. They never went outside to begin with other than go to a pool.

[Investing In Chicago]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Interesting. My sense is that Philly leans MLB but the Sixers are very close, and will probably overtake them soon. For LA, I think the Lakers have long surpassed the Dodgers, especially after the Showtime and Kobe/Shaq/Phil eras.

It's possible - my opinion of Philly may be outdated. I'm not an NBA fan, so i don't really have a pulse on 2022 fan base. I would've guessed the Flyers were more popular than the sixers.

For LA, I still feel like the Dodgers are top, but again, I could be wrong. Orange County heavily leans MLB over NBA from my personal experience.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

I dunno, I haven't been there in over 15 years, but in my experiences at Dodger Stadium, I never met a more passionate, engaged fanbase, and I absolutely hate the Dodgers.

There's, what, two entrances to that ballpark, and neither are off major thoroughfares? Building a ballpark in a ravine works at an aesthetic level, but is a logistical nightmare.

Also, the thing I can't stand about many of the ballparks I've been to are that they're mini amusement parks with so many attractions and amenities that draw attention away from the game. I get it: Lots of people think baseball is boring. Sometimes, I'm one of those people, but I grew up watching games at a multipurpose cookie cutter stadium where you needed binoculars to see the action if you were sitting in the upper concourse. At least I had Marty and Joe on the radio.

I'm not sure how/if Wrigley has changed after the most-recent renovations and I've never been to Fenway. You go to ballparks like Wrigley and Dodger Stadium to watch a baseball game. The simplicity is the beauty.

I've been to Dodger Stadium a couple of times, and I didn't think it was anything special as far as the fanbase. It felt pretty normal to me. Maybe even a bit subdued. One time was actually after the Bryan Stow incident. Maybe a little bit more engaged than Padres fans at the times I've been to Petco, but definitely nowhere near the atmosphere of Oracle Park. The A's don't generate large crowds but they're definitely the most passionate and rowdy fanbase with their chants and horn blowing and drumming and flag waving.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

More doubleheaders!

Also, pitchers duels are just as fascinating as home run derbys.

oh gawd -- as if one game isn't long enough -- this ain't err, quite, freakin cricket -- and juiced baseballs -- aaaarrgggghh!! make it staaahp!

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

More doubleheaders!

Also, pitchers duels are just as fascinating as home run derbys.

Anyone else sad the DH is coming to the NL now?

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Anyone else sad the DH is coming to the NL now?

YES !!!

and i am a diehard american league indians, umm, err, guardians fan.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Anyone else sad the DH is coming to the NL now?

I know my maternal grandfather (lifelong die-hard cubs fan) is vomiting in his grave right now.

he was old school enough that he picked up the habit of referring to the AL as "the junior league" from his own father, who was also a die-hard Cubs fan.

I can actually hear him and my great-grandfather both yelling from 6 feet under "BUT THAT'S NOT BASEBALL!!!!!!!"

[pj3000]

No one wants to watch ~95% of MLB pitchers swing a bat.

[rusted root]

Originally Posted by pj3000

How about the constant barrage of promos, blasts of music, etc. throughout the game? Fucking sensory overload. I hate going to baseball games unless it's a afternoon game with barely anyone in the stands.

Every single break in the action is filled with an explosion of media. Even just in between batters... it's like the entire stadium is tweaking on meth.

I like it. Nothing like being at the ballpark blasted on edibles and dancing to every song they play over the loudspeakers. God bless all the Latino players and their reggaeton walkup-up songs

Originally Posted by pj3000

No one wants to watch ~95% of MLB pitchers swing a bat.

Barry Zito's bunt in the 2012 NLCS > the career of every DH in history combined.

https://youtu.be/8igorOUk3-I