As has often been the case for the Chicago White Sox, the club is having a difficult time filling seats at U.S. Cellular Field.
"Our responsibility is to give fans a reason to come out," said Brooks Boyer, the Sox’ chief marketing officer. "That involves winning, a great value and a great experience at the ballpark."
The problem is that fans can have a delayed reaction to a winner. The Sox won it all in 2005, and saw the payoff with attendance that beat the American League averages for the next three seasons. Years of disappointing performance — just one playoff appearance since the World Series victory — took their toll, and the crowds have declined each year since 2008.
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If the White Sox keep playing first-place baseball, though, they should start to see attendance improve as the year progresses.
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