Figures Don't Lie

With an eventual/maybe/possible new owner for the White Sox, Chicago media is all agog about a possible new stadium. That inevitably lends a platform to a local “stadium consultant,” quoted for a story in yesterday’s Sun-Times. You see, “It’s going to take some public money to keep the White Sox in town one way or another. The economics of baseball are such that the value of being in a large television market have become far less relevant.” What? Does Mr. Consultant mean that attendance matters more? If so, would a new stadium hold closer to 30,000 or 40,000? I mean, if attendance matters, it should be the latter. Only nobody is designing stadiums with larger capacities. Last night, the Sox had their first sellout of the season, with just under 37,000 fans on hand to see Kyle Teel make his rookie debut. Teel did not disappoint, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored on a pretty-mad dash to home on a wild pitch in the eighth inning; the 23-year old also threw a runner out trying to steal. Sox 7 Royals 2. The point here is that Sox fans will show up if the team puts some talent on the field and shows people some respect, e.g., last night’s Mexican Heritage Night. Wait, do you think the team is unhappy with the type of people it draws at 35th and Shields? In which case, shame on them.