Braves to play a game at Fort Bragg in July

[TarHeelNation11]

That's friggin cool.

 

[coolwaterunc]

That's friggin cool.

I was going to question why they would move this game to field that only seats 12,500 fans, but then I remembered both the Marlins and Braves will be lucky to draw that many for any of their home games outside of Opening Day, so this seems like a win to me.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I was going to question why they would move this game to field that only seats 12,500 fans, but then I remembered both the Marlins and Braves will be lucky to draw that many for any of their home games outside of Opening Day, so this seems like a win to me.

I've long thought that the Braves should do a "Tour of the South," due to the Braves strong regional support throughout the South. We all know the reasons why the Braves draw better on weekends and holidays. The fans from further away than Atlanta and its surrounding metro can drive in and attend a game. You can't do that on a Tuesday night.

To that end, the Braves should take to the road. Get creative -- re-purpose football stadiums or soccer stadiums or whatever, to make it work. You could play a midweek series in any of these towns and you'd sell the games out:

Knoxville, Nashville, Birmingham, Auburn, Jacksonville, Greenville (SC), Charlotte, Asheville, etc. To offset for fewer seats in the stadium, charge a little bit more since it's a "one-time" thing. Yes, it would annoy the players because its additional road trips, but from a marketing and fanbase-building standpoint, it would be gold. This season would be the perfect time to do it, with it being the last year at the Ted.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

I don't think it'd be worth all the work that needed to be done to start repurposing football and soccer fields, for what would be 3 games. But if there are minor league baseball stadiums, especially any that could handle getting extra temporary seating set up, those could be good spots for it. But ya, that would be strictly a marketing ploy, because the players would essentially be losing home games and gaining road games which you would think would hurt their chances in the regular season.

Could be good to get some more interest in baseball though - they desperately need it. And with my favorite MLB team, I certainly know a thing or two about an ownership group that doesn't give a shit what the team does, as long as they put asses in the seats and eyes on the TV network (which they also own).

 

[TarHeelNation11]

I don't think it'd be worth all the work that needed to be done to start repurposing football and soccer fields, for what would be 3 games. But if there are minor league baseball stadiums, especially any that could handle getting extra temporary seating set up, those could be good spots for it. But ya, that would be strictly a marketing ploy, because the players would essentially be losing home games and gaining road games which you would think would hurt their chances in the regular season.

Could be good to get some more interest in baseball though - they desperately need it. And with my favorite MLB team, I certainly know a thing or two about an ownership group that doesn't give a shit what the team does, as long as they put asses in the seats and eyes on the TV network (which they also own).

To the players if they complain about travel, my response would be "Tough titties." They get paid a frick ton and its guaranteed. They can suck it up.

And you're right, minor league stadiums would probably be the way to go.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

To the players if they complain about travel, my response would be "Tough titties." They get paid a frick ton and its guaranteed. They can suck it up.

And you're right, minor league stadiums would probably be the way to go.

Completely agree with the response to the players. I guess what I was meaning by that was, if the Braves went, say, 4-5 in their 9 hypothetical "Tour of the South" games, and missed the playoffs by a game - there would be a large contingent griping that if they had played those games in the ATL, they most likely could have gone 5-4 to force a one game playoff, or even 6-3 to get the playoff spot outright.

Baseball would be such a better sport to follow and watch if the MLB got any sort of control back from the MLBPA. It's so backwards that you essentially get paid in arrears in baseball. You have your best years for the most part in your 20's, and get paid peanuts (relatively speaking of course) to be near the top of the league talent-wise, then around age 30 sign a blockbuster 7 year deal - then proceed to get fat, injured, and out of shape for the remainder of that contract - and there's nothing the team can do but pay you.