Small crowds could doom LAX Tourney’s future
I realize that as a Maryland native I should at least acknowledge the existence of lacrosse as a sport, but honestly I just can’t get into it.
Regardless of my meaningless opinion, this weekend, the NCAA semifinals and National Championship will be held in Baltimore for the first time since 2011. Bringing the event back “home” should help continue to grow the attendance of this event, right? 123,225 fans attended the tournament over Memorial Day weekend in 2007, but that total has been decreasing ever since.
Last year in Philadelphia, a mere 79,179 attended the tournament and now the NCAA is looking to move it out of NFL stadiums and into smaller on-campus venues. Perhaps a return to Baltimore will help bring back larger attendance numbers.
Even if it does, the future of the Final Four in Baltimore remains uncertain. This weekend, the semi-finals begin at 1 PM, while the Orioles host the Indians at 12:35. Does this Camden Yards vs. M&T Bank Stadium scheduling conflict sound familiar?
Major League Baseball wouldn’t accommodate the Ravens home opener after they won the freaking Super Bowl. I’m assuming asking them to appease a college lacrosse tournament would yield similar results to asking them to reschedule for a monster truck rally.
But you can’t blame MLB or the Orioles (you shouldn’t have blamed the O’s for the Ravens opening on the road either though). They don’t receive their schedule until September of the previous season. Planning Memorial Days years in advanced just isn’t feasible.
For now, the tournament won’t be back in Baltimore until at least 2017. If big crowds don’t show up this weekend, you might have to go watch the Final Four at Johnny Unitas Stadium in three years.
Preakness TV ratings up 5 percent from 2013
Last week, I asked how much Marylanders should (or actually do) care about the Preakness. Is it something we fake passion and enthusiasm for one week a year while forgetting about the sport the other 51? Or do we legitimately care about the pastimes and traditions of this once great sport.
I watched the race, as I do every year, and in my quest for answers I came up with nothing. Sorry. Next year, I’ll probably be pondering the same thoughts.
What I did see however, was that television ratings for NBC’s coverage of the Preakness Stakes were up five percent from their 2013 totals. The Baltimore Sun’s David Zurawik reports that the 6.3/15 rating is the highest the race has seen since 2010.
Baltimore was the top market with a 17.2 rating and 39 share, up ten percent from the previous year. You tell me what that means.
With California Chrome getting the win, I suspect a large amount of Baltimore TVs will also be tuned into the Belmont on June 7. I know I’ll be watching.
Horse racing needs a Triple Crown winner.
RELM Network Aims at $1M
So, what do I know?
A month ago, I used some precious web space to write a few words about how no one wants to pay for podcasts. There are far too many high quality free programs available, and I didn’t understand the RELM Network’s paid subscription model — especially at their outrageous prices.
According to Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com, RELM projects to be between a $500,000-$1 million business by the end of 2014. Bravo. I never would’ve expected it.
I guess the diehard Don Geronimo fans don’t mind being crushed by an annual $99 subscription fee. I stand corrected.
105.7 The Fan’s Cerrato Misfires AGAIN!
Yesterday while listening to the Vinny & Rob Show (or is it Rob & Vinny?), the tandem discussed positions of need that the Ravens may still address in free agency, particularly when other teams begin to trim rosters up to and during training camp. One of the positions analyzed was nickel corner.
Cerrato ripped Chykie Brown, one of the leading candidates to assume the role vacated by free agent Corey Graham, eventually concluding, “he sucks!” Then the “former” Redskins GM whose teams were a collective 73-90 (.448) while on Daniel Snyder’s watch weighed in on Asa Jackson.
Jackson according to Cerrato shows promise but hasn’t seen much of the field due to suspensions.
“He needs to lay off the weed”, chirped Cerrato.
Clearly one of Jackson’s weaker abilities has been his “availability” but that isn’t because of “weed”. Jackson has been suspended twice for using a banned substance, Adderall.
Adderall is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Last season Jackson received approval by the NFL to use Adderall to treat his condition but began using the drug again before he properly filed the paperwork with the league’s offices. It resulted in a severe 8-game suspension.
Cerrato’s disrespectful and irresponsible comments about Jackson are completely devoid of professionalism. And that undermines the professionalism of The Fan and Cerrato’s sidekick Rob Long.
More of this irresponsibility and “former” should be added just before “sports talk host” on his resume.
