True. And yet, this is at least the third thread full of angst about it.cardstatman wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 14:33 pm 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.
Cardinals are going to lose thousands of loyal viewers
Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Cards Talk Moderators
-
desertrat23
- Forum User
- Posts: 1672
- Joined: 28 May 2024 18:12 pm
Re: Cardinals are going to lose thousands of loyal viewers
-
Youboughtit
- Forum User
- Posts: 4407
- Joined: 06 Oct 2020 15:45 pm
Re: Cardinals are going to lose thousands of loyal viewers
Fans eventually go to games in person, that’s how the game was built.desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 13:03 pmFree games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:57 pmIt 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.OldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:49 pmI'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.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:29 pmFamily 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 DewittOldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:19 pmThat 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?
-
desertrat23
- Forum User
- Posts: 1672
- Joined: 28 May 2024 18:12 pm
Re: Cardinals are going to lose thousands of loyal viewers
True in some cases, but how many people in this thread alone have stopped going to games altogether? Think that’s because the games aren’t free to watch? I don’t. They’re already fans.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 15:13 pmFans eventually go to games in person, that’s how the game was built.desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 13:03 pmFree games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:57 pmIt 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.OldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:49 pmI'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.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:29 pmFamily 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 DewittOldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:19 pmThat 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?
-
TheJackBurton
- Forum User
- Posts: 3307
- Joined: 23 May 2024 12:43 pm
Re: Cardinals are going to lose thousands of loyal viewers
30 people on a website saying they don't go to games does a fan base make. Until last year there were 32k on average in the stands, they didn't just create them out of thin air. They were fans because the game was accessible, because their grandparents, parents, neighbors, etc etc were fans and passed it on, the games were fun, the atmosphere was good and if you didn't go for that past 30 years or so you could watch it on tv on your cable or satellite package. Make the game not accessible, harder to find, pay an additional cost, and people will find other things to do with their time and money.desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 15:52 pmTrue in some cases, but how many people in this thread alone have stopped going to games altogether? Think that’s because the games aren’t free to watch? I don’t. They’re already fans.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 15:13 pmFans eventually go to games in person, that’s how the game was built.desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 13:03 pmFree games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:57 pmIt 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.OldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:49 pmI'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.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:29 pmFamily 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 DewittOldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:19 pmThat 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?
-
11WSChamps
- Forum User
- Posts: 4807
- Joined: 23 May 2024 13:35 pm
Re: Cardinals are going to lose thousands of loyal viewers
You're wasting your time.TheJackBurton wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 16:09 pm30 people on a website saying they don't go to games does a fan base make. Until last year there were 32k on average in the stands, they didn't just create them out of thin air. They were fans because the game was accessible, because their grandparents, parents, neighbors, etc etc were fans and passed it on, the games were fun, the atmosphere was good and if you didn't go for that past 30 years or so you could watch it on tv on your cable or satellite package. Make the game not accessible, harder to find, pay an additional cost, and people will find other things to do with their time and money.desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 15:52 pmTrue in some cases, but how many people in this thread alone have stopped going to games altogether? Think that’s because the games aren’t free to watch? I don’t. They’re already fans.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 15:13 pmFans eventually go to games in person, that’s how the game was built.desertrat23 wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 13:03 pmFree games on TV creates fans. Does it create customers?Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:57 pmIt 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.OldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:49 pmI'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.Youboughtit wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:29 pmFamily 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 DewittOldRed wrote: ↑22 Mar 2026 12:19 pmThat 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?
These idiots have no respect for the history behind the game gaining its popularity.
The need to reinvent the wheel is amusing however.