OK TB I've got to align with Fordie on this call and you provide some of the data but arrive at the wrong conclusion. Most fans indeed do know little to nothing about the team... because they are fair weather fans. Dodger fans, while less so than Angel fans or Clipper fans, are still 70%+ fair weather fans. Not die hard fans. Packer fans and Buckeye fans are real die hard fans because there's not a damn thing else to do in these miserable places but root for your team. It comes from the LA vibe... there is simply too much other good shit going on in LA to sweat a bunch of losers. On the other hand if the Dodgers were 20-13 in 1st place rather than 13-20 in last place I KNOW that a huge # of fair weather fans would attend games. In droves. Even if they have to overcome fears that rowdy Dodger fan boys still hassle gays and vaGiant fans (same thing). It has nothing to do with promotional giveaways. Those are the province of losers who can't attract fans any other way.
to be honest capn no doubt we have a lot of fair weather fans but i think it's a combo of both because the other night when they were giving away some hello kitty/beiber-esque bullshit the place was packed
Yeah more people show up when there is givaways. Even people show up for winners. Everybody shows up for post season!
And let me assure you that after 30 years of selling electronics and consumer goods through nearly every channel in the USA that "promotional giveaways are the province of losers" Even the best teams don't align giveaway nights for games with competitive rivals... they use them for games like the Padres where they know nobody gives a shit and attendance drops accordingly. Look at the Yankees getting $200 a ticket and packing the stadium every night for years. A winning product is the ONLY reliable thing that makes that happen long term. Giving shit away to Biebberheads is NOT how to increase our fan base!