Blue Jays finally building fan base from ground upOn the same weekend the fan-alienating NHL lockout ended under a harsh spotlight in New York City, the Blue Jays were at the Rogers Centre quietly demonstrating a growing understanding of what it takes to raise baseball to the next level of fan interest in Canada.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Jays, with the help of current major-league players and high-profile alumni, hosted a coaching clinic at the dome. Organizers seemed surprised by the high level of interest from 375 youth baseball coaches, hailing from nine of the 10 provinces, who paid money to be there. The Jays seem to finally understand the need to build baseball interest from the grassroots up.
For years the Jays relied upon, maybe even took for granted, Canada’s hard-core baseball fans for attendance and viewership. Those fans are savvy and understand the game as well as fans anywhere in the majors. While that fan base was enough to sustain acceptable attendance levels and broadcast interest during years of building and rebuilding, there is unsold inventory at the 45,000-seat Rogers Centre that needs to be filled if the Jays are to take the next step.
You can’t keep relying on 1992-93 for franchise cred. Canadians born in 1989 or later likely have no memory of those glorious baseball times. That same generation of Canadians is now reaching their mid-20s. They are money-earners with disposable income looking for an outlet that provides entertainment value. The Jays have put together an exciting roster on paper that they believe can lure that demographic to the ballpark. The Jays need to quit taking fans for granted. Nobody owes them.
The goal of any major-league franchise in building a solid farm system is to try to guarantee a sustainable future of winning on the diamond. It’s the same concept the Jays are attempting with the fans. They are, in co-operation with Baseball Canada, educating coaches whom they know will educate young players who will want to play baseball late into their teens. Those players will then educate other young players. It’s how the circle of baseball life will continue, they hope.
It’s how hockey, with seemingly no effort, holds onto its status as Canada’s national sport despite strikes, lockouts and teams that miss the playoffs year after year. Fans have played the game.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... up-griffin
