Skip to main content

Where Did Everyone Go? Addressing the Yankees Interest Decline


It seems like the bandwagon bubble has burst on the New York Yankees. That's the only sound reasoning I can give on the sudden decline in interest regarding the evil empire. After all, we knew the Yankees had many fans that were simply casual fans of the product. Over the past few years, Yankees fans were made up of die hards, casual fans, and those who only tune in during the playoffs when it's trendy to like the Yankees.

As a Yankee lifer, I've accepted this a long time ago. Quite frankly, in some ways, the recent news of Yankees Stadium attendance being down significantly, as well as the alarming decline in ratings on the YES Network (Down 38%!), has me a bit perplexed. I'm intrigued by the cause, but I will admit a part of me is a bit ridden with guilty pleasure that the frauds are now away from the product.

There have been several articles already written about the reasoning for the decline. Is it due to the lack of stars? Is it due to the recent surge of other New York teams (Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders) who the Yankees never had to compete with since the YES Network's inception? Could it be that some Yankees fans have become spoiled in the success? Or heck, have the Yankees brand fallen behind in-demand to others in the area? 

It's pretty hard to pin-point the problem, especially since we are only mid-way through June, and attendance is sure to spike once school is out and the weather is consistently warmer. 

Nonetheless, there is a part of me that believes that many of those "casual" or "trendy" fans who aren't devoted to the product have indeed left. Especially, with basketball in this city becoming important again, with two viable options, with one of those being the Nets, who just came off of a recent pop-culture trend of being the "in-thing" to be in support of. 

And of course, the Knicks sort of replaced the Yankees in terms of becoming trendy and everyone suddenly planting their orange and blue flag. The same goes for the Rangers and Islanders as well. 

The Yankee Stadium attendance really can be summed up in two words - ticket prices. The Yankees have priced themselves out, and at this point are starting to see that, whether they want to admit it or not. We saw it during the playoffs last season, and we've seen it in the way the stadium culture has changed from intimidating building for visiting teams to a corporate social scene. 

As for ratings, I find it hard to believe that the absence of guys such as Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and others have affected the ratings this much. Especially, when you could be lead to believe that those who can't afford to attend the stadium would watch the product at home. I'll be the first one to say that some nights the Yankee lineup seems almost like a practical joke, and I'm sure this is especially the case for those Yankee fans who can't remember this franchise having lean years. But the team is still winning! And shouldn't that be enough? 

Heck, maybe there is a overall decline in baseball? We all know the Mets aren't helping in keeping up their end of the excitement in this city. Which is unfortunate, because when both teams are doing well, it is something very special to be a part of. 

At this point, the only thing that lends itself to a sound explanation is in fact the fraudbags have left and have moved on. Those fans that "liked" the Yankees and simply just wanted to be apart of the winning have moved on. 

As a baseball fan first, it's disheartening to see the slow decline in interest for the sport I love so much. However, as a Yankee fan, it brings a joy to my heart that us true Yankee fans can enjoy what has been a season of mortality. Yet one, which we'll all discuss names like Reid Brignac, David Adams, Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, and Chris Stewart with disgust, with hope, and with confidence in knowing that we're still here. And won't be going anywhere...unlike others. 

Recent Favorites

Yankees 2024 World Series - Ponderings and Stuff

I thought I would try something different for the 2024 World Series, especially since my Yankees are in it, and offer some quick ponderings and share some stuff from my thought process. Why not?  I expect a tough and arduous series. In many ways in approaching it, I would be shocked if this goes five or fewer games to either side. Obviously, I wouldn't mind if it happened for the Yankees.  Whoever wins, maybe they should also get claim to the 2017 World Series title. I'm kidding. Sort of... Game 1 Dodgers d. Yankees, 6-3  (LAD Leads Series 1-0) This is one of those games where I love baseball, but I hate it. That was a tremendous game if I didn't have a rooting interest. However, I do. And baseball, by nature, has a flair for creating moments that can rip your heart out as a fan. This one did. It's up there, to be honest. In this time, it feels worse than Sandy Alomar's home run off of Mo in 1997. But likely to not leave me in my feelings like the 2001 World Series

Page of Fame Class 2016 - The "Flip Play"

I laid there, nervous, hoping the Yankees could somehow hold on and squeak out a win over the Oakland Athletics to keep the season alive. Then it happened. Terrence Long ripped a liner down the right field line. Shane Spencer, in all of his instant-glory, over threw both Alfonso Soriano and Tino Martinez. Here came Jeremy Giambi, carrying the weight of being Jason's brother in a rage in which he moved around the bases. Then suddenly, like a Super Hero, Derek Jeter comes out of no where, probably with his cape flailing from around his neck, picks up the errant throw, shovels it to a waiting Jorge Posada, tagging Giambi for the out 

Knicks Trade is Great - However, Julius Got Us Here

I purposely took some time before posting on this recent trade. It came out of absolutely nowhere and left me in shock on that fateful Saturday night - even though, every Knick fan knew a Julius Randle trade was inevitable. Karl-Anthony Towns is an amazing talent. He’s All-NBA. He’s an All-Star. And in many ways, he’s a very, very, very unique and select talent. Also yes, he has flaws. Who doesn't in today's debate-anything landscape?  For pure basketball reasons, Towns as a Knick makes sense. The spacing is better. The options are better. The style of play is better defined. And the opportunity for the ultimate, an NBA championship, is increased. However, this trade gets all the feels when we focus on Julius Randle. If you follow this little slice of the internet, you probably have gathered that I’ve been a loyal Randle supporter since arriving in 2010. His potential was there. Yes, he’s been frustrating. There were moments of high-level frustration. But Randle has been our gu