Nashville Rays, Major League Baseball Team?

[titanhog]

I disagree. I think Atlanta could easily support another team, especially in its northern suburbs. Atlanta adds 1,500,000 new residents each decade. In twenty years it will be the size of Chicago.

[nashvillebillionare]

For what it's worth, the Toronto Blue Jays may be looking for a new home also.

[Hankster]

i dunno, atlanta has been notoriously poor attendees for their sports. while they may have the physical numbers to support it, i don't think that they could create enough interest.

[BnaBreaker]

Here's Atlanta's Braves attendance since 1991. By my book this attendance is far from shabby. Also, it's very difficult for people from North Atlanta to get to the games, and that area has an enormous population that's considerably greater than the entire Metro Nashville area. I think a team located in that area would be well supported. By the way, despite missing the playoffs for the first time in numerous years the Braves registered an increase in attendance last year. I think that's significant.

Year......Total Attendance....Avg / Game

1991.....2,140,217...............26,422

1992.....3,077,400...............37,992

1993.....3,884,720...............47,960

1994.....2,539,240...............44,548

1995.....2,561,831...............35,581

1996.....2,901,242...............35,818

1997.....3,464,488...............42,771

1998.....3,360,860...............41,492

1999.....3,284,901...............40,554

2000.....3,234,304...............39,930

2001.....2,823,530...............34,858

2002.....2,603,482...............32,142

2003.....2,401,084...............30,393

2004.....2,322,565...............29,399

2005.....2,521,534...............31,519

2006.....2,549,522...............31,869

2007.....2,745,203...............33,891

[Hankster]

This year, on average, only 60% of the stadium is filled for each home game.

[titanhog]

Last year's was above the National League average and was 68.0% of capacity (capacity 49,831) despite a mediocre 84-78 record. Their peak year in 1993 was 96% of capacity, and that's astounding. Unlike any other sport, baseball is played seven days a week, and because of that 60% attendance is not bad. Who on this forum beleive Nashville would exceed that? I think Nashville could, but I'm not sure, especially year in and year out, bad weather days and good. Also, the major league baseball regular season is played up until the first week of October. Once football season starts, there is a noticeable drop off in attendance throughout the league. I would wager that if major league baseball were in Nashville , a significant dropoff in October would be the norm.