I HATE playing what ifs, but...one could argue that Crane was being greedy here. Yes $70 mil is huge, but I find it hard to imagine that there wasn't some push back to at least have Arizona or Colorado move to the AL from Crane, where the Astros would STILL have to move to the NL West (which is annoying but not the end of the world) for somewhere between a $0-70 mil discount. For me, the move to the AL is the end of the world. I can't get excited about this team. It's just not the same. If it was the NL West, I'd actually be more excited, and I would bet that many, many more fans would be too.
I'm sure there are a few that just won't support the team anymore, but for 99% (or more) when the team wins, they will support it. When this team is a legitimate playoff contender again, Minute Maid will be packed. So honestly, I think the move to the West has more of a financial impact than the move to the AL. Yes, some hate the AL, but if you look at attendance AL teams are supported just as well as NL teams (2 of top 3 in attendance are AL). Attendance is driven by teams winning (outside of the Cubs who just support a bad team regardless). The move out west will hurt TV ratings, which I would assume will matter at some point if more than 35% can ever get the games anyway. I have no doubt that Crane would have preferred to stay in the NL, and I know he is smart enough to have wanted to not go to a west coast division. While none of us REALLY know how all of this went down, personally I believe he had no choice but to move to the AL or he wouldn't get the team, and if it really was about the 70 million dollars, well even the people on here who are furious about the move wouldn't have given up 70 million to stay in the NL, they might say they would have, but they wouldn't have
The Astros were dead to me as soon as #1 happened. There is no baseball team in Houston anymore. The franchise ended when National League baseball left Houston. I don't feel like I'm abandoning a family member because I didn't go anywhere. When the Astros want to come back, I'll welcome them. Until then, they're the same as the Rangers. NBA -> November through June. MLS -> March through November. I don't need another sport.
Of course there is. The Houston Astros. I cant wait until all the over-sensitive, overly dramatic, bullshiit stops.. the american league??!!? the team is s dead to me. **faints
I can't wait until the Astros get good again to watch these people jump back in like nothing's changed.
I understand being upset about it...I really do. I was not thrilled with the move. I would prefer they stay in the NL. But ultimately, the only real change here is who we're playing. Yeah, there will be a designated hitter, too. We've played under those rules for years now in AL interleague games. That's not new either.
I know it sounds silly, but the number one thing I have against Crane at this point in time is that advertising monstrosity in left field. It totally ruins for me what was the best ballpark in the majors. Crane has made statements about listening to the fans. Supposedly he listened to the fans regarding keeping the team name, and taking fan input into account when it came to the new unis. Well Mr. Crane. Astros fans universally hate that eyesore advertising in left field. Take it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take it down now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do people actually watch the MLS? I don't like the fact that they got moved to the AL, but I don't really care. I like the Astros and I will follow the wherever they are.
Bandwagoners. Well at least they aren't following the rangers just because they are the better Texan team, like some people (not saying anyone from here, just in general)
When im at the game I prefer to look at the field instead of outside, I can just walk outside for that. I do understand what you mean though, I haven't seen the billboards in person yet (havent been able to attend a game), but I have seen pictures of it
Not really. I've never enjoyed watching AL baseball. I don't watch interleague play. The only games I watch with a DH are in the World Series. So yeah, the Astros are basically the same as the Rangers –- another team playing a game I don't enjoy watching. I'd have still followed this team if they changed their name or moved to San Antonio or were just terrible. But I have no use for the American League. The fact is, most people probably won't care once the Astros are good again. At least that's what ownership is counting on. 20,946 people show up for each Houston Dynamo game. 16,304 for the Rockets this season. 19,848 for the Astros last season (though, admittedly, they'll draw more when they're not terrible). I'm not going to even try to make an argument that MLS is on the level of MLB or the NBA. But it is a steadily growing league with a constantly improving quality of play. And fans show up to games because they're fantastic.
