If you build it, they will come.
But if you start losing, they will leave.
In step with a much-hyped season that disastrously spiraled into 95 defeats, a record disabled list and a philandering manager who abruptly quit, the Rangers also suffered significant losses in the stands as attendance in Arlington fell to its lowest mark in four years.
The Rangers drew 2,718,733 fans to Globe Life Park, still fifth-most in the American League. And there’s nothing embarrassing about 33,500 per game, especially since as a kid in the early ‘70s I went to the open spaces and metal bleachers of Arlington Stadium where the lure of a ticket, a hot dog and a Coke for $3 drew only an average of 8,610.
But it’s a tad alarming that average attendance is down almost 10,000 per game from the high point in 2012, when the Rangers were legit World Series contenders with marketable, popular players on the field and personalities in the front office. This year’s attendance was the lowest since 2010, and unless they rebound early next season the number will likely continue to plummet.
After all, fireworks and dot races and Dollar Dog Nights are all fun and swell. But, in the end, fans in DFW are most attracted to wins.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
