By Zachary Baru
The Springfield Falcons opened their season Saturday earning their first win over the Manchester Monarchs 3-2 before a crowd of 5,528 at the MassMutual Center. As satisfying as a crowd of 5,000-plus is, it was still down from last year's opening night crowd of 6,171 against St. John's.
The Falcons' average attendance last season of 3,906 fell well below the league average of 5,710. What is encouraging, however, is the Falcons' increase last season from the 2011-12 season, which was 6.8 percent.
In order to be looked at as a successful season off the ice, attendance should be averaging above the 4,000 mark. While not an easy task, it is certainly reachable, especially in a market that showed the Falcons increased support last season. The talent that the Columbus system brings to Springfield looks to be promising, and hopefully continued success on the ice will translate to the same at the gate. Last season the Falcons captured the Northeast Division title.
Although this year's opening night attendance fell short of last year's, a crowd of 5,000-plus is still a positive way to begin the season. The question is, will the support continue?
Source: SportsBusiness Journal
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zacbaru@gmail.com.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Springfield market ranked fifth by SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily
By Zachary Baru
For all those who are sick of hearing that Springfield is a bad sports market, check out what the nation's leading sports business media outlet has to say about our market. In an article released last month by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, Springfield was ranked fifth in the country's top minor league markets. The biennial ranking looked at 225 communities, more than 400 teams, and close to 50 leagues to determine the top markets.
SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily expressed Springfield's attendance gains from last season during a time of decline in the local economy as the reason for the high ranking. According to the ranking, during a period of job loss and population decline, combined attendance at Falcons and Armor games was up 42 percent last season compared to five years ago. This increase was the largest increase in the magazine's study.
Springfield was the only New England market to make the top ten of the rankings, with Toledo, Ohio topping all markets. Hartford-New Britain finished 38th.
Although this is not a reason to celebrate, and say that there is no longer an attendance problem at Springfield sporting events, it reminds us that Springfield does have some accomplishments to be proud of. No, it is not all negative news about Springfield and their support of their teams. Let's hope the trend continues, and Springfield proves once again the potential this small market has.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
For all those who are sick of hearing that Springfield is a bad sports market, check out what the nation's leading sports business media outlet has to say about our market. In an article released last month by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, Springfield was ranked fifth in the country's top minor league markets. The biennial ranking looked at 225 communities, more than 400 teams, and close to 50 leagues to determine the top markets.
SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily expressed Springfield's attendance gains from last season during a time of decline in the local economy as the reason for the high ranking. According to the ranking, during a period of job loss and population decline, combined attendance at Falcons and Armor games was up 42 percent last season compared to five years ago. This increase was the largest increase in the magazine's study.
Springfield was the only New England market to make the top ten of the rankings, with Toledo, Ohio topping all markets. Hartford-New Britain finished 38th.
Although this is not a reason to celebrate, and say that there is no longer an attendance problem at Springfield sporting events, it reminds us that Springfield does have some accomplishments to be proud of. No, it is not all negative news about Springfield and their support of their teams. Let's hope the trend continues, and Springfield proves once again the potential this small market has.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Like it or hate it, the FBS move was the right move for UMass
By Zachary Baru
It is easy to second guess the University of Massachusetts' decision to move to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision after a 1-11 season, averaging 10,901 fans. But even easier, is predicting what may have happened had UMass passed on the opportunity for the move, and stayed in the Football Championship Subdivision.
The future of the FCS is very much uncertain. In a sport where the FBS continues to gain popularity at an alarming rate, the FCS' popularity is diminishing, and doing so quickly. Program success in NCAA Division I football is largely based on television and bowl revenue, both of which the FCS lacks.
With the long-term uncertainty of the FCS, what else was UMass to do but take advantage of the opportunity for an FBS move? It is very hard to blame UMass for making the decision. While costs and low attendance are certainly a reason to speculate the move, the long-term risks of remaining in FCS were far too great. Not to mention the new sources of revenue that open up with a move to the FBS, including television revenue that does not compare to that of FCS.
With the move, the future of UMass football is brighter than ever. With the ongoing renovation of McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, and the current construction of the adjacent Football Performance Center, UMass football will have a state-of-the-art facility right on campus. Once complete, and games return back from Foxborough, the program will find itself in a much better position than it did in 2011, when it was still playing in FCS.
While many FCS teams' futures are currently in doubt, along with the future of the entire subdivision, UMass has a clear long-term plan to build their program. And after all, what more can you ask for?
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
It is easy to second guess the University of Massachusetts' decision to move to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision after a 1-11 season, averaging 10,901 fans. But even easier, is predicting what may have happened had UMass passed on the opportunity for the move, and stayed in the Football Championship Subdivision.
The future of the FCS is very much uncertain. In a sport where the FBS continues to gain popularity at an alarming rate, the FCS' popularity is diminishing, and doing so quickly. Program success in NCAA Division I football is largely based on television and bowl revenue, both of which the FCS lacks.
With the long-term uncertainty of the FCS, what else was UMass to do but take advantage of the opportunity for an FBS move? It is very hard to blame UMass for making the decision. While costs and low attendance are certainly a reason to speculate the move, the long-term risks of remaining in FCS were far too great. Not to mention the new sources of revenue that open up with a move to the FBS, including television revenue that does not compare to that of FCS.
With the move, the future of UMass football is brighter than ever. With the ongoing renovation of McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, and the current construction of the adjacent Football Performance Center, UMass football will have a state-of-the-art facility right on campus. Once complete, and games return back from Foxborough, the program will find itself in a much better position than it did in 2011, when it was still playing in FCS.
While many FCS teams' futures are currently in doubt, along with the future of the entire subdivision, UMass has a clear long-term plan to build their program. And after all, what more can you ask for?
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Take advantage of baseball in Holyoke
By Zachary Baru
Thirty-one years after the Holyoke Millers played AA baseball in the Paper City, professional baseball may be long gone, but top talent continues to play at Mackenzie Stadium.
So first, let's get one thing straight about the Holyoke Blue Sox. This is not minor league baseball, it is "collegiate summer baseball". Members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, the league is funded in part by Major League Baseball, and sanctioned by the NCAA. It is also one of nine leagues to be part of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball. The bottom line is that top college talent is passing through Holyoke this summer, and Mackenzie Stadium is as good as anywhere for a baseball fan to be.
Tickets to the 4,100-seat stadium built in 1933 start at $6 for general admission, and $4 for kids ages 6-12. Children 5 years and younger are free. Don't bother looking for a better value than that, you won't find it. It is the benefit of having a local baseball team, and one that more sports fans in the Valley should take advantage of.
The Blue Sox have been playing in the 13-team NECBL since 2008, after moving from Concord, New Hampshire. Holyoke is one of two NECBL teams in Western Massachusetts, with the other playing in North Adams. Blue Sox attendance has fluctuated over the last few seasons, finishing at an average of 974 in 2012, down from 2,510 in 2011.
At a time when it is hard to take a family of four out for an evening, the Holyoke Blue Sox give local fans a chance to see top talent at an affordable price, and from a vantage point that doesn't require the use of binoculars to see the players' faces. Furthermore, the Blue Sox represent a city which is continually progressing, moving toward hopes of increased economic development. The Blue Sox are just one example of the many positive stories Holyoke has to share, at a time when it seems so many of the negatives are focused on. Holyoke has a long and rich history, and the Blue Sox hope to add to that, entertaining baseball fans and families alike for years to come.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Thirty-one years after the Holyoke Millers played AA baseball in the Paper City, professional baseball may be long gone, but top talent continues to play at Mackenzie Stadium.
So first, let's get one thing straight about the Holyoke Blue Sox. This is not minor league baseball, it is "collegiate summer baseball". Members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, the league is funded in part by Major League Baseball, and sanctioned by the NCAA. It is also one of nine leagues to be part of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball. The bottom line is that top college talent is passing through Holyoke this summer, and Mackenzie Stadium is as good as anywhere for a baseball fan to be.
Tickets to the 4,100-seat stadium built in 1933 start at $6 for general admission, and $4 for kids ages 6-12. Children 5 years and younger are free. Don't bother looking for a better value than that, you won't find it. It is the benefit of having a local baseball team, and one that more sports fans in the Valley should take advantage of.
The Blue Sox have been playing in the 13-team NECBL since 2008, after moving from Concord, New Hampshire. Holyoke is one of two NECBL teams in Western Massachusetts, with the other playing in North Adams. Blue Sox attendance has fluctuated over the last few seasons, finishing at an average of 974 in 2012, down from 2,510 in 2011.
At a time when it is hard to take a family of four out for an evening, the Holyoke Blue Sox give local fans a chance to see top talent at an affordable price, and from a vantage point that doesn't require the use of binoculars to see the players' faces. Furthermore, the Blue Sox represent a city which is continually progressing, moving toward hopes of increased economic development. The Blue Sox are just one example of the many positive stories Holyoke has to share, at a time when it seems so many of the negatives are focused on. Holyoke has a long and rich history, and the Blue Sox hope to add to that, entertaining baseball fans and families alike for years to come.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Lusitano Stadium, one of New England soccer's hidden gems
By Zachary Baru
In the soccer world, there has been so much news over the last decade about soccer-specific stadiums. Venues have popped up in many different markets throughout the country, while there is a lot of news about potential venues being built in others, such as the Boston area. But don't forget about the one right here in our own backyard.
Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow holds approximately 3,000 fans and provides an intimate soccer experience. Set within the community, the stadium gives soccer fans a chance to take in a game that has a much different feel than most other soccer stadiums can offer, similar to the setting of some lower-tier European league stadiums.
Lusitano Stadium is home to the Western Mass. Pioneers, members of the USL Premier Development League, an under-23 amateur league competing in the fourth tier of American soccer. It has hosted the New England Revolution in charity exhibition against the Pioneers, as well as the Revolution in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Years ago after a Revolution U.S. Open Cup match at Lusitano, a member of the media from the then-named ESPN Soccernet wrote an article about the Ludlow venue. The writer pointed out how special it was to see people being able to stand just feet away from Major League Soccer players along fences surrounding the pitch. It is features such as these that make Lusitano truly special.
This season marks the first for Lusitano Stadium's brand new field, as a ProGrass Game Turf has been freshly installed. While there will be many who prefer soccer to be played on natural grass, the turf combines a traditional soccer stadium with new technology, giving Lusitano a new look, while preserving the same traditional feel the venue has always offered.
With so much news about soccer-specific stadiums in Major League Soccer, and even in lower leagues, it is easy to forget about the one right here in Ludlow. It may not have the amenities of newer stadiums, but it has character that can only be experienced at Lusitano Stadium, one of New England soccer's hidden gems.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
In the soccer world, there has been so much news over the last decade about soccer-specific stadiums. Venues have popped up in many different markets throughout the country, while there is a lot of news about potential venues being built in others, such as the Boston area. But don't forget about the one right here in our own backyard.
Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow holds approximately 3,000 fans and provides an intimate soccer experience. Set within the community, the stadium gives soccer fans a chance to take in a game that has a much different feel than most other soccer stadiums can offer, similar to the setting of some lower-tier European league stadiums.
Lusitano Stadium is home to the Western Mass. Pioneers, members of the USL Premier Development League, an under-23 amateur league competing in the fourth tier of American soccer. It has hosted the New England Revolution in charity exhibition against the Pioneers, as well as the Revolution in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Years ago after a Revolution U.S. Open Cup match at Lusitano, a member of the media from the then-named ESPN Soccernet wrote an article about the Ludlow venue. The writer pointed out how special it was to see people being able to stand just feet away from Major League Soccer players along fences surrounding the pitch. It is features such as these that make Lusitano truly special.
This season marks the first for Lusitano Stadium's brand new field, as a ProGrass Game Turf has been freshly installed. While there will be many who prefer soccer to be played on natural grass, the turf combines a traditional soccer stadium with new technology, giving Lusitano a new look, while preserving the same traditional feel the venue has always offered.
With so much news about soccer-specific stadiums in Major League Soccer, and even in lower leagues, it is easy to forget about the one right here in Ludlow. It may not have the amenities of newer stadiums, but it has character that can only be experienced at Lusitano Stadium, one of New England soccer's hidden gems.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Springfield will need to fill void left by departure of MAAC
By Zachary Baru
The stands in the MassMutual Center may not have been packed last March, but anyone interpreting that as a reason not to worry about the loss of a tournament troubled with attendance problems needs to consider the affects outside the arena, and in the local economy.
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Basketball Championships will be leaving the city of Springfield after 2014, resulting in a major economic blow to the entire region. Business from hotels to restaurants, and any store in between that attracts travelers from out of state, will be affected by the loss of the tournament.
Attendance this past March was 14,394 for the entire tournament, partly the result of a low turnout from local fans. In defense of the Pioneer Valley, the conference does not have any teams from Massachusetts, leaving Marist, Siena and Fairfield as the closest schools.
Although attendance was low, the economic impact was still significant. The tournament attracted twenty men's and women's teams combined, which in addition to the players, coaches and trainers, also accounted for groups of students and families making the trip and calling Springfield home for multiple days. It is this economic activity that helped pump money into businesses throughout the region, helping business owners and employees alike - just ask any server depending on tips who works at a nearby restaurant.
With economic impact, everything adds up to make a difference in a region. This is the void the Pioneer Valley will be feeling come March of 2015 when the tournament returns to the Times Union Center in Albany.
With the MassMutual Center and the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau placing a bid to host an NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Regional in 2014, the city should still continue to seek a replacement for the MAAC tournament come 2015. The thought of neither tournament taking place in Springfield in 2015 means fewer hotels being booked, less patrons at restaurants, and a true loss for the entire region.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Falcons 2012-13 attendance increases 6.8 percent
By Zachary Baru
The Springfield Falcons finished the 2012-13 season similar to the rest of the American Hockey League, as attendance for both the Falcons and the league increased in a season which began with a National Hockey League lockout. The Falcons attendance increased 6.8 percent this season to an average of 3,906 fans per home game.
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This brought the Falcons total attendance for the season to 148,442. The AHL also increased average attendance, with a 1.3 percent increase to 5,710 fans per game for the 30 franchises.
While the AHL has large market franchises including Chicago, Houston and Toronto, the top-ranked team in attendance was the Hershey Bears. Hershey finished as the only AHL team above the 10,000 mark, with 10,046 fans per game. The franchise ranked last in attendance was Oklahoma City, finishing with an avereage of 3,527.
What all of this shows is that the Falcons find themselves in a growing league, and while their attendance has increased from last season, 4,000 really is a number they need to climb on top of. In today's AHL, 3,900 fans per game just is not going to cut it.
The Falcons have stated that they will attempt a strong season ticket and group sales effort this summer, which will be imperative to setting a solid foundation for the attendance once the fall comes. It is also very important that local businesses step-in to show their support, as corporate sponsorships are a major contributor to the franchise's off-ice success. If all of these parts come together over the summer, the Falcons should be in position to keep up with the growing AHL, and build on the growth from this past season.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
The Springfield Falcons finished the 2012-13 season similar to the rest of the American Hockey League, as attendance for both the Falcons and the league increased in a season which began with a National Hockey League lockout. The Falcons attendance increased 6.8 percent this season to an average of 3,906 fans per home game.
.jpg)
While the AHL has large market franchises including Chicago, Houston and Toronto, the top-ranked team in attendance was the Hershey Bears. Hershey finished as the only AHL team above the 10,000 mark, with 10,046 fans per game. The franchise ranked last in attendance was Oklahoma City, finishing with an avereage of 3,527.
What all of this shows is that the Falcons find themselves in a growing league, and while their attendance has increased from last season, 4,000 really is a number they need to climb on top of. In today's AHL, 3,900 fans per game just is not going to cut it.
The Falcons have stated that they will attempt a strong season ticket and group sales effort this summer, which will be imperative to setting a solid foundation for the attendance once the fall comes. It is also very important that local businesses step-in to show their support, as corporate sponsorships are a major contributor to the franchise's off-ice success. If all of these parts come together over the summer, the Falcons should be in position to keep up with the growing AHL, and build on the growth from this past season.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
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