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Started By
Message
re: Why can’t Louisiana have an MLB team? The Marlins are averaging 6k fans a game
Posted on 4/3/26 at 8:03 am to elprez00
Posted on 4/3/26 at 8:03 am to elprez00
Team affiliation matters for sure. And not just because of localized fan interest, but because different major league teams operate their minor league franchises differently. My point:
We have the Single A Lexington Legends. When they first came to town, they were, coincidentally, the Astros affiliate. We won the SAL several times, I watched guys like Jose Altuve and Roger Clemens play here.
They were constantly promoted on local TV and radio. I think capacity is apx 2K and wed regularly have 1K.
Then the newness wore off and eventually, not sure the reason, the Legends became a Royals affiliate and the support stopped. Team stopped winning, and Royals farm system sucked arse.
Then when MLb restructured MiLB, the Legends were one of the teams left out in the cold. IMO, because of the shite shape the Royals left them in. Had that happened during the Astros tenure, we were rolling and would have maintained affiliation.
Now we play in the Atlantic league, which is an MLB affiliate league. Don't even know what that means TBH.
All I know is having them associated with the Cincinnati Reds would go A LONG WAY around here.
We have the Single A Lexington Legends. When they first came to town, they were, coincidentally, the Astros affiliate. We won the SAL several times, I watched guys like Jose Altuve and Roger Clemens play here.
They were constantly promoted on local TV and radio. I think capacity is apx 2K and wed regularly have 1K.
Then the newness wore off and eventually, not sure the reason, the Legends became a Royals affiliate and the support stopped. Team stopped winning, and Royals farm system sucked arse.
Then when MLb restructured MiLB, the Legends were one of the teams left out in the cold. IMO, because of the shite shape the Royals left them in. Had that happened during the Astros tenure, we were rolling and would have maintained affiliation.
Now we play in the Atlantic league, which is an MLB affiliate league. Don't even know what that means TBH.
All I know is having them associated with the Cincinnati Reds would go A LONG WAY around here.
2
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:41 am to BowDownToLSU
Pelicans ( one of the worst NBA teams) averages 16k a game.You overestimated the pelicans attendance by about 500% 
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:47 am to UKWildcats
quote:
Now we play in the Atlantic league, which is an MLB affiliate league. Don't even know what that means TBH.
MLB removed some levels of minor league baseball and shortened the draft. Honestly, these affiliate leagues will still have comparable talent to a short season A team.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:53 am to SuperflyLSU
quote:
I think a minor league team in the St. George / Ascension / Livingston area would do well. No one wants to drive out to Goldsby at night. I'd love to see how an AA team would do.
In 1976, minor-league baseball returned when the Baton Rouge Cougars became a charter member of the reformed Class A level Gulf States League.[21] However, the league and its franchises struggled, with Baton Rouge folding on August 13, 1976, with a record of 43–27. The Cougars' owner, Billy Blythe had vanished, and player paychecks stopped arriving. Louisiana State University was forced to evict the ball club from Alex Box Stadium.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:54 am to elprez00
quote:
When the Zs were good, the stands were packed. When they were the Astros AAA affiliate in the 90s there were always a ton of people there
It was a combination of Astros affiliation, good talent, and the newness of the new stadium.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 11:13 am to biglego
quote:
quote:
When the Zs were good, the stands were packed. When they were the Astros AAA affiliate in the 90s there were always a ton of people there
It was a combination of Astros affiliation, good talent, and the newness of the new stadium.
This was also Pre-Katrina NOLA.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 11:34 am to idlewatcher
quote:
Even when I used to go to Zephyr's games, there was barely anyone there. Louisiana doesn't seem to have the appetite for it but that was years ago.
Build a downtown stadium and the Zephyrs would have a chance to be a well supported AAA team. Def not MLB
Posted on 4/3/26 at 11:47 am to BowDownToLSU
Poor state, no money ??
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:38 pm to Tigeralum2008
quote:
Build a downtown stadium
This is typically the way to go in minor league ball
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:45 pm to choupiquesushi
quote:
In 1976, minor-league baseball returned when the Baton Rouge Cougars became a charter member of the reformed Class A level Gulf States League.[21] However, the league and its franchises struggled, with Baton Rouge folding on August 13, 1976, with a record of 43–27. The Cougars' owner, Billy Blythe had vanished, and player paychecks stopped arriving. Louisiana State University was forced to evict the ball club from Alex Box Stadium.
Never was there so fitting a story
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:47 pm to choupiquesushi
quote:
This was also Pre-Katrina NOLA.
Most of the Zephyrs fans were from Metairie and Kenner…
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:58 pm to chalmetteowl
strong lakeview and westbank contingeents as well
Posted on 4/3/26 at 2:23 pm to UKWildcats
quote:
Team affiliation matters for sure. And not just because of localized fan interest, but because different major league teams operate their minor league franchises differently.
I think this is sometimes a cop out, though. You have places like Albuquerque and El Paso that thrive at Triple A despite not really being close to MLB franchises. Albuquerque has also been with one of the worst organization’s in the league for a while. Nashville is another…great attendance despite cycling through MLB affiliates that aren’t close by (Texas and Milwaukee). Rochester Red Wings have been stuck with Baltimore, Washington, and Minnesota since the ‘70’s and have done quite well.
Charlotte and Durham have been stuck with the White Sox and Rays for decades and are great MiLB franchises.
Proximity and affiliation do help, but it’s not a necessity.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 5:22 pm to TexasTiger08
Your point is well taken. I was just speakibf moreso for here in Lexington specifically. High school baseball excels here. We have UK baseball. We have Transylvania baseball. We have the aformentioned minor league baseball. And we have the Cincinnati Reds 90 miles away.
We've got options is my point, and for the Legends specifically, to get more of a local following they need to be linked to the Reds. Otherwise, they are a nice cheap midweek distraction in the summer.
We've got options is my point, and for the Legends specifically, to get more of a local following they need to be linked to the Reds. Otherwise, they are a nice cheap midweek distraction in the summer.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 6:37 pm to mattz1122
quote:
Houston
bigger shithole
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:32 pm to TROLA
quote:
I’m sure most would disagree and it’s wishful thinking from an infrastructure standpoint but with a rail line added, I bet they could do well with a NO team situated on the I10 corridor between BR and NO
Of course everyone will disagree, putting a MLB stadium in gramercy or sorrento is a ridiculous idea
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:42 pm to BowDownToLSU
Ill asked the board… would putting a major league team in bay St. Louis with a rail service from New Orleans to mobile up to Hattiesburg bring enough people?
Posted on 4/3/26 at 11:01 pm to GeauxtigersMs36
quote:
Ill asked the board… would putting a major league team in bay St. Louis with a rail service from New Orleans to mobile up to Hattiesburg bring enough people?
lol, no
Posted on 4/4/26 at 2:09 am to LSUneaux
quote:
I think it’s funny people think in 2026 that these major sports leagues are mostly dependent on ticket sales.
Baseball is largely dependent on regional sports networks which have collapsed in the last few years. A Louisiana team is just not going to get anywhere close to what most of the other teams do for their broadcasting rights.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 4:06 am to BowDownToLSU
UNO basketball out draws the pels
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