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NEWS > SPORTS > BLUE JAYS, ROYALS SET TO INSTALL ROLLERCOASTERS IN UNOCCUPIED SEATS
BLUE JAYS, ROYALS SET TO INSTALL ROLLERCOASTERS IN UNOCCUPIED SEATS
April 28 2010
Toronto, Canada – There are perhaps as many names for the game of baseball as there are blades of grass in the outfield. A pastoral game, America’s pastime, and dozens of other euphemisms have tried to capture the spirit of the game that has for
decades been played by people of all ages. Such romantic affinity has meant a long life for the sport, despite increased competition from upstart disciplines such as football and basketball. They haven’t however ensured the ongoing popularity which has declined dramatically in the last few decades.
Though revenues for professional baseball have remained high, attendance across the league has been in steady decline for the last two decades and along with that so too has gone much of the romance associated with the game. Though major teams such as the Yankees, Cubs, and Dodgers have been able to retain their fan base teams in smaller markets and in areas where other sports dominate the public appetite have had more difficulty. Teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, and Milwaukee Brewers have suffered the most with the erosion in popularity, playing to nearly empty stadiums, causing many to wonder if the sport will be able to survive in those towns. Undeterred, the owners of those teams are using what might have been a disadvantage into a game changer by adding roller coasters to the currently unoccupied seats across the stadium.
“It’s become increasingly clear that our struggle with attendance is not a seasonal 
thing, is not a product of team success, but is part of a larger change to the way in which people see the game. In our heyday we didn’t have enough seats and now we have thousands of empty places. That is not transitional, this is the new reality,” said Blue Jays president Paul Beeston. “Because of that a number of teams are looking at just doing away with a lot of the extra seating and instead opening up the playing field and expanding the entertainment options for visitors which will not only help with attendance numbers but also, we hope, give our teams a competitive edge.”
For the majority of stadiums the proposed switch would move the diamond back and significantly expand the outfield. Some teams are also considering adding carnival rides to unoccupied areas.
“This is just one of many proposals before the league and the majority of the owners would have to vote for it before anything can happen. What is more likely to gain headway with the ownership is the idea to add functionality, to add things like rides and attractions and create more of an experience,” said Scrape TV Sports analyst Mark Marvins. “The Devil Rays and the Nationals in particular have been pushing that option. Not only would that fill a lot of empty space but it will bring in additional revenue and likely more fans. Expanding the field might allow for a few more homeruns but will also make for more running, which means longer games, something they are trying to get away from.”
The Baltimore Orioles have put forth an idea to dedicate an area to computer kiosks where visitors can play games and check Facebook, but no one listens to the Orioles. 
“Toronto is really the lynchpin to this whole thing. Many of the other cities are small markets which are going to suffer attendance issues regardless of the state of the game but Toronto is different beast that really highlights the issues facing the game,” continued Marvins. “Toronto is one of the biggest cities in North America, baseball has a winning tradition, the team is doing well, and it is very much a sports town yet attendance there is still eroding which makes it the biggest challenge but also the greatest opportunity to try something new like a log flume or drop towers to try and bring people into the park and enjoy the American classic.”
Local Toronto amusement park ‘Canada’s Wonderland’ has said that they will field their own professional baseball team if the Blue Jays add rides to their offerings.
Alexi Orton, Sports Correspondent
NEWS > SPORTS > BLUE JAYS, ROYALS SET TO INSTALL ROLLERCOASTERS IN UNOCCUPIED SEATS
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