A Resilient Lot
Despite Frustrations, Fans Keep Coming
By Scott Robertson

Baseball legend Yogi Berra, a New York Yankees' Hall of Famer, is perhaps best known in Pittsburgh for turning his back toward Forbes Field's home plate and watching Bill Mazeroski's home run win the 1960 World Series for the Pirates.

It appears, though, that even with attendance for professional sporting events in Pittsburgh on the decline (with the exception of the Steelers), few fans are ready to turn their backs on their teams. Fans of the Pirates and Penguins have been beaten up by high ticket prices, top players leaving town, publicly financed stadiums, player strikes or lockouts, and complaints by their teams about the small market nature of Pittsburgh.

It seems, though, that Pittsburgh fans say they have not yet reached the breaking point, although some admit they are getting close.

"We're not close to that point yet, I don't believe," said Jim Whalen of Upper St. Clair. "I think there still is something about going to a live event, or seeing something on TV, that is not scripted. You don't know how it's going to end or what you might see. I think we as fans have proven that we'll take a ton, and I think we'll take a ton more before we'll stop going."

ESPN's Tony Kornheiser agrees with Whalen.

"If you can see games on television for free and save enough money to attend games every now and then - I think we're still a ways away from that happening," says Kornheiser.

The numbers in Pittsburgh indicate otherwise, although they still show relatively strong support for the local teams. The Steelers, of course, continue to sell every ticket to every game. The Penguins, who finished last overall in the NHL and have not made the playoffs in three seasons, saw attendance drop 19.5 percent in 2003-04.

The Pirates, who in mid-June endured a lengthy losing skein that seemed destined to send them to their 12th losing season in a row, were off only slightly, about 1.8 percent, from the same point last season.

By means of comparison, the Cleveland Indians, who proudly boast of 455 consecutive sellouts at Jacobs Field, are rebuilding. Their attendance through 36 home dates as of mid-June was actually up 0.3 percent compared to total attendance through the same period last season.

Local teams are doing what they can to entice fans back, but many fans admit they are jaded by what they have seen from the teams and the leagues they play in during recent years.

Mary Elizabeth Tamer, of Scott, seems resigned to what has become the reality of baseball in Pittsburgh.

"I like to go down there and see the players who hustle, like (catcher Jason) Kendall and (outfielder Craig and shortstop Jack) the Wilsons," she says. "But you really wonder how long it will be before they have to get rid of those guys, too."

Some fans lost interest in baseball with player strikes and may lose interest in hockey if the threatened player lockout for next season develops.

"Baseball lost me when they had the strike (in 1994, which wiped out two months of the season, the playoffs and the World Series)," said Mike Sullivan of Baldwin. "I don't know how many times they've gone out on strike, but the last time was it for me."

Sullivan, however, is a strong hockey fan and admits he will continue to buy tickets to Penguins' games even if, as expected, a lockout shortens the season.

"Will hockey lose me?" Sullivan asked. "No. I'll always be a fan. But if they go dark, it will be discouraging."

Walt Gremba of Bethel Park once held season tickets for both the Pirates and Penguins. He regularly attended at least 25 Pirates' games per year and at least as many Penguins' games. But disgust with high prices and the teams' inability to compete caused him to give up both sets.

"When the Pirates were competitive, I'd usually go to 25 or 30 games a year," he said. "But I gradually lost interest because they were not competitive. I think the NFL showed pro sports how to do it. Their plan works and these other sports should try it."

Both the Pirates and Penguins reduced ticket prices prior to their most recent seasons and the Penguins have introduced massive price reductions for next season, should it not be wiped out by a potential lockout of players. Around 8,700 seats at Mellon Arena will be priced at $30 or less for the 2004-05 season and more than 2,000 seats will go for $15.

"We're in uncharted territory here with the (potential of a) lockout," said Tom McMillan, vice president of communications and marketing for the Penguins. "But you still have to keep moving forward as if there will not be a work stoppage. We're obviously hoping that there will not be one."

McMillan said the Penguins' major ticket price cuts were motivated by a number of factors, including the potential of a lockout.

"Hockey prices generally are regarded as high," he said. "But the lack of a national TV contract means a larger part of the revenue base comes from ticket sales - The last three seasons have been below expectations. We wanted to do something to let our fans know we understand how they feel and what our situation is. I think what we are doing (in terms of ticket price reductions) is unprecedented."

Patty Paytas, vice president of communications for the Pirates, said the problems the sports teams face are similar to those faced by other businesses. The Pirates, like the Penguins, have cut ticket prices and introduced numerous promotional nights aimed at enhancing each fans' experience.

"Any company has to change as its marketplace changes," she said. "The most important thing you can do as a sports team, of course, is win. There's no question about that. But there are other parts of the fan experience that are important when fans come to a game.

"We are trying to focus on the entire value, the value for the family or for the groups that come out. When groups come to the park, for example, they are not as concerned about wins or losses as they are about the experience and having a good time. They are coming because of the social aspects of it, and we need to be aware of that."

Although Kornheiser and fans such as Jim Whalen believe that fans will keep coming, McMillan said teams cannot afford to think that way.

"The one thing you can never do as a sports team is take your fans for granted," McMillan said. "People understand that nowadays, they have many other options and many other ways to spend their money than they used to. I think that's something we all have to be aware of.