2012 a successful business year for Detroit Tigers – MLB Update
Detroit Tigers may not have impressed their critics at the All Star Break as they have certainly become a big hit on TV and turnstile. Manager Jim Leyland General Manager Dave Dombrowski have come across daunting times since the start of this season.
The club went below .500 in second half of May and it took them almost two months to see .500 again. Right now, they are placed third on the American League Central Division behind Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians as it will be fair to say that
they have failed to live up to their immense potential.
With limited resources, the Tigers led the AL Central for most part of the season last year. After acquiring Prince Fielder for a record $214 million deal, the fans were expecting their team to dominate the American League but the numbers speak otherwise.
Tigers may not be consistent on the field, as they are having a bonanza business year. There FSD’s ratings have set new records. As compared to a 5.57 rating in 2010 and 6.54 in 2011, the FSD rating has nearly doubled to 8.65 in just two years.
"People ask me this all day long," said Greg Hammaren, general manager and senior vice president for FSD. "Why are the ratings as high as they are? Why is attendance as high? When you go from bad to good, you anticipate that kind of growth on a percentage
basis. But when you go from good to good, you have to wonder if there's more of a fundamental change going on. Or, is it simply pent-up hope, pent-up demand, for Tigers baseball?"
Attendance at Comerica Park has also improved dramatically. Tigers’ owner, Mike Ilitch, who set the fifth highest budget for Tigers among 30 teams, will be a very pleased man these days. In 42 games so far this season, crowd attendance is averaging 36, 866,
which is 27 percent more than what is for the same stretch past season.
It will be interesting to see if the Tigers can make it to the playoff this season to return the favour to their fans that have spent their hard earned cash to buy tickets.
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