The Lockout: A mini rant

 

Photo by John Salvino on Unsplash

This post mainly exists because we need a fresh thread, but while we are here...

Chris Rose and Kevin Millar are assholes

What do an air traffic controller and a pitcher have in common? Just ask @BlueJays RHP Joe Biagini! pic.twitter.com/oO0y69F7UT

— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) May 16, 2017

(If the embed doesn't work, click here.)

The cost of running the State of the Franchise event

Yes, we all loved the event. Don't be fooled though. The event costs a lot of money. It was a nice sign of goodwill when the team was struggling and getting people interested in the team was difficult. They'd be maybe 1000 - 2000 people at the event? They'd get food and drink and get a chance to schmooze with the front office and some players.

We're now in a very different world. The Jays have been to the playoffs two years in a road, they now sell out on a regular basis, and season ticket sales have gone through the roof. The most recent number I saw was 12,000 of them. Too many people to be able to schmooze with. The question and answer session is now pre-planned questions and streamed to everyone. No exclusivity there.

Which leaves the free food and drink. No big deal there, right? Not so fast.

First off, there's the cost of running the facilities. Electricity costs for running the lights, heating, and the concessions. Staff to run concessions and usher. You'll need to have security and medical staff there as well. Insurance for the event. Transportation of goods and set-up costs.

If you're bringing in players, their transportation and accommodation costs. Honorarium and food costs as well.

Then you have the costs of your salary staff. The time they spend working on the event is time that isn't be used elsewhere so there is a definable cost for that.

And now we get to that open bar and food. A good rule of thumb in planning events is estimating at least $30/person with an open bar. Multiply that by 12,000 people (and that's a conservative estimate). That alone is $360,000.

It's safe to say that this event would cost at least $500,000.  And half of those people at the event won't even be season ticket holders, the people you're doing this for in the first place.

Is this a good use of money? Or do you find other ways to do something special for your season ticket holders that is not so easily transferable?

This is why I'm not so upset about this event being cancelled. It's outlived its usefulness.


A summary of costs to consider when running an event is here. And an outline of how to budget is here.

The stupid Bautista steroids accusation rises again

So over the weekend I'm on a website discussing the latest Pitch episode and I run across this:

Songs for a tense weekend

I'm writing this as the game is going on and everyone is being a ray of sunshine on the game threat. Time for music!

The evolution of an owner - a defence of Rogers

This is the long-put-off post that is a rebuttal to Smasher's Rogered post.

Venting

So things got a little testy in the game threat last night. Here's your chance to let loose. Vent about the team, a player, or anything that's bothering you. Feel free to go over the top. Get it out of your system.

Pro tip: the funnier you make it, the more cathartic it will be.

If you disagree with the vent, leave it alone. This is a place to let off steam. There is no right or wrong in this thread. SSS does not matter. This is a correction-free zone. 

Royals suck

When I was researching the Fenway post, I ran across a piece about why the K sucks written in that 2009 series. The piece actually likes the K and focuses more on the futility of the Royals then but it's priceless for this line:

That they let the Royals play there is akin to letting a kazoo band play the Sydney Opera House.

Those suckers may have rings but they're still trash not worthy of their park.

The ongoing negativity of the Jays fan

See this? It's the negativity suckhole.

Seriously people? Signing Justin Smoak to a reasonable contract for 2 more years means the sky is falling? Time to give up on the season and trade everyone? WTF?

What drugs are you smoking? (Pun intended.)

Fuck Boston redux

Only 5 days since we last saw these fuckers and now we're going into their joke of a ballpark.

Fuck Boston

You would be excused if you thought yesterday was a Red Sox game. Our broadcasters, whether on tv or on radio just couldn't shut up about them.

Contract negotiations are none of our goddamn business

In my post the other day, I found myself saying a couple of times in the comments this title phrase. So I'm going to say it again.

Contract negotiations are none of our goddamn business!