It's unclear what the future holds for the Huntsville Stars, but for now, the baseball team is staying put.
However, it's possible that The Milwaukee Brewers will not renew their contract with the Stars because of the downward spiral in attendance. That contract is up at the end of next season. The Stars are dead last in attendance in the 10 team Southern League this year, and have been next to last the past couple seasons.
General Manager Buck Rogers says sales are not down, but admits attendance is. However, he says whatever the Milwaukee brass decides, baseball will stay in Huntsville. "Whether the Brewers resign with us next year at the end of our agreement with them our two year agreement is up it's a normal renewal if they go away we're still going to be the Huntsville Stars the year after. Same uniform, same jersey, same stadium."
The controversy came after the Assistant G-M of the Stars told the Huntsville Times that baseball in the city was in jeopardy because of the poor attendance. On Saturday, there was a sell out crowd to see the 4th of July Fireworks. Sunday, less than 700 people showed up.
On Tuesday, we asked you what you thought about the situation. We got plenty of reaction.
Sue wrote this note on the WAAY 31 Morning Show Facebook page :
"We are season ticket holders, and the way they changed those tickets this year really turned us off. No reserved seats? Come on...! Also, when we attended a game a little over a week ago, the display board wasn't working, there was no more organ (just canned rock music)... It just isn't fun baseball anymore."
Bob commented :
"The Brewers have to realize that 1.)The economy has scared people to death 2.)The stadium needs to be replaced 3.)The uniforms are not attractive at all in my opinion. 4)No more reserve seating! That's a joke. In my opinion I think that Huntsville will refuse to build a new stadium and this minor league team will move out to I-565 and 65 when the new Bass Pro shop is built with all of the other shopping. This same thing happen in Knoxville,TN with the Smokies. Just my opinion."
Amanda wrote :
"It's really the most absurd set up I've been around in Minor League Baseball. Of all the places I've traveled when watching my husband play it's the most costly. Nothing to attract families or to engage children. Definitely could use some fresh ideas."
Alan e-mailed the newsroom with his thoughts :
"(Stars General Manager) Buck (Rogers) has turned the baseball games into a circus. He has gotten away from focusing on the game. To focused on selling horns. I have followed the Stars for years, and usually went to at least 35 home game and listened to most all games on the radio... All my friends that went alot will not go either. It's like a soap, you have to watch every day. If you go to stand in line to get a beer there are no longer TVs to watch the game. Years ago we could listen and watch the game on the Internet. Tell Buck to point the finger at himself not the fans. The low fan count proves his ideas have are wrong. Get back to thinking about the fans of baseball. It's a baseball game, not a circus."
Amy blamed the humid southern weather :
"I have been to the Joe Davis Stadium in recent years, but it has just been much too hot to sit out like that and sweat!"
Cora agrees :
"We love baseball but attend only 2 - 3 games a season. It's hot and humid. No local channel telecasts Brewers' games so we can watch players who move up to the Majors. A 20-ounce bottle of water costs $3.50 and you aren't allowed to carry in your own water... that much money for that little water is ridiculous and dangerous."
Kelly called our You Tell Us Hotline and left this message :
"The reason why I don't attend the Huntsville Stars games anymore is because the noise level. It's very annoying, especially the horns that they sell to the children to blow during the game, it makes it very distracting to watch the Huntsville Stars. We used to go frequently, 4 or 5 times a season, and now we don't go at all."
