Who is buying tickets for 2026

[Cardinals1964]

I wonder how it is going at this point. How about you?

No way in hell I'm dropping that kind of money when ownership won't pony up. I can do other things with that money, like go fishing or take a trip to a shrine. They've lost me until they prove they want to compete. I've been a Card follower for 50 years and this is the first time I've felt that they aren't being honest with fans and trying to win. I can still talk about them but I won't spend any money on them.

Curious what part you feel they aren’t being honest about currently.

I fully agree that prior to this offseason they were not and were instead extremely cavalier and arrogant about providing the true goals.

I have found them extremely straight forward this offseason. While I don’t agree with everything being done this offseason, I wasn’t left feeling they were being dishonest.

They're being dishonest about their tanking. There's no reason a team can't field a decent roster and still do all the modifications they talked about. It's simply tanking. It's a terrible way to treat fans that support the team.

Define decent roster. My concern is what you are looking for leaves the team in a constant cycle of mediocrity.

Well, if you consider two world championships a cycle of mediocrity.

What would you have added to make the 2026 Cardinals a serious World Series contender that was realistic?

Pitching is king. Always has been always will be. They could have added top tier pitching. They should have jettisoned Pallante and Mikolas. That would have been a good start.

Adding a top tier pitcher wasn’t making this team a serious World Series contender. They would need to add three or four high end players to get there even if they kept Contreras and Gray. Even at adding three or four top tier players it would still be a long shot.

They eliminated Mikolas. If you think eliminating Pallante and adding a Skubal makes them a World Series contender, you really have been watching with blinders on.

We'll just disagree.

Here is how I view it, tell me where you disagree. I will for this exercise say Gray and Contreras are here still and Arenado was traded.

Here is what each players role would be on a serious World Series contender (I will eliminate the Dodgers as what they have no one is building). This will be compared to the other World Series contenders.

Players who would have a chance to be in the lineup of a serious World Series contender
Winn, Weatherholt, Contreras, Herrera.

Bench bats Donovan, Nootbaar, Burleson (none are starting consistently unless there is an injury).

Players in the minors Crooks, Walker, Saggese, Church and Scott

Players released Pages, Pozo, Gorman

Starting rotation Gray would slot in as a third starter. I am giving you Skubal so he in anchoring your staff. May would be a fifth starter. McGreevey would be the first call up to cover injuries and innings, but wouldn’t be on the post season roster (assuming he isn’t in the Skubal trade).

Dobbins, Fitts, Pallante are all in the minors and covering regular season innings when needed on a spot situation.

Leahy is not in the rotation. But in the minors called up to fill innings in the bullpen.

Of the relievers only Romero and Stanek have shots to see the post season. The rest are in the minors and only called up for regular season games to cover injuries. Svanson is closest to joining Romero and Stanek as impactful relievers, but has a hard time finding opportunities over more seasoned relievers.

Side note, to get impact players it would have to be through trade. No free agent who in the top of the market is signing here unless you drastically over pay when there are teams which are far deeper. The days of this being a prime destination for free agents died when they allowed the organization to fall apart.

Okay...At the top of the rotation you have two or three legitimate top tier pitchers. In any series you play you have a chance for a shut down starter in each game. You have a complement of capable relievers, if not special. Romero would be your closer. While being a little weak on offense, you could sign a bat to help with the offense. So you get to the playoffs. Your top pitching gets hot shutting down the opposing team, kind of like what Yamamoto did for the Dodgers last year. You move on to the next round and do the same thing. Pretty soon you''re in the World Series and your top two pitchers are vying for MVP. You bring home the trophy.
Or....
You gut the team. Trade away Gray, Contreras, Romero, Donovan etc. You don't contend and lose enough to finish last place while giving fans a reason to stay away in droves. You get good draft picks that take years to develop and when they do start making good money then you start talking about flipping them because you're too cheap to pay top talent and keep it.

Which scenario seems better to you?

You are 100% correct. I didn’t read it, but I’m sure you’re correct. There’s no point in taking for players that will take years to develop and then trade them away.

[12xu]

Lots of small bear fans will buy expensive tix from season ticket holders and come to St. Louis and spend their cash. Happy times for the hotels, bars, and restaurants downtown.

As for me, I will likely attend a few games, especially when I can get free tickets. Last season, I got to sit in the green seats for the first time ever - free of charge!

[CCard]

I wonder how it is going at this point. How about you?

I would say ticket sales are probably down pretty low. I know I won't spend anything on this team. Not until ownership proves they want to compete.