Let me start by saying this. If your team isn't in these playoffs
you should 100% be rooting for Royals in the World Series. Either the Cardinals or the Giants have represented the National League in the World Series for the past five years. Each team has won it all twice since 2006. Their fan bases don't need another title, they have had their fun. Just today a huge Cards fan I know said he'd rather win his
fantasy football league than see the Cards win it again (idiotic) "Hell
man, I've already witnessed it twice!". These Royals fans have suffered
and suffered, they deserve this, root for them.
That being said, to all of you Royals fans
that have gone through so much losing, do not hate the fans that have just jumped on
the bandwagon and will inevitably continue to do so. I get it, sure, you hate
them because you have watched bad baseball for the past 29 years, these morons now rooting
for your team don't get it, they aren't REAL fans.
That's all well and good, maybe they
aren't "real fans" but these bandwagoners are going to help your
favorite team immensely in the coming years. Let's take, for example, the Chicago
Blackhawks. A few of my friends have lived and died with The Hawks since they
were young, back in the days when they really, really sucked and weren't even
on TV. Now they are all a little pissy and bitter because people (like me) root
for The Hawks in the playoffs and celebrate their success.
To those friends of mine, SHUT UP! Some of
those so-called "fair weather fans" from that 2010 championship are
now die-hards, they won't miss a game. Sure, there will always be guys like me
that just hop on for the playoffs, but a lot of these people become real-fans,
go to games, and spread the love for your favorite team. They will continue to
stick around, even when the championships stop coming.
Since the wins haven't stopped coming for
The Hawks since that 2010 season, I decided to look at another local team for
some proof, the Bulls. In the 1983-1984 season, the year before a kid named
Michael Jordan burst on to the seen, the Bulls were really bad (27-55) and
averaged a grand total of 6,365 people per game, that's horrendous. Those
numbers of course skyrocketed with the likes of Jordan, Pippen and 6
championships. Inevitably tons and tons of "fairweather fans" hopped
on the Bulls bandwagon during those years. People that hardly watched basketball
before this run were going out and celebrating championships for the city.
The championship streak came to an end and
suddenly the Bulls were bad again. In the 2002-2003 season the Bulls were an abysmal
30-52, similar to that 83-84 team. Their attendance? They averaged 19,617 per
game, over three times as many fans as the 83-84 season. Of course things were
different and things like the economy, TV deals, and marketing can come into
play, but I believe a HUGE reason for continued fan support admits a poor
season is thanks to that Jordan era.
So, to all those slightly-bitter Royals
fans, embrace these people that are jumping on your bandwagon now. They may
fall in love with the sport and team that you already love so dearly. This
exciting stretch for your city will lead to increased attendance over the years
and an entire new base of Royals fans. Most importantly, all of this new
support and attention leads to more money. Money, my friends, is never a bad
thing for your organization to have.
Finally, you true-blue Royals fans can
find some comfort knowing that, no matter how hard they cheer now, these
bandwagoners will never feel the same emotions you do when the Royals win it
all. Your countless years of endearing bad baseball will make that moment so
much more special. Remember this and embrace these new fans that will lead to
helping your organization in the long run.
And to all my readers with no team to root
for, hop on the Royals train quick, it's almost at its destination.
No comments:
Post a Comment