Joe DiMaggio

Should people stop attending major league baseball games and attend minor league games instead?

Considering the exorbitant cost of major league baseball tickets and the recent steroid scandal, should fed-up fans stop attending major league games and start attending minor league games instead, including independent minor league such as the Northern League and the Frontier League, where ticket costs are much lower?

Public Comments

1. heads up but steroids are prevalent in the minors as well...
2. no, there is nothing quite like sitting at a baseball game and cheering for a team in a game that matters.
3. I want to watch the best players, and the best players are in the majors. Good point by Andrew about steroids, too. They're actually more prevalent among minor leaguers, the guys who are fighting for any advantage to make the bigs.
4. Not unless their all in pinstripes,and their third baseman is Arod.
5. basebal is baseball. I would attend a minor league game cuz of promotions and cheaper seats.
6. No way. Go to both and support your team.Maybe we will be able to field an olympic baseball team again now that players are being tested for steroids at all levels.
7. If you've never been to a minor league game, I strongly encourage it! If you've got a team within an hour, the tickets are cheap, the venue is intimate and it a graet family event! You don't have to attend out of protest - attend because it's a great way to have fun with friends and family!
8. It's a great idea but sadly it will never happen. As it was proven in 95 after the strike some fans still came back so this will be no different.
9. Yes, the major league ticket prices are way out of hand especially for familes. Many minor leagues offer decent quality baseball for far less than major league tickets cost. I often have a better time at minor league games because the atmosphere is more relaxed and there are fewer drunken idiots yelling obscenities.
10. If that were a possibility. When I lived in Lansing, MI, there wasn't a minor league team until 1996. But once they arrived, I would much rather go to a Lugnut game than to a Tiger game. However, if I lived in Pontiac, that wouldn't have been possible.
11. There's 500,000 high schoolers across the nation taking them as well, the reason they weren't able to test them, is due to "personal privacy." It's still going to be an entertaining sport.
12. That should be open to them, of where they want to se play. Last year, I did see a team in the Frontier League play, but I really weren't impressed by hwo they played that day. And I have been to see in person just a couple of years ago, the Lansing Lugnuts when they were still in the Chicago Cubs minor league system. But if you look at it, players that play in the minor leagues are usually not as famous as ones that play in the Major League Level and when they debut in the Major Leauges they aren't as well known, but evtally theyt might. And a lot times, Major League players might have to play in the Minor League for rehab appearances. They also could have the choice of not going to games at all. Whatever is up to thier fancy, but you just can't force a person to do what they don't want to do.
13. yea it actually does sound like a fun idea. Minor league crowds are ALWAYS smaller. The atmosphere is alot more friendly and tickets are usually around 30-40 dollars less. And think about it. The players in the minors will one day play in the majors. Sounds like a really good idea : )
14. Sure, they could, if they're content watching the second-best baseball available. MLB managed a record 79.5 million in tickets sold, so prices were not deterring fans from going. And, worth noting, people DO attend minor league games in droves. Little-m MLB (mLB?) set a new ticket sales record in 2007 as well -- 42.6 million as of Labor Day, by when most leagues had finished though there were a few scheduled regular season games remaining (not enough to change the number much). Unaffiliated leagues had a banner season as well. There's baseball aplenty out there, and fans are finding it, and the economy was still strong enough to drive record gate sales.
15. No, have you ever been to a minor league game? Soooo boring!
16. I think people should attend both - if possible. I live near the stadium where the Cardinals and Marlins have spring training and they really pack them in for 4 weeks every spring. During the rest of summer we have the Florida State League with the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals - unfortunately, they don't get much of a turnout which makes me sad for the players. They work hard out there in the hot Florida sun and deserve some cheering fans. The ticket price is much lower and you still get to see great baseball and great up and coming players.
17. its all baseball!! if ur true fan of baseball, who cares?! enjoy baseball :)
18. well no becuase i like to see the pro's hit home runs
19. no
20. I have stopped attending St. Louis Cardinals games. I can't afford the high price of the tickets. I still root for them and watch the games on TV occasionally. But I will not be going to Busch Stadium unless someone give me a free ticket. I love attended minor league games. The Frontier League has two teams in the St. Louis area. The Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget Illinois and the River City Rascals in O'Fallon, Mo. I attend the Rascals games they were here two years before the Grizzlies. Minor league baseball is affordable. Its fun, Your close to the action. The players are happy to talk with the fans and give autographs. It's a great atmosphere. The concessions are about 1/2 the price you would pay at Busch Stadium. The quality of the play may not be as good as downtown but you will see the players hustle. something that often is missing in the major leagues. For me I'll root for the Rascals.
21. i dont think people will stop going to MLB games because a lot of people want to see the cream of the crop of a sport and not the up and coming players, also a lot of baseball fans dont like minor league games becasue those teams spend a lot of time trying to keep the kids entertained inbetween innings and it just seems anoying to most. I do know though that a lot of minor league teams use the high MLB prices as a great selling point saying that the minors and a hell of a lot cheeper and makes it easyer to take the entire family out to a game.
22. Yes, I also think a lot of the major league players are just over paid prima donnas, their attitudes and salaries just kill me!