JohnnyMO wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026 23:23 pm
91% of Americans have a smart phone, 96% have Internet.
Who wants to watch a baseball game on their phone and not all TV's are smart TV's.
The bulk of my Cards and or TV viewing over the last 3-4 years has been on a phone, tablet, and or laptop.
Prefer the freedom of movement to being stuck in 1 physical location.
I do tend to larger size phones, smaller ones I could see being an issue in watching a game.
Net Net, More Flags, More Fun, For Everyone.
Speaking of Flags. Sorry to hear 6 Flags is exiting St Louis. A Roller Coaster and Thrill ride fanatic, and while I hadn't been there the lost opportunity bums me out.
Just under different ownership. You can still come ride the coasters.
In this era a 60,70,80” TV’s it blows my mind that people would be satisfied watch a Baseball game on a cell phone???
Agree and how can it be family entertainment on a cell phone. I have had a cell phone for many years, but I refuse to pay to watch a baseball game on a cell phone.
Fortunately get MLB.TV free via T-Mobile.
Family entertainment. Good luck getting The Family together to watch a baseball game. Most are off on their own mobile devices consuming everything and anything other than baseball.
Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑19 Mar 2026 19:29 pm
Buy the streaming service for only $99.
I think the OP is suggesting the Cardinals will lose thousands of loyal viewers, probably on the lower side of the income scale.
If those folks don’t have internet or smart phones……they are not really the demographic advertisers covet…
Also, are we really going to believe people who spent enough on cable to have Fox Sports Midwest in the past don't have the money to pay for the internet or a smart phone? Come on now.
This may shock some of you, but some people won't be able to justify putting a hundred bucks on a Cardinals package.
Laughable. Since when do you care about affordable anything for anyone?? I guess when it involves fossils who can't watch their baseball, wahh. What next? Will we force them to choose between their cat food rations and the cardinals teevee package? Give me a break. Let me break out my tiny violin and play 'Nearer, my gawd, to thee' for you while your ship founders, lol.
Well, some day your parents are going to cut you off and you'll have to figure it out for yourself.
Good one. Unfortunately my parents are gone, lost my father nearly a year ago. He was far better person than yourself so it was quite a loss.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Family were season tick holders for 35 years. $18 per game right behind home with parking when we began. Final year we bought durring Covid out 4 seat package section 140 seats not as good was $17k. Parents are 78. Live in rural area. No high speed internet. No cable. Direct TV only option. Took a lifetime Cardinal family and now we watch 0 games and attend 0 games. Good job Dewitt
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Again, fans vs. customers. Do you like the Cardinals, follow them, want them to succeed? You’re a fan. Do you spend money on tickets (season or not), merchandise, TV products, concessions? If you do, you’re a customer. If not, you’re not. It isn’t cruel, it’s reality.
Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑19 Mar 2026 19:29 pm
Buy the streaming service for only $99.
I think the OP is suggesting the Cardinals will lose thousands of loyal viewers, probably on the lower side of the income scale.
If those folks don’t have internet or smart phones……they are not really the demographic advertisers covet…
Also, are we really going to believe people who spent enough on cable to have Fox Sports Midwest in the past don't have the money to pay for the internet or a smart phone? Come on now.
This may shock some of you, but some people won't be able to justify putting a hundred bucks on a Cardinals package.
Laughable. Since when do you care about affordable anything for anyone?? I guess when it involves fossils who can't watch their baseball, wahh. What next? Will we force them to choose between their cat food rations and the cardinals teevee package? Give me a break. Let me break out my tiny violin and play 'Nearer, my gawd, to thee' for you while your ship founders, lol.
Well, some day your parents are going to cut you off and you'll have to figure it out for yourself.
Good one. Unfortunately my parents are gone, lost my father nearly a year ago. He was far better person than yourself so it was quite a loss.
Then it's high time you grow up, don't you think?
You're the one with the crocodile tears over the evil $99 streaming plan, so remind me, who is the one crying here?
Youboughtit wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026 22:37 pm
Here is the real question. Why does ownership want to force people to change? More than 60% of this market is either Direct TV, Dish, or Spectrum. Also has a large rural market that doesn’t not have fast internet. Fans should be upset. Especially the older ones who fit the above criteria. It’s not hard to use the estimating providers. the Cardinals just don’t want too.
Because they know that catering to fossils is never a smart business decision? Go boldly into the future! It waits for no one.
How is using the available system catering to fossils? Less than 20% of viewed games by all markets last season were streamed. 80% were through local cable and satellite services. Clearly other markets understand. Like I said where I live no high speed internet and I don’t live in city for spectrum so Dish/Direct TV only option. Bad product, Increase season ticket prices, make only Option to watch by streaming, all going to cause a top 5 baseball fanbase to be one of the worst. Baseball was created to be cheap entertainment. That’s why it was successful. Greed will be the decline. Also most Cardinals fans clarify as fossils. Do they want the stadium to be completely empty?
Looks like you just figured something out, right there in your own head. Perhaps they don't deserve your business or money? Wow! So don't spend it and move on?
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Family were season tick holders for 35 years. $18 per game right behind home with parking when we began. Final year we bought durring Covid out 4 seat package section 140 seats not as good was $17k. Parents are 78. Live in rural area. No high speed internet. No cable. Direct TV only option. Took a lifetime Cardinal family and now we watch 0 games and attend 0 games. Good job Dewitt
I'll be 81 in July. When I got out of high school in 1963, I had my own car and a job. I must have attended 30 games and took by 10-year brother to most of them. When it was my brother, it was my father who taught me everything to know about being a fan. As I aged, I would attend 20 - 40 games a year along with my brother and our father. In the 70's for a few years, I had season tickets. Again, it was my brother when he was in town, our father and my oldest daughter who is still fan. As years went on, I lost my father and my brother, and I still attended many games a year. The last few years it's been only a few games a year. Only one game last year. This year the only way I will go if someone else drives. It still doesn't take away from being a fan and enjoying watching. Baseball has always been built on the older generation handing it to the next. I hope they get the Direct TV deal worked out so many of use fans for decades can continue to enjoy the Cardinals and baseball.
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Family were season tick holders for 35 years. $18 per game right behind home with parking when we began. Final year we bought durring Covid out 4 seat package section 140 seats not as good was $17k. Parents are 78. Live in rural area. No high speed internet. No cable. Direct TV only option. Took a lifetime Cardinal family and now we watch 0 games and attend 0 games. Good job Dewitt
I'll be 81 in July. When I got out of high school in 1963, I had my own car and a job. I must have attended 30 games and took by 10-year brother to most of them. When it was my brother, it was my father who taught me everything to know about being a fan. As I aged, I would attend 20 - 40 games a year along with my brother and our father. In the 70's for a few years, I had season tickets. Again, it was my brother when he was in town, our father and my oldest daughter who is still fan. As years went on, I lost my father and my brother, and I still attended many games a year. The last few years it's been only a few games a year. Only one game last year. This year the only way I will go if someone else drives. It still doesn't take away from being a fan and enjoying watching. Baseball has always been built on the older generation handing it to the next. I hope they get the Direct TV deal worked out so many of use fans for decades can continue to enjoy the Cardinals and baseball.
It became popular because it was a game anyone could attend cheap. Greed from players and owners is killing the sport. Free games on TV creates fans. They went from my family going to 70-80 games to O and now won’t even watch because of the Tv situation.
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Family were season tick holders for 35 years. $18 per game right behind home with parking when we began. Final year we bought durring Covid out 4 seat package section 140 seats not as good was $17k. Parents are 78. Live in rural area. No high speed internet. No cable. Direct TV only option. Took a lifetime Cardinal family and now we watch 0 games and attend 0 games. Good job Dewitt
I'll be 81 in July. When I got out of high school in 1963, I had my own car and a job. I must have attended 30 games and took by 10-year brother to most of them. When it was my brother, it was my father who taught me everything to know about being a fan. As I aged, I would attend 20 - 40 games a year along with my brother and our father. In the 70's for a few years, I had season tickets. Again, it was my brother when he was in town, our father and my oldest daughter who is still fan. As years went on, I lost my father and my brother, and I still attended many games a year. The last few years it's been only a few games a year. Only one game last year. This year the only way I will go if someone else drives. It still doesn't take away from being a fan and enjoying watching. Baseball has always been built on the older generation handing it to the next. I hope they get the Direct TV deal worked out so many of use fans for decades can continue to enjoy the Cardinals and baseball.
It became popular because it was a game anyone could attend cheap. Greed from players and owners is killing the sport. Free games on TV creates fans. They went from my family going to 70-80 games to O and now won’t even watch because of the Tv situation.
Free games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Family were season tick holders for 35 years. $18 per game right behind home with parking when we began. Final year we bought durring Covid out 4 seat package section 140 seats not as good was $17k. Parents are 78. Live in rural area. No high speed internet. No cable. Direct TV only option. Took a lifetime Cardinal family and now we watch 0 games and attend 0 games. Good job Dewitt
I'll be 81 in July. When I got out of high school in 1963, I had my own car and a job. I must have attended 30 games and took by 10-year brother to most of them. When it was my brother, it was my father who taught me everything to know about being a fan. As I aged, I would attend 20 - 40 games a year along with my brother and our father. In the 70's for a few years, I had season tickets. Again, it was my brother when he was in town, our father and my oldest daughter who is still fan. As years went on, I lost my father and my brother, and I still attended many games a year. The last few years it's been only a few games a year. Only one game last year. This year the only way I will go if someone else drives. It still doesn't take away from being a fan and enjoying watching. Baseball has always been built on the older generation handing it to the next. I hope they get the Direct TV deal worked out so many of use fans for decades can continue to enjoy the Cardinals and baseball.
It became popular because it was a game anyone could attend cheap. Greed from players and owners is killing the sport. Free games on TV creates fans. They went from my family going to 70-80 games to O and now won’t even watch because of the Tv situation.
Free games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?
desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 11:03 am
These threads are always fascinating.
“I won’t pay for streaming services because they’re expensive/I don’t like the technology.”
“I don’t buy tickets because the team’s not good/they’re expensive/I’m afraid to go downtown.”
“They’re losing me, a loyal customer.”
If you don’t buy tickets, concessions, merchandise, or pay to watch their games anymore — you’re not a customer anymore. A fan maybe, but not a customer. Maybe you used to be, but you’re not now.
Why would any business cater to people who used to be customers?
That is a very cruel way to look at baseball fans, young or old. I'm curious, have you ever had season tickets, and how many games do you attend a year? I guess when you are near 80 or older you will feel the same way, you are no longer a customer.
Family were season tick holders for 35 years. $18 per game right behind home with parking when we began. Final year we bought durring Covid out 4 seat package section 140 seats not as good was $17k. Parents are 78. Live in rural area. No high speed internet. No cable. Direct TV only option. Took a lifetime Cardinal family and now we watch 0 games and attend 0 games. Good job Dewitt
I'll be 81 in July. When I got out of high school in 1963, I had my own car and a job. I must have attended 30 games and took by 10-year brother to most of them. When it was my brother, it was my father who taught me everything to know about being a fan. As I aged, I would attend 20 - 40 games a year along with my brother and our father. In the 70's for a few years, I had season tickets. Again, it was my brother when he was in town, our father and my oldest daughter who is still fan. As years went on, I lost my father and my brother, and I still attended many games a year. The last few years it's been only a few games a year. Only one game last year. This year the only way I will go if someone else drives. It still doesn't take away from being a fan and enjoying watching. Baseball has always been built on the older generation handing it to the next. I hope they get the Direct TV deal worked out so many of use fans for decades can continue to enjoy the Cardinals and baseball.
It became popular because it was a game anyone could attend cheap. Greed from players and owners is killing the sport. Free games on TV creates fans. They went from my family going to 70-80 games to O and now won’t even watch because of the Tv situation.
Free games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?
It could.
No doubt about it. And I’m sure the Cardinals/MLB have done the cost-benefit analysis and figured out that formula, which is why a few games are free on Matrix. But again, how many people on this thread and others over the years have said they don’t buy tickets? Or pay for a TV subscription? Or sign up for a FREE account to Roku or Apple or whatever when the games are on? They’ve made it clear that they don’t or won’t have monetary skin in the game when it comes to the Cardinals. So what’s a non-emotional argument for why the Cardinals should cater to them?
Fans who watch the commercials between innings on free tv are customers.
Fans who pay $99 for Cardinals TV and can easily watch the game late or pause the game, and skip all the commercials are also customers.
Why not offer both options? It sounds like the Cards plan to offer both. They are just slow in announcing which channel it will be on for cable and dish but they have stated it will not require a premium package.
