There are going to be people who go to every single Astros game, no matter what. There are others who will buy the mini-packages, and the packages that include games against the Rangers, inter-league series, and other higher-profile games.
Lower-level dugout box seats at Minute Maid Park are $53. The most expensive ticket is in the 2nd-level Club I section, at $55. The average ticket price (not including Dynamic Pricing) is $27.42.
We know all about the cost of going to a Major League game, Drayton's $8 beer, parking, etc, but one reason for implementing the Astros' new video board, according to Astros Senior VP, Communications, is preposterous:
"It's almost like we have to compete with home. People can stay at home now and watch HD, and now at the ballpark there are going to be two full HD boards — true HD — and the overall entertainment is going to be much improved here."
I'm one of those people who will go to any game I can. But no video board is ever going to make me come to a game. I'm willing to grant that I'm curious as to what it'll look like. I'll even grant that one may even go to one game with the primary reason being to see what the between-play entertainment will be. But if you're a "Whatever" Fan, and you routinely spend your money to come to Minute Maid Park solely to look at TWO HD BOARDS then, I'm sorry, you are not smart.
Of course the Astros have to compete with people saying, "Screw it, I'll stay home and watch." Every team has to do that. Especially every team that isn't winning games at a .600 clip. I just wish the Astros would have come out and said, "Look, Drayton's trying to sell the team, and having these HD video boards is just like making brownies right before someone comes to look at a house that's for sale." It's the same thing.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
