Where’s The Promotion?
By Howard Megdal ~ February 16th, 2010. Filed under: Howard Megdal.
As befits a team selling tickets like crazy without an image problem, the Mets haven’t bothered to release a promotional schedule yet. Here’s a link to their promotional calendar- you’ll notice the absence of any content.
Instead, the page reads: “There are no promotions available for the dates requested. Check back as promotions and special offers vary throughout the season.”
Well, I should hope so.
Obviously, the Mets are under no obligation to tell the fans about promotional events ahead of time. Of course, by the same token, fans are under no obligation to show up, a privilege they took advantage of in increasing numbers as the 2009 season wore on.
But of the 29 other teams, 19 of them have already let their fans know what is coming to them for attending a baseball game. The Phillies weren’t too busy celebrating their NL title to let fans know about their free NL Championship pennant (April 12), NL Championship T-shirt (April 14), Toyota Roy Halladay Figurine (May 18, and sorry, Mets fans, he is not one of the Toyota recalls) and not one, but two fireworks nights.
There are also a large number of dollar hot dog nights. Kudos, Philadelphia Phillies.
Here’s the link to the Phillies’ promotional schedule. Seems more appealing than what the Mets are selling right now, doesn’t it?
Now, I happen to be one of those people who would attend baseball games if the giveaway was, for the first 25,000 fans 14 and older, a punch in the stomach. Just for fun, let me point out that the Phillies promise their giveaways to “all fans”, rather than restricting it to the fans lucky enough to avoid traffic.
But maybe the Mets are satisfied with their ticket sales; I don’t know for sure. Everything I’ve heard tells me otherwise.
And while a return to Banner Day would be a grand idea that would show, in one move, that the team both recognizes a connection to its past and values its fans, let’s start basic. What is the inducement for fans to come to Citi Field in 2010? You know, besides Omir Santos?
February 17th, 2010 at 12:53 am
I get the sense that I’m in an ever-shrinking minority but I go to Citi Field because I’m a baseball fan and they have baseball games there. That I’m a Met fan and it’s the Mets who call that park home makes it that much more sensible for me to show up periodically. I am not one that requires 8th inning song-and-dance numbers, free magnet calendars, cheap hot dogs or ’69 Met murals to attend a baseball game.
But I am aware enough to understand that in the 21st century and the current economy a rather significant number of people do require those things to facilitate their appearance at a ballpark, and I agree with your premise that it would behoove the Mets to get their machinery greased to entice the large number of people who do demand more than just a ballgame for their sports entertainment dollar.