I haven't seen any related comment, but did anyone notice the Wild Card game was about 3000 short of a sellout? I chose not to go, missing only my second home playoff game ever, because I was disgusted with the level of play we were seeing.

Some of those who attend Rangers games are true Rangers fans, some just enjoy seeing the game played at the highest level, some jump on the band wagon of a "winner" and some just go because it is the current "in" thing to do.

Well, the shine is off now. We are not playing at an acceptable level or with expected effort. Clearly, we are not winners, despite what Wash said in his press conference after the game. Will the Rangers still be the "in" thing next year?

Assuming they don't dump Wash, even though they should, will the fans be very forgiving next year?

If we stumble out of the gate, will attendance continue to decline?

In spite of the record year for attendance, not selling out a playoff game speaks volumes about where we may be headed.

Thoughts? Comments?

I have been a season ticket holder last few years and I am going to have to think long and hard about renewing. I know that sounds like a bandwagon fan, but I can not go and support what I saw this year. I sit there in August and September and could see this coming. It was so frustrating being able to basically predict what guys were going to do and see the same poor effort. I know everyone says that the players want to win just as much and more than we fans...but I honestly have to say that I didn't see that on the field. That and the comments they would make just made me think they took it for granted and just pissed it away. I will have to see what the Rangers do in the off season before I commit to next year. That said...if Hamilton is back...I will not be. I'm done with his drama and poor effort. It has to be rubbing on the guys in the clubhouse too. I'm giving Wash a break....I was down on him, but he can't control everything. The guys have to give the effort. I'm pissed that he was stubborn and wouldn't play Profar and Olt and give them time because you could see that Kins, Young, etc were struggling. I do like what I saw with him getting on Hamilton ...just seemed way way too late.

The Rangers set an al-time high for attendance. It was in all the papers. Friday nite football is still king!

they did win 93 games...make it (technically) to the playoffs. lead in BA among other smaller stats. They had a bad month at the end and were mediocre for about half a month. aside from that it was a pretty good season...hold your stance...dont give up the 5 yards for not selling out a game that went on sale to the general public a day and a half before it was played.

I'm not renewing my season tickets, not because of the play of the team but because my tickets are going up 20% next year, so there goes 162 out of 3.5M... Hmmm, guess that's not a big deal :P

Rich how do you know your tickets are going uo 20% next year? I have not seen prices for next season yet or gotten any indication from my rep that prices would increase that much. Do you have a source?

Tickets are NOT going up 20%. That is so typical of the postings on here.

Tickets will marginally increase, but certainly not 20%. I don't think this season's outcome will drop attendance too bad next year. Regardless, this is a stupid thread, because there is no way to objectively predict that. Nothing to see here, move along move along...

Log into your myrangers account, the new invoice for 2013 is posted. Sorry I entered the wrong part of my package... My *tickets* in Lexus Club Terrace are going up 15%... from $17 to $20... it was parking that did go up 20%... from $10 to $12.

I never imagined Texas would host the wildcard game.

Attendance will probably drop off, but not necessarily because of this season. Once Josh signs somewhere else, he will take a ton of fans with him.

I am also a season ticket holder...have been for 6-7 years now...and I'm definitely renewing my seats. Maybe it's just me, but I love Ranger baseball...even when they suck. These last few years have been unbelievable and it would suck to bail on my season tix only to have the team do something we have never seen. Win or lose I enjoy the Ballpark...the sounds, the smells, the food, the atmosphere...but of course it's always a lot more fun when we win.

I've been a season ticket holder for 24 years and my tickets are going up from $44 to $49 each seat. That is not a rumor, that is a fact, as well as season parking going up from $40 to $12. For those of you bellyaching you won't come back due to the lousy play in the last month, or if Josh comes back, they won't renew, or won't renew because of the price increases..Good Riddance.!!.bandwagon fans are nice to have,but are nothing to build on.

I've seen a lot of bad baseball over those years, but realize how lucky we've been for the last 2 years--witnessing the playoffs and 2 World Series. The Rangers stil have some of the best season ticket benefits, if not the best, in MLB and definitley of any WINNING team.

I don't like the price increases at all--we are paying for the renovations of the Gold Club and other nice improvements, and my ticket prices have gone from $8 to now $49 per seat in thsoe 24 years, for the same basic location. Still, I hope to pass my season tickets along to my kids and grandkids, as long as they don't have to take out a 2nd mortgage to pay for them.

DP
Section 22

How can anyone say attendance was sagging with a straight face? Just because they a few tickets shy of a sell out the 1 game wildcard playoff that they didn't know they were going to play in until 48 hours before it, only because they went on a massive losing streak? I'm guessing tickets will be just as hard to get next year with or without Josh. This team is still a lot of fun to watch and they'll be back kicking ass again in the spring.

Hopefully season ticket holders like Kenny have better seats than me, so that I can capitalize on their bandwagoness and move up a few rows. I know it's an old argument, but this entitlement that we are seeing from some ranger fans, has to be coming from the team across the street right? Just an FYI, for everyone else, Corner box went from $33 to $35, not as bad as some other section's increases.

Are we using the WC game for a "sagging attendance" argument?

(Most) Everyone felt that the team was running out of gas and it was a 50/50 shot we were going to win that one.

In addition, lots of people who would have attended that game (myself included) could likely have had $$ still tied up in post season ticket purchases. I decided to eat Ramen the next week to be able to get WC tix just in case we pulled it out. There are a million reasons why attendance could have been down and half of those have nothing specifically to do with the Rangers (hello, Friday night football). Id, however, wish the Josh booers were bigger football fans, but I digress...

One final game that no one thought would even be played in town does not constitute "sagging attendance" in a season when we nearly broke 3.5 million.

I went to New York a couple of years ago. Wanted to see a game and checked out ticket prices. Mets tickets were twice as much as Ranger Tickets. Yankees tickets were twice as much as Mets Tickets.

They are going to have around 3 million attendance next year. The whole premise of the OP is stupid.

@michelle. I would add the wasn't even scheduled until Wednesday night, so anyone with previous conflicts would not be attending.

Sorry for the unnecessary ramen sacrifice. Re ramen, Tei An is a very fancy restaurant, has the metroplex's finest restrooms, and serves a 9.95 bowl of incredible ramen.

And I agree with you on Swisher. Maybe he becomes better looking as a Ranger (like no parent thinks their kid is below average or bad looking) but I sure hated seeing him on the highlights this year. There are better OF options out there.

Baseball is ever more expensive but is still an incredible value, especially if you bring your favorite food.

What do you really want, four Lady Gaga tickets to one concert or season tickets for one seat at the BPiA?

I doubt that Josh will take tons of fans with him. As great as his story is, and as many people as there are that admire him for his faith, I don't really think that many people will just stop paying attention just because he's on another team. Or is a huge contingent of the Rangers' fan base really like that? It's not like Josh is the only Christian in baseball, he's just one of the more outspoken ones.

From what I could figure prices increased from 8-13% depending on what you were talking about. My parking increased 13% for next year. But, the season tickets only increased by 8-9% I think. I still have to factor the parking out. Luckily it was not as large of an increase as 20% otherwise I would be pissed.

Ok, I lied. My season tickets are increased by .083 or 8.3%. Parking was increased by 10%.

what are you thinking the no one considered the tickets to be sold until a couple days before...the fact that we were only 3000 shy of a sellout is remarkable

@primi timpano --$10 Ramen?! I may have to visit an establishment that would hold simple noodles in such high regard.

To be clear, I am not sorry I went to the WC game but can think of at least 10 reasons unrelated to the Rangers why I could/should not have attended. The Rangers will do just fine next year attendance-wise and I wouldn't be surprised if attendance records are surpassed.

I can think of about negative three ways Swisher could be more "attractive." If we get him, I guess I'll have to adjust. And by adjust, I mean ignore completely. He'd have to put up Hamilton type numbers for me to get on board. Nope. Not even then. Sorry. He's just got that Yankee look (smirk is part of the uniform).

Do I think Josh will take fans with him when he goes? Of course, but I think a large part of who watch him/buy his jersey are people who either don't live here (bandwagon fans that jump to teams with hot/polarizing players) and/or are not huge fans of baseball in general (don't follow most games or pay attention to stats, rankings etc). Has he brought in new fans to baseball because of his faith? Absolutely, but I don't think they'll be leaving (if they actually attended games to begin with) to a degree that the FO will be 'sorry' they traded him.