Looking at the big picture, what is the future of having a home sports team to follow if you don't have a major league franchise in your metro area/ state?
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Non Major League Sports
- Thread starter HawaiiClone
- Start date
It's pertinent to both Hawaii and Iowa residents.
When I was at Iowa State I went to a few Cyclone baseball games and found that the fan support was much less than the support I saw for University of Hawaii baseball games growing up. Since then, the Cyclones have (for good reason) dropped their program, but there are still Iowa Cubs games to go to in Des Moines. Honolulu had a AAA team, but lost it in '87, but it still has UH baseball which gets good crowds. It's interesting to see the different dynamic that takes place with baseball at the non major league level between these two locales.
For states like Iowa and Hawaii that don't have major league teams, it comes down to which non major league sports work.
In my home town (Sioux City) hockey seems to work slightly better than baseball but I’m surprised baseball sticks around. Arena football is third and less stable (probably because of ISU/Iowa/Neb fanatics), I seem to remember soccer teams coming and going.
Interesting. Does the town get really pumped for the hockey games? Are their rivalry games? Is their regional coverage (statewide/ midwest) for the hockey league?
Not exactly to the same level though. They may not be in my home state, but I can do a day trip to see games in 6 different major league ball parks. Your options in Hawaii are a little more limited. Also, I'm not sure why being in state really matters. I can go to a game a lot easier than people in west Texas even though they have 2 in state teams.
Being in state may have more to do with the team feeling more local although as you said a team can be in the same state, but far away.
Aloha!
FWIW, I have been to a football game @ Hawaii (2002 vs. Alabama), and I have seen them on the road twice (2006 @ Alabama and 2016 vs. Cal @ Sydney, AUS). The Hawaii fan support is really deep, and I appreciate it very much.
I also graduated from Iowa State and went to football (Walden Era) and men's basketball games (Orr Era) regularly and a few women's basketball (pre-Fennely Era), a few baseball (saw OU the year they won the CWS) and a few hockey game (Beat those guys! Check those Fu@#$%S!).
I moved away for a quarter century (OLD!) and moved back to Iowa in 2019. Now, that I live in Des Moines, I support Des Moines sports along with Iowa State sports. I have a Drake Men's B-Ball season ticket and go to a few Drake football games a year. Went to the entire Spring Season in 2021!
I also have been to a few Menace soccer games, Wild hockey games and an I-Cubs game. When they build the new soccer stadium downtown, I will buy a season ticket for that (as I love soccer).
Hawaii has a couple of advantages that I like. The Mahalo spirit of the Islands transcends sports and is more of a cultural support of all things UH. At least, that is how I see it.
As for the baseball, ISU baseball was tough with the bad weather for much of the early season. I only went to two games in my time @ ISU. I can definitely see why UH has much better support than ISU did when we were in school.
Plus, UH doesn't have to share the state with others from a major college sports point of view.
Aloha!
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Des Moines getting USL that has a history of getting franchises up in to MLS is huge. Cincinnati basically forced their way in to MLS quickly based on their fan support. Would be cool if Des Moines could do the same. Kind of be the Green Bay of the MLS.
I don’t think it has anything to do with distance to KC. CBus and Cincy are closer and they both have franchises. That’s pie in the sky stuff about Des Moines getting to MLS quickly. But they have some advantages: passionate and experienced ownership backed by corporate money, building the new stadium from scratch (they will have to build another BIGGER stadium if they can make the leap, this shows that they have the capability assuming this build goes smoothly).
There is no tv coverage for that hockey league, its not even triple A level.
Having gone to a few Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wolves and Iowa Wild it feels like the I-Cubs and Wild get pretty good support. The G-League Wolves not as much. There are enough Midwest MLB fans of say the Cardinals, Cubs, Twins, Royals etc that people will go and see the I-Cubs play just to follow the AAA players from teams they support. In general its a fun atmosphere and things like fireworks every Friday make for a good summer activity.
The Iowa Wild seems to have a passionate fan base as well. Probably a bit niche, but people really get into the games and have their own chats to the opposing goaltender etc. My wife and I had so much fun going to Iowa Wild games that we bought a small 5 game flex pass and really enjoy going to the Well for that.
In general Iowa is a bigger college market for Cyclones and Hawks, but it is a good AAA market and they seem to support that level very well, especially with proximity to the major league teams in Minnesota, St. Louis, KC, Chicago, Milwaukee.
The Iowa Wild seems to have a passionate fan base as well. Probably a bit niche, but people really get into the games and have their own chats to the opposing goaltender etc. My wife and I had so much fun going to Iowa Wild games that we bought a small 5 game flex pass and really enjoy going to the Well for that.
In general Iowa is a bigger college market for Cyclones and Hawks, but it is a good AAA market and they seem to support that level very well, especially with proximity to the major league teams in Minnesota, St. Louis, KC, Chicago, Milwaukee.
The Cubs simply being a summer time, outdoor thing makes it a draw too. Got a night and wanna be outside for a few cold ones? Eh, what the hell, let's go to a I-Cubs game. Not a lot of people want to bundle up in the winter to go watch the Wolves.
Yeah, I really chalk up the iCubs attendance as more a reflection of it being a good, fun, affordable summer entertainment option. In all my years in Des Moines I can't say I ever met someone I would describe as an iCubs fan. At best you would find a super diehard Chicago fan who would be interested in tracking prospects. I think this is typical of most minor league teams. Attendance isn't an indicator of Fandom or fan support as it is in the pros or D1 college.
If suddenly next season the iCubs became affiliated with the Cards or Twins or Royals and swapped out for the AAA roster and staff of those orgs would attendance change much in Des Moines? My guess is no.
This exactly, and it's one thing markets and the teams themselves need to realize about everything outside of major pro sports and power conference college sports. These are fun events that are something to do, and have almost nothing to do with their being "fans" of the teams. Hint to local radio - Nobody is going to listen to a minor league sports game on the radio, because nobody goes for the outcome of the game. It's an event to drink some beer, watch the action and have some fun with the family or friends. It helps to have the I-Cubs be affiliated with the most popular team in the market, but I think that has really little to do with the attendance.
I'm not a hockey fan and am a basketball fan but Wild games are way more fun to me. I'm not sure what it is, but Wolves bball just doesn't translate to a great fan experience in my opinion. As far as non-ISU basketball I had more fun going to a Drake game at the Knapp than Iowa Wolves. It just doesn't do it for me.
I-Cubs games are great because it's easy to do, you can enjoy a night out in warm weather. I'm not a Cubs fan, but I am a big baseball fan and like watching the game live. However, if it was a pain in the ass to park or something I had to fight the cold to do I'd never go.
I was going to say there are a lot more Cubs fans but your probably right as most people that attend aren't baseball fanatics.
I remember going to a game when I think Maddox did a rehab start. It was jam packed. He pitched 2 innings and the place cleared out!
Are the Explorers still around? I used to have a lot of fun going to those games growing up when we were visiting family in Sioux City. I remember the beer vendor being hilarious.
My uncle played outfield for them for a short time.
Assuming the stadium is built smoothly is not a safe assumption based solely on the location.