Deuce: River Cats Partnership With Giants Makes Sense
The River Cats have agreed to a deal to be the Triple-A affiliate for the San Francisco Giants, according to the Sacramento Bee.
A's fans may be ticked off and longtime River Cats supporters may not like the change, but it's what's best for business.
Like it or not, the Giants are a hot property in Northern California, with tremendous ratings on both television and radio. That's what happens when you win two World Series, have a beautiful ballpark and market the players the way the Giants do.
I'm sure River Cats officials believe a partnership with the Giants will help spark attendance, which has become stagnant in recent years. The team also has increased competition with the Sacramento Republic FC.
Maybe the affiliation will help draw more fans, but you can make the case that attendance has gone down a little bit because going to a River Cats game is no longer the "new" thing to do. Raley Field opened in 2000 and the numbers have plateaued in recent years.
Raley Field Average Attendance
- 2014-8,561
- 2013-8,435
- 2012-8,140
- 2011-8, 455
- 2010-9,138
- 2009-9,126
- 2008-9,725
- 2007-10,003
- 2006-10,257
- 2005-10,497
It's obvious that the River Cats are looking to spark attendance and believe a partnership with San Francisco could do that.
As for the fans who say they're going to stop going to Raley Field? I'd argue that most who go to games at Raley Field want the River Cats to win, but they don't care if the River Cats win or lose. I go to Raley Field because it's affordable, it's a great park, it's something to do in Sacramento and I enjoy watching baseball.
The River Cats could partner with the Dodgers and I'd still go to games.
Meanwhile, Oakland's new Triple-A affiliate will be the Nashville Sounds.
"As we did our due diligence of available Triple-A markets, it became very clear that Nashville was the most attractive," A's General Manager Billy Beane said in a press release.
"It is a dynamic city and entertainment center with first-rate ownership, a long history of baseball, and a location that is convenient for player movement."
The River Cats and A's had a very successful partnership from 1999-2014. I still remember going to games in 2000 and trying to get Barry Zito's autograph. Triple-A baseball in Sacramento is an awesome experience, and it'll remain a great experience for years to come.
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