i live 700 miles away from atlanta. but if i didn’t, i’d own a full season plan. i made a roadtrip this summer to see 4 games even though every single fucking star was either hurt or traded. every game i was there, there were just as many fans for the opposing team as there were the braves. i’m pretty sure the released attendance numbers are just TICKETS SOLD as opposed to actual attendance. and with all the companies in atlanta that hook their employees up with free tickets…theres where your attendance issues come into play.

I really hate when people call out for people that are true fans or calling out others that aren’t true fans whether it be for complaining or whatever. Sorry, just had to let that out.

I do agree that the Braves don’t get the support they deserve. I remember too many post season watching from back in Indiana that it was pathetic to see so many empty seats, so I’m with you there. But now I live in Atlanta and I’ve come to realize that Atlanta is very eclectic. You have a lot of people moving here from other states that already have a favorite team. Take me, I’m from Indiana so I’m a big Colts and Pacers fan. Indiana has no MLB team so I had either the Cubs or the Braves to choose from cause they were televised. I ended up choosing the Braves when I was a kid, and the Yankees are the evil empire.

I’d say I go to about 5 games a year but I also try to make it out to a few minor league games as well to watch the promising young talent. Whether or not going all the home games or just watching from a TV screen makes a true fan or not, well I guess I’ll have to leave that up to others to judge.

And I agree with BigJoe on the point with companies hooking their staff up with free tickets…just wish my office did that. I’d definitely be going to more games.

I live in tennessee and grew up a braves fan. I am with Bigjoe also that without a doubt if i lived in ATL I would own season tickets in a heartbeat. Ive always wanted the braves to build a fan support like the cubbys or sox. It makes me sick to see 50 percent of the stadium filled season after season. I am glad to hear from someone that lives in ATL because I just wanna get a prespective why it seems ATL is only half-way behind the braves.

So the idea of traveling to GA for a bunch of games is probably never going to happen.

If I lived in ATL, who knows, probably at least a half-season plan, depending on my pay level.

Have you ever watched a Marlins game? Or a Tampa game when they’re not winning (or hell, now, when they’re not playing the Red Sox)? I could name several: Washington, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Kansas City…even my hometown Orioles have trouble filling that beautiful park of theirs.

Its been fairly accepted that the Braves have a scattered fan base because of TBS (and lets face it, you root for the teams you can watch). But Atlanta isn’t a bad place for baseball, as there are plenty of people who’re going to the games. Sure we’re not New York, Boston, Chicago, or St. Louis, but Atl isn’t anywhere close to being bad. (In fact, I think I saw some stats recently that we’re exactly middle of the road for attendance; not shabby when you consider how bad the team has been).

And I attend about 20+ games a year, and its always depressing going to The Ted and seeing all the empty seats. Atlanta fans are just so used to winning, they never go. Which is retarded. I still love going to a game, just seeing the Braves in action.

I blame Frank Wren for our recent suckiness.

I live 18 miles from Turner Field, and I attend on average 30-35 games a season, not to mention at least one road trip where I see the Braves play away from Atlanta. Yeah, I like to consider myself a pretty big fan, but I do not do the following:

• Pay as much attention to the minor leagues as many members here as I probably should, despite the fact that they are our future and lifeblood of the organization
• Passionately debate and discuss statistics of what could or could not make the team better/worse
• Shell out money for MLB.tv / Extra Innings packages because I have the luxury of being local and can just turn on my Cable to watch the Braves

Are those people bigger fans than me? Debatable. But they don’t come to 30+ games, so I guess not.

Of course that sounds silly.

Random things:
1. The Braves can’t sell out a playoff game. Neither can the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2. Turner Field’s capacity: 50,096 Wrigley: 41,160. Fenway: 36,108. (mlb.com numbers) 10-4 posted pretty much all the reasons they sell out pretty much every game on a regular basis. Those, and the fact that Atlanta is a city full of transplants who have no deep-rooted dedication to the Braves. Born-and-bred Georgians don’t care for baseball nearly as much as they do college football, which is in season right now; meaning students and alma mater (UGA, GA Tech, Auburn, FSU, Gators, Vols… lots of VA Tech, UNC, UVA, Clemson here) disappear on Saturdays and some Thursdays. Transplanted Milwaukee-ans would rather support the Brewers than the Braves, despite the historical connection, and believe me, there are tons of Brewers fans that appear out of the woodwork when the Brew Crew comes to town.

3. bigjoe brings up a good point. If the Braves played a game in an empty Ted, they could still declare at least a paid attendance of 300, because that’s how many ScumTrust tickets are pre-sold to them prior to the season. Now multiply that by about at least 10 (random guess), because that’s how many pre-sold corporate tickets are sold before a single pitch is even thrown in April.

But all the responses above me are proof that attending Braves games is pretty much irrelevant at deciding how big of a Braves fan they are. I kinda see the potential thought processes you might’ve had to even post your calling out in he first place, but you could’ve easily just asked “Why does Braves attendance stink” without questioning the fandom of everyone here. As you can see, most of these people would love to come to the Ted to watch some baseball, if it were only possible for those who live away.

If everyone here weren’t a “true” Braves fan (or a douchey e-troll), they wouldn’t be here in the first place. It really is that simple.

I’ve been a fan for about 20 years now, and I’ve only seen the Braves live twice. Once was the NLCS in 96 against the Cards at The Launching Pad and then late 90’s when the Braves traveled to Seattle for a interleague game.

Oh did I mention I live in Oregon?

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=929

I was surprised to hear the Braves are still so popular. We complain about all the fans for other teams showing up at Turner Field, but from what I have heard, the Braves have quite a presence in ballparks around the country as well.

According to this survey, I’m a very typical Braves fan, demographically. I do love my team. I live in Tennessee, about a four or five hour drive away, depending on traffic. I usually make it to Atlanta for maybe 5 or 6 games a season. If I lived in Atlanta, I would attend more; I’m guessing in my present circumstances probably 20-30 games at least.

Live in Louisville, KY so not really in vicinity. Been to a couple Braves road games when they are closer (i.e. Cincy). Also money is an issue to making more games.

I appreiciate all the commments. And there is alot of good points I didnt think of like location and we as braves fans being spoiled and use to winning so much.

I guess my whole point was not actually challenging braves fans in general but the actual atlanta residents. My father and I have drove about 3 hours or so numerous times throughout my life and many were in playoff games with what seemed to be a 60% filled stadium.

Just a dissapointment and I guess only a wish that we could pack stadiums out and have electric crowds like some clubs. But I now have a better outlook at all the things that have to come together for that to happen. Thanks everyone, and go braves