By Zachary Baru
While the Boston Red Sox suffered problems on the field for much of the 2014 season, the franchise's performance off the field was somewhat of a different story. The Red Sox finished 6th out of 30 Major League Baseball franchises in attendance during 2014, the highest ranking for the team during the John Henry ownership-era.
During the 2014 season, the Red Sox averaged 36,494 fans per home game, a capacity of 98.5 percent. The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the top attendance ranking during 2014 with an average of 46,695. The Cardinals, Yankees, Giants and Angels finished out the top 5 respectfully.
In terms of percent of capacity, the Red Sox ranked even higher, finishing 3rd overall. The Red Sox also fell just short of the 3 million mark in total attendance, finishing with 2,956,089, also good for 6th in the league.
What does all of the this mean? Despite a season which fell short of expectations, this market can still fill the ballpark night after night. The number of seats filled with fans versus the number of seats filled with corporations entertaining their clients is irrelevant - they are still seats sold. And for the bottom line of the Red Sox, seats sold is ultimately what matters. Sure, demand in the secondary markets has decreased, but fans are still coming out, and doing so in near-capacity numbers.
Source: ESPN.com
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Deutsche Bank Championship, an invaluable asset to the region
By Zachary Baru
Not many sporting events can offer the top 100 athletes and playoff atmosphere right in your own backyard. Fortunately for New England golf fans, the Deutsche Bank Championship gives you just that, right here in Norton, Massachusetts.
This weekend at TPC Boston, just off I-495, the Deutsche Bank Championship is serving as the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs. This is not just any PGA Tour event, and the Boston-area is fortunate to have been the host of this event since 2003.
In 2007, when the PGA Tour began the season-long race for the FedEx Cup, the Deutsche Bank Championship became one of four events designated as a playoff. And with this change, the tournament morphed into an even more internationally covered event. All eyes in the golf world are now on Norton, meaning increased attention for tourism, and a boost for the local economy around the I-495 corridor.
As for tourism, according to a 2014 study, the economic impact from golf-related hospitality and tourism in Massachusetts during 2012 was estimated at $366.7 million. As millions watch the Deutsche Bank Championship worldwide, the tournament puts Massachusetts golf tourism in the spotlight. With resorts from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, the Commonwealth is home to 376 golf courses.
In terms of other economic impact, the Deutsche Bank Championship attracts thousands of spectators and media members to the region, benefiting nearby hotels and restaurants, as well as additional local and state tax revenue.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is an invaluable asset to the region. From creating state-wide exposure for tourism, to generating economic impact along the I-495 corridor, the Deutsche Bank Championship continues to be one of New England's premier sporting events.
Source: Alliance of Massachusetts Golf Organizations
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Not many sporting events can offer the top 100 athletes and playoff atmosphere right in your own backyard. Fortunately for New England golf fans, the Deutsche Bank Championship gives you just that, right here in Norton, Massachusetts.
This weekend at TPC Boston, just off I-495, the Deutsche Bank Championship is serving as the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs. This is not just any PGA Tour event, and the Boston-area is fortunate to have been the host of this event since 2003.
In 2007, when the PGA Tour began the season-long race for the FedEx Cup, the Deutsche Bank Championship became one of four events designated as a playoff. And with this change, the tournament morphed into an even more internationally covered event. All eyes in the golf world are now on Norton, meaning increased attention for tourism, and a boost for the local economy around the I-495 corridor. As for tourism, according to a 2014 study, the economic impact from golf-related hospitality and tourism in Massachusetts during 2012 was estimated at $366.7 million. As millions watch the Deutsche Bank Championship worldwide, the tournament puts Massachusetts golf tourism in the spotlight. With resorts from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, the Commonwealth is home to 376 golf courses.
In terms of other economic impact, the Deutsche Bank Championship attracts thousands of spectators and media members to the region, benefiting nearby hotels and restaurants, as well as additional local and state tax revenue.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is an invaluable asset to the region. From creating state-wide exposure for tourism, to generating economic impact along the I-495 corridor, the Deutsche Bank Championship continues to be one of New England's premier sporting events.
Source: Alliance of Massachusetts Golf Organizations
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Friday, June 20, 2014
What the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center expansion could mean for the NFL Draft
By Zachary Baru
While the chance of Boston luring the NFL Draft from New York may seem like a Hale Mary, a June bill passed by the Massachusetts Senate has helped Boston's chances of making the draft a reality.
The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill last Thursday that would allow for a $1 billion expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The bill was passed 31-6.
The convention center, located in South Boston, lacks the size of competing venues across the country, in addition to lacking an adequate number of adjacent hotel rooms. The expansion would allow the convention center to be more competitive with venues nationwide, enabling Boston to attract more conventions into the city, boosting the region's economy.
What does all of this mean for Boston's chances of hosting the NFL Draft? According to a report in May by the New York Post's Bart Hubboch, Boston was one of seven cities to apply to host the NFL Draft. Boston.com later reported that Mayor Martin J. Walsh has expressed interest in hosting the draft in Boston.
As the convention space expands, the opportunity for Boston to host the draft will grow along with it. Hosting the draft would be a big win for the city, bringing in thousands of media members, fans, and both league and team officials. Economic benefits would range from packed hotels and restaurants, to additional local and state tax revenue.
Regardless of whether the convention center expansion opens the door for the NFL Draft in Boston, the project is a much needed step in making Boston more competitive with other large cities for conventions and events. While the chances of the city hosting the draft seemed like a long shot, the convention center expansion just may have changed the game in Boston.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
While the chance of Boston luring the NFL Draft from New York may seem like a Hale Mary, a June bill passed by the Massachusetts Senate has helped Boston's chances of making the draft a reality.
The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill last Thursday that would allow for a $1 billion expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The bill was passed 31-6.
What does all of this mean for Boston's chances of hosting the NFL Draft? According to a report in May by the New York Post's Bart Hubboch, Boston was one of seven cities to apply to host the NFL Draft. Boston.com later reported that Mayor Martin J. Walsh has expressed interest in hosting the draft in Boston.
As the convention space expands, the opportunity for Boston to host the draft will grow along with it. Hosting the draft would be a big win for the city, bringing in thousands of media members, fans, and both league and team officials. Economic benefits would range from packed hotels and restaurants, to additional local and state tax revenue.
Regardless of whether the convention center expansion opens the door for the NFL Draft in Boston, the project is a much needed step in making Boston more competitive with other large cities for conventions and events. While the chances of the city hosting the draft seemed like a long shot, the convention center expansion just may have changed the game in Boston.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Bruins finish third in local-market TV ratings
By Zachary Baru
During a season that saw the Bruins finish with the Eastern Conference's best record, Bruins fans proved their loyalty to the franchise, enough to help the team finish third in local-market TV ratings during the 2013-14 season according to SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily.
The ranking only represents franchises that make their Nielsen data available.
Bruins games on NESN averaged a 5.04 rating in the Boston market. But the high rankings did not end there, as the Bruins also finished second in average audience size (123,000).
This is an impressive display for the Bruins, which play in a media market that is only the seventh largest in the U.S according to Nielsen. The Bruins' high ratings are an example of the strong support the fans have for the franchise, which shows no signs of slowing down.
With a two phase, $70 million renovation of TD Garden beginning this summer, the franchise appears to be once again heading in the right direction. As the fan-base remains strong, the renovated arena should be completed in time to ensure long-term success for the Bruins off-the-ice.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily, Nielsen
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
During a season that saw the Bruins finish with the Eastern Conference's best record, Bruins fans proved their loyalty to the franchise, enough to help the team finish third in local-market TV ratings during the 2013-14 season according to SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily.
Bruins games on NESN averaged a 5.04 rating in the Boston market. But the high rankings did not end there, as the Bruins also finished second in average audience size (123,000).
This is an impressive display for the Bruins, which play in a media market that is only the seventh largest in the U.S according to Nielsen. The Bruins' high ratings are an example of the strong support the fans have for the franchise, which shows no signs of slowing down.
With a two phase, $70 million renovation of TD Garden beginning this summer, the franchise appears to be once again heading in the right direction. As the fan-base remains strong, the renovated arena should be completed in time to ensure long-term success for the Bruins off-the-ice.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily, Nielsen
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Gillette a popular concert stop in 2014
By Zachary Baru
Patriot Place will be packed with concert-goers in 2014, as some of the biggest concerts of the summer will be making the stop in Foxborough at Gillette Stadium.
The thousands of fans will pour into the shops, restaurants and hotel at Patriot Place, the lifestyle and entertainment center covering more than 1.3 million square feet adjacent to the stadium. This means big business for restaurants and bars both before and after the concerts, a characteristic that makes this concert venue so special.
Saturday night's George Strait concert featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill attracted 55,863, packing the stadium. Beyonce and Jay Z bring their "On the Run Tour" to Foxborough on July 1, for which a limited number of tickets remain.
Come August, the stadium will be booked for concerts four nights in a row. Two-night stadium stands are rare in the concert industry, but that is not enough for One Direction, who will be coming to Gillette for a three-night stand August 7-9 featuring 5 Seconds of Summer. And to end a busy week in Foxborough, on August 10 Luke Bryan featuring Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice and Cole Swindell will close out an impressive summer of concerts.
Not every 68,000-seat stadium can attract such a lineup of concerts, but the site is so much more than just a stadium. Economic activity in Foxborough is also generated from dinning, shopping and the adjacent hotel. Patriot Place creates an atmosphere built for big events, and it is no wonder why this venue continues to be a popular destination for concert-goers in New England year-after-year.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Patriot Place will be packed with concert-goers in 2014, as some of the biggest concerts of the summer will be making the stop in Foxborough at Gillette Stadium.
The thousands of fans will pour into the shops, restaurants and hotel at Patriot Place, the lifestyle and entertainment center covering more than 1.3 million square feet adjacent to the stadium. This means big business for restaurants and bars both before and after the concerts, a characteristic that makes this concert venue so special.
Saturday night's George Strait concert featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill attracted 55,863, packing the stadium. Beyonce and Jay Z bring their "On the Run Tour" to Foxborough on July 1, for which a limited number of tickets remain.
Come August, the stadium will be booked for concerts four nights in a row. Two-night stadium stands are rare in the concert industry, but that is not enough for One Direction, who will be coming to Gillette for a three-night stand August 7-9 featuring 5 Seconds of Summer. And to end a busy week in Foxborough, on August 10 Luke Bryan featuring Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice and Cole Swindell will close out an impressive summer of concerts.
Not every 68,000-seat stadium can attract such a lineup of concerts, but the site is so much more than just a stadium. Economic activity in Foxborough is also generated from dinning, shopping and the adjacent hotel. Patriot Place creates an atmosphere built for big events, and it is no wonder why this venue continues to be a popular destination for concert-goers in New England year-after-year.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Patriots' "Field Day With Dad" offers a unique connection to fans
By Zachary Baru
The New England Patriots have a unique way of strengthening the connection with their fans, while holding a community event that honors key members of their target market: fathers.
The Hall at Patriot Place's second annual Field Day with Dad will take place on Father's Day, June 15 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors will be given access on the field at Gillette Stadium, a special experience allowing fans to throw footballs and take pictures with Patriots cheerleaders. Inflatables will also be available for fans to use.
The event is a perfect example of how franchises can bring fans closer to the team, and in this case, literally on the field. A fan's perception of a franchise is so important, and the Patriots have hit a home run with this event, which personalizes the relationship with each fan who attends the Father's Day event.
Anytime a fan attends a sporting event, the experience is what will bring them back to the venue. The Father's Day event is a chance to create an entirely different experience, an interactive one that is arguably more of a lasting impression than simply watching a game.
Like last year's event, this year's event has sold out. Tickets were $20 for adults, and $10 for children, and include access to the Hall at Patriot Place and a 10 percent discount at the Patriots Pro Shop on June 15.
Kudos to the Patriots for giving fans an opportunity to share the same experience their favorite players have - without the danger of getting tackled by an NFL player.
Source: New England Patriots, The Hall at Patriot Place
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
The New England Patriots have a unique way of strengthening the connection with their fans, while holding a community event that honors key members of their target market: fathers.
The Hall at Patriot Place's second annual Field Day with Dad will take place on Father's Day, June 15 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors will be given access on the field at Gillette Stadium, a special experience allowing fans to throw footballs and take pictures with Patriots cheerleaders. Inflatables will also be available for fans to use.
The event is a perfect example of how franchises can bring fans closer to the team, and in this case, literally on the field. A fan's perception of a franchise is so important, and the Patriots have hit a home run with this event, which personalizes the relationship with each fan who attends the Father's Day event.
Anytime a fan attends a sporting event, the experience is what will bring them back to the venue. The Father's Day event is a chance to create an entirely different experience, an interactive one that is arguably more of a lasting impression than simply watching a game.
Like last year's event, this year's event has sold out. Tickets were $20 for adults, and $10 for children, and include access to the Hall at Patriot Place and a 10 percent discount at the Patriots Pro Shop on June 15.
Kudos to the Patriots for giving fans an opportunity to share the same experience their favorite players have - without the danger of getting tackled by an NFL player.
Source: New England Patriots, The Hall at Patriot Place
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Do the Celtics need a big trade to protect their brand?
By Zachary Baru
With non-stop chatter about what the Celtics could do during the off-season, the expectation for something "big" seems to be growing more and more from Celtics fans. There is, of course, the possibility that nothing at all happens. No trade, no Kevin Love, just a number six draft pick, and possibly another year of rebuilding. But could Celtics fans take it, and what would it mean for the Celtics brand?
One thing that Celtics ownership should not worry about is the long-term stability of the brand, which undoubtedly would remain strong. But should another year of rebuilding occur, attendance could start to dip, similar to 2006-07 levels when it finished at 16,843.
And then there are those ratings. Especially the radio ratings, for which a new contract was signed during the 2013-14 season with WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub. Another rebuilding year would mean a second consecutive year of low Celtics ratings with the new flagship station of the franchise.
Sure there are some draw-backs, but should the Celtics go through the summer without making any big-time deals, another year of rebuilding would arguably be the best option for the franchise, and the brand long-term. Unless the Celtics are sure they can go deep into the playoffs and make some serious noise, rebuilding just might be the direction to take in a market that demands championships.
Making it to the playoffs and reaching the second round is not enough for fans in Boston, who have high expectations for not just the Celtics, but for all of its franchises. So can the magic of the 2007 off-season happen again? Celtics fans will just have to wait and find out.
Should nothing happen, the Celtics brand will not be seriously affected. Just expect to see some extra black and gold seats at TD Garden.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
With non-stop chatter about what the Celtics could do during the off-season, the expectation for something "big" seems to be growing more and more from Celtics fans. There is, of course, the possibility that nothing at all happens. No trade, no Kevin Love, just a number six draft pick, and possibly another year of rebuilding. But could Celtics fans take it, and what would it mean for the Celtics brand?
One thing that Celtics ownership should not worry about is the long-term stability of the brand, which undoubtedly would remain strong. But should another year of rebuilding occur, attendance could start to dip, similar to 2006-07 levels when it finished at 16,843.
And then there are those ratings. Especially the radio ratings, for which a new contract was signed during the 2013-14 season with WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub. Another rebuilding year would mean a second consecutive year of low Celtics ratings with the new flagship station of the franchise.
Sure there are some draw-backs, but should the Celtics go through the summer without making any big-time deals, another year of rebuilding would arguably be the best option for the franchise, and the brand long-term. Unless the Celtics are sure they can go deep into the playoffs and make some serious noise, rebuilding just might be the direction to take in a market that demands championships.
Making it to the playoffs and reaching the second round is not enough for fans in Boston, who have high expectations for not just the Celtics, but for all of its franchises. So can the magic of the 2007 off-season happen again? Celtics fans will just have to wait and find out.
Should nothing happen, the Celtics brand will not be seriously affected. Just expect to see some extra black and gold seats at TD Garden.
Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
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