Recapturing the Youth Market

For nearly a quarter century the Phils have been mired in mediocrity. Aside from the magical 1993 season - whose bitter ending may have permanently scarred some young fans, this team's decades-long trail of indifferent play has failed to engage - may actually have proactively turned off - an entire young generation of potential baseball fans. Compounding this misery, the Eagles during that same time have established themselves as the "gold standard" if not in the NFL, then at least in terms of professional sports franchises in Philadelphia. Indeed, younger fans may see all Eagles all the time, but Philadelphia has historically been - and remains - a strong if underrated "baseball town." As if any further proof is needed, the team often cracks 3 million in attendance for a perpetual .500 team that until very recently played in a non-descript "multipurpose" "stadium."

By dint of an unprecedented come from behind surge to capture the NL East and a NFL-MLB scheduling quirk, the Phillies have an opportunity to make amends for 25 years of futility and to make inroads with a new fan base. The 1-3 Eagles are floundering and, more importantly, on bye this week. The Phillies NLDS will go through the weekend. If they can win, the excitement and interest they will generate for the NLCS in the region could propel them to the top of the city's pro sports pecking order. At least in the short term. Whether the team can solidify the gains and make them permanent will largely hinge on how far they go and how they play ( i.e., either blown out and uncompetitive or playing cliffhanger games).

All of which is to say, that while Eagleseye is ostensibly a blog about the Eagles, it does cover Philadelphia sports in general. And with the Birds on a bye and the Phillies the most exciting athletic event in town, be warned that there will be lots more Phillies-related posts through October.

Go Phillies!