Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) CEO Josh Schaub says that despite an attendance slide, the team is hitting its numbers in terms of revenues, and that his group is committed to the market.
Owners Nick Semaca and Schaub, a Twin Cities attorney, took over the Slammers two years ago. The team is averaging 1,888 fans per game this season, down from 2013’s 1,997 fans a game and 2012’s 2,213 fans per game.
But, he explained to the local newspaper, the numbers are misleading; there are no plans to sell the team, and the numbers are solid. (Yes, we get the discussion of reporting paid numbers versus tickets distributed versus turnstile counts.) From the SouthTown Star:
“When we (Schaub and Nick Semaca) acquired the team, we laid out a three-year financial plan and we are within that plan. We are executing what we thought we could at this stage.
“We are beating expectations in some metrics, one being food and beverage. We’ve already surpassed last year’s net income on food and beverage. We’ll probably end up 20 to 25 percent ahead of last year.
“Tickets, we’re 10 percent ahead of 2012. We’re 8 percent ahead of last year on tickets. So we’re doing very well in those departments.’’
Naming rights to Silver Cross Field are coming for renewal soon, and that will be an important revenue source in the future. Schaub says getting more revenue out of the ballpark on nongame days is important, but events like concerts and soccer tourneys are hard work, and it takes feet on the ground to make those events happen. There are some good things happening at Silver Cross Field — GM Chris Franklin and crew installed a spiffy new beer garden, and some other premium seating changes are in the works.
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