Postseason Pay

[muchomaas]

What is the logic behind teams not being reimbursed for post-season games? If your team makes it to the playoffs or the world series, shouldn't you be able to reap the money for the fans that show up to the games? I mean, sure, no local TV money, but CERTAINLY you should get money for the fans who pay to see the game. Or do we just let them in free for the playoffs?

Anyone care to explain this to me?

[ozias]

muchomaas,

Clay stated a while ago that the reason you don't see any more money, err Points added to your pool during the playoffs is to offset league expenses like the MLB does. I believe it was changed because of BBM2K2's right to have the endorsment from the MLB, thats also the reason the game went to points and doesn't use money any more.

It's upset quite a few people who rely on that extra income when in the playoffs, like BBM2K and earlier versions, but the way it is right now will be the way it remains.

John

[muchomaas]

It just adds to the frustration of trying to field a team w/o adequate $$$. I can't say my experiences are extensive, but winning records, making the playoffs, and even winning the world series seem to amount to no more than a marginal increase in attendance, if that. I've had teams that have won the pennant in consecutive years, but still finished each year ranked the same in overall revenue. Seems to me, if I'm winning then someone else isn't. but you wouldn't know it from the game. In corollary, I have a s_itty Cubs team that has lost a majority of their games each of the last three years, and yet their attendance just seems to do better and better. I guess I don't understand the algorithm being used.

(In one league Colorado, Boston and New York have earned more twice as much as 13 other teams, the top 5 earn as much as the bottom 13 combined, and the top 10 as much as the bottom 19).

Since free agents decide ONLY based on money and not opportunity, etc. this fiduciary advantage makes it extremely difficult, and even should you do well in the short term, would seem to preclude extended success. But I must admit, I am looking forward to filling that 854 pt budget with Boston next year.

[ozias]

Well the attendance part is another story.....if your fans are fanatical, like the Cubs fans, then they come out to the park no matter what, unless you charge to much per ticket.

I've found than if you lower the ticket price you will get more people to attend, and if you win more than you lose it will increase your fan loyalty. Once your fan loyalty increases, you can charge more for your tikcets, but don't go to high to quickly or your fans won't come to the game.

It's a difficult thing to get right year in and year out, unless your winning the World Series every year, but thats what makes it a great challenge.

I've done a few simple tests on the game at home to see how the fans react to the ticket prices. Let's say nothing chages during the season except your ticket price you will see a decrease in fans if your prices are to high and an increase in fans if you have a lower price. But the other things that effect your tickets sold are your winning percentage, fan loyalty, do you Blackout the game? or Pay per view? or show them on the TV? They all play a part and it's hard to get right. Winning is the best way to put people in the seats, and the more you win the better.

John

[hwt1313]

The playoff revenue is an attempt to bring more reality to the game. The current financial model more closely reflects the real baseball model. I agree that it is a tough adjustment, but Clay is constantly bombarded with requests for more reality. It seems that everybody wants the game to be as realistic as possible, except where it causes less revenue.

[muchomaas]

Well, if it's more reality that's wanted, attendance would be more elastic. Attendance JUMPS during season in which teams are competing for the playoffs. Go back and check the attendances in Minnesota during the years they won the world series. They did had attendance of 3 million. In Mogul, you can win the pennant and the series and never draw more than 25,000 for any home game during the season. (oh, yeah they do sell out playoff games....) Now are you saying THAT'S REALISTIC?