Open question: Magowan and the A's

by sonomanate on May 16, 2008 2:04 PM PDT

I haven't seen it posted here yet, so I'm asking an open question to anyone familiar with the ballpark situation: Peter Magowan is stepping down as the Giants managing partner... does this allow the A's to make inroads into Santa Clara County?

I understand the territory boundary was drawn at the Alameda/Santa Clara border, but it also seemed like Magowan himself was the real barrier. Can anyone speculate on how this affects the A's and their impending move to Fremont, San Jose, etc?

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Marine Layer is covering this at his blog. http://newballpark.blogspot.com/

I seriously doubt we can get the rights back from the Giants, and even in the unlikely event we did, would we even build in San Jose? I mean, the A’s have already invested a lot into Fremont.

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 16, 2008 2:06 PM PDT reply actions

What

an fantastic blog that is.

by passionately objective on May 16, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

an < a

by passionately objective on May 16, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think

it would make a difference, the Gigantes have a lot of money vested in claiming the south bay, and their claim to the area wouldn’t dissolve with Magowan. I’m sure Larry Baer understands this.

by passionately objective on May 16, 2008 2:22 PM PDT reply actions

article

http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_9279596?nclick_check=1

by Splendid on May 16, 2008 2:22 PM PDT reply actions

I'll quote myself for brevity

”...I still say San Jose’s a difficult proposition. In the end, these plans have to pencil out. In Fremont, it’s pretty straightforward. My money’s still on Fremont to be the future home of the A’s, though if that doesn’t pan out, it’s not hard to see what Plan B could be.”

by vertig0 on May 16, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions

Do you think

Wolff could get Magowan to do a little consulting? Seems like he’s strong in some local weak spots, ie stadium-building, getting a decent tv contract…..

by Hot Cup Joe on May 16, 2008 3:08 PM PDT reply actions

what the A's need is an entirely new approach to marketing.

I put on my robe and wizard hat.

by Zonis on May 16, 2008 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

What the A's need is for their marketing department to take some business lessons

from their personnel department.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 16, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions

How so?

I hear this a lot but I don’t see how this works. I am admittedly not a marketing person, so pardon me for my ignorance on the matter.

by vertig0 on May 16, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions

In a nutshell:

The key to the A’s approach on the field is the tenet that if you do the same thing that everyone else does but with fewer resources at your disposal, you are going to lose. You have to do something different from what everyone else is doing so that you have a chance to gain a competitive advantage.

I see no real evidence that the A’s marketing department has grasped this principle. Most of their marketing efforts seem to be copycatting other teams’ strategies. If you market just like the Giants, but with less resources than the Giants, you will get fewer fans than the Giants.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 16, 2008 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Fair enough

How does this principle work in marketing practice? What kinds of differentiators exist? And how do these overcome the pre-existing issues the A’s already face (lack of names on the team, inferior stadium/stadium experience)?

by vertig0 on May 16, 2008 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Ah, now, see, if I knew this,

maybe I wouldn’t have to go to law school for a career. I’m not a marketeer either—my take on this is strictly amateur.

I’ve always been partial to the good old-fashioned publicity stunt, myself.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on May 16, 2008 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Uniforms with shorts,

and a midget!

Been done already? Oh.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on May 16, 2008 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Keep telling your customers that you are giving them

an inferior stadium experience, and why be surprised when they take your word for it?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on May 16, 2008 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

I’ve never had any problem with the Coliseum, other than what the Raiders do to the field every August-October. Sure, I’d like it to be in a neighborhood that I could walk around and enjoy before or after a game, but so what? The “stadium experience” I’m getting is the pleasure (usually) of seeing a good team competing on the field—and when they’re not good, they’re still at least my team that I go to see. Everything else is trivial, as far as I’m concerned; I think the trend away from enjoying baseball at the ballpark is pretty sad.

AN 3.0's Search Function is *hawt*!

by Poppy on May 17, 2008 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I disagree

Well, not that they point out an inferior stadium experience. But that I am taking their word for it. The stadium experience at the coliseum is horrible when compared to most other stadiums I have been to, especially when the place has more that 12,000 people in it.

by jeffro on May 19, 2008 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Ever been to Shea?

But, seriously, yes I agree that the Coliseum cannot compare to Phone Booth. OTOH, Shea is the dumps. It utterly sucks. Yet, many Mets fans do have a soft spot for it, if for no reason than the ticket prices.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on May 20, 2008 5:56 AM PDT up reply actions

for one more season

by jeffro on May 20, 2008 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions

While Magowan is no the longer the MGP

he’s still a partner, and will stay a partner, or so he says in his letter to Giants fans:

I will remain a partner in our ownership group and, of course, I will always be a Giants fan – as I have been since I was eight years old.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on May 16, 2008 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

We have a statement from Bill Neukom

Neukom, the former Microsoft lead counsel, is now the managing partner.

From Ann Killion’s column:

Neukom was also adamant that nothing will change with the Giants’ position on territorial rights, so the notion that Magowan’s departure will hasten the A’s move to Santa Clara County is a false one. He said that it’s a significant part of the rights package that makes up the value of the franchise.

Doesn’t sound like dissent within the ranks to me.

by vertig0 on May 17, 2008 12:21 AM PDT reply actions