New Ownership

[Pura Vida]

If you really think about, the fans didn't target Donovan or Sonny or Burly last year. They targeted the current ownership and Mo by staying away from the stadium. The mostly savvy fans of the long standing Cardinals didn't like the product assembled by ownership and decided to save their money and time. And I suspect they will continue to as salary dumps and trading away core players last July says it all. If the owners don't care, neither do the fans.

[CorneliusWolfe]

If you really think about, the fans didn't target Donovan or Sonny or Burly last year. They targeted the current ownership and Mo by staying away from the stadium. The mostly savvy fans of the long standing Cardinals didn't like the product assembled by ownership and decided to save their money and time. And I suspect they will continue to as salary dumps and trading away core players last July says it all. If the owners don't care, neither do the fans.

I wouldn’t say they don’t care because Bloom was name-hire with a track record. I’m sure promoting Girsch would’ve been much cheaper.

I do agree that the fans rebelled more again management than the team. And if they build a winner again the fans will return. Everybody loves a winner.

Blaming the fans on the payroll was lame too. The franchise value increased exponentially from when BDW bought the team. Fans had a lot to do with that too.

[Pura Vida]

If you really think about, the fans didn't target Donovan or Sonny or Burly last year. They targeted the current ownership and Mo by staying away from the stadium. The mostly savvy fans of the long standing Cardinals didn't like the product assembled by ownership and decided to save their money and time. And I suspect they will continue to as salary dumps and trading away core players last July says it all. If the owners don't care, neither do the fans.

I wouldn’t say they don’t care because Bloom was name-hire with a track record. I’m sure promoting Girsch would’ve been much cheaper.

I do agree that the fans rebelled more again management than the team. And if they build a winner again the fans will return. Everybody loves a winner.

Blaming the fans on the payroll was lame too. The franchise value increased exponentially from when BDW bought the team. Fans had a lot to do with that too.

Just to clarify, I think the signing of Bloom is a major factor for selling the team. As you said, a name hire. I think it's obvious, the absence of fans reflects directly on the current ownership and not the players. Even the great Ohtani wasn't enough to catapult the Angels to the WS.

[AnExParrot]

Many think the team is such a cash cow that DeWitt has to be greedy/cheap to not spend more on team payroll. Assuming they're right, why would he ever sell the team?

[Jeff Goldblum]

If you really think about, the fans didn't target Donovan or Sonny or Burly last year. They targeted the current ownership and Mo by staying away from the stadium. The mostly savvy fans of the long standing Cardinals didn't like the product assembled by ownership and decided to save their money and time. And I suspect they will continue to as salary dumps and trading away core players last July says it all. If the owners don't care, neither do the fans.

I wouldn’t say they don’t care because Bloom was name-hire with a track record. I’m sure promoting Girsch would’ve been much cheaper.

I do agree that the fans rebelled more again management than the team. And if they build a winner again the fans will return. Everybody loves a winner.

Blaming the fans on the payroll was lame too. The franchise value increased exponentially from when BDW bought the team. Fans had a lot to do with that too.

When he said that about reducing payroll if the fans dont support his garbage product, he lost me. Maybe I'll care about them again some day.

[CCard]

Many think the team is such a cash cow that DeWitt has to be greedy/cheap to not spend more on team payroll. Assuming they're right, why would he ever sell the team?

Assuming you're right and the team constantly loses or breaks even, why would a billionaire want it? See, the knife cuts both ways. One thing is for sure. They could spend more on payroll. They won't. Why? Who knows. But they came up with this lame excuse, a "rebuild" which basically means they're going to tank. The fans be damned. It wasn't that long ago they drew 3 million fans and put a competent product on the field and fans will come out to see it. With this economy they may not come out at the 3 million clip, but some will let their grocery bill "tank" just to go out to the stadium and watch an exciting team.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Many think the team is such a cash cow that DeWitt has to be greedy/cheap to not spend more on team payroll. Assuming they're right, why would he ever sell the team?

Yeah, I’m not sure I buy into the secret sell narrative. Why would Bloom agree to being part of such a ruse? There’s no guarantee he would even be retained. I can’t see a deal hinging on some weird stipulation where the new owner has to keep the POBO.

Bloom could’ve just taken a position with another team under normal circumstance. And if BDW truly wanted to sell, he could have paid someone else a lot less to do a tear-down.

[ScotchMIrish]

Unlikely the team will be sold. DeWitt III appears to have taken over and it appears with his business degree he likes it.

Gussie's kids just wanted to cash out.

[AnExParrot]

Many think the team is such a cash cow that DeWitt has to be greedy/cheap to not spend more on team payroll. Assuming they're right, why would he ever sell the team?

Assuming you're right and the team constantly loses or breaks even, why would a billionaire want it? See, the knife cuts both ways. One thing is for sure. They could spend more on payroll. They won't. Why? Who knows. But they came up with this lame excuse, a "rebuild" which basically means they're going to tank. The fans be damned. It wasn't that long ago they drew 3 million fans and put a competent product on the field and fans will come out to see it. With this economy they may not come out at the 3 million clip, but some will let their grocery bill "tank" just to go out to the stadium and watch an exciting team.

I don't believe they constantly lose/break even, and I've never said that - why just make [shirt] up?

I believe the Forbes data(recently discussed in-depth), and the 10 year average of ~27 mil does not fit my definition of "cash cow" as far as professional sports franchises go, particularly and especially since there are many investors in the St. Louis Cardinals LLC, not just a single owner.

[Pura Vida]

Many think the team is such a cash cow that DeWitt has to be greedy/cheap to not spend more on team payroll. Assuming they're right, why would he ever sell the team?

Yeah, I’m not sure I buy into the secret sell narrative. Why would Bloom agree to being part of such a ruse? There’s no guarantee he would even be retained. I can’t see a deal hinging on some weird stipulation where the new owner has to keep the POBO.

Bloom could’ve just taken a position with another team under normal circumstance. And if BDW truly wanted to sell, he could have paid someone else a lot less to do a tear-down.

I see your points but I would not call it a ruse. It's simply a business strategy to add value to the team with an experienced VP/GM. A buyer purchases all, including management.

Nothing is forever including ownership... Bill DeWitt Jr. and his family have owned the St. Louis Cardinals since purchasing the team from Anheuser-Busch in 1995 (for the 1995 season), with the deal closing in 1996,

[CorneliusWolfe]

Many think the team is such a cash cow that DeWitt has to be greedy/cheap to not spend more on team payroll. Assuming they're right, why would he ever sell the team?

Yeah, I’m not sure I buy into the secret sell narrative. Why would Bloom agree to being part of such a ruse? There’s no guarantee he would even be retained. I can’t see a deal hinging on some weird stipulation where the new owner has to keep the POBO.

Bloom could’ve just taken a position with another team under normal circumstance. And if BDW truly wanted to sell, he could have paid someone else a lot less to do a tear-down.

I see your points but I would not call it a ruse. It's simply a business strategy to add value to the team with an experienced VP/GM. A buyer purchases all, including management.

Nothing is forever including ownership... Bill DeWitt Jr. and his family have owned the St. Louis Cardinals since purchasing the team from Anheuser-Busch in 1995 (for the 1995 season), with the deal closing in 1996,

Bloom has a good reputation but I doubt he’s good enough to be a tipping in a sale in the billions. I mean, how much different would the price be without him? The lower payroll would definitely be a factor.

I’m not arguing your point that they could be considering selling though. The old adage “everything is for sale” definitely applies.