Viability of Blue Ox is up to fans

Whether the Bangor Blue Ox will play in Orono next season is anyone’s guess. Only their officials know the true financial picture. But from this vantage point, if past comments and attendance figures are any indication, fans may be watching the end before the beginning is even finished.

Before the season started, Blue Ox officials said they needed to draw 1,500 to 2,000 fans per game to break even. That’s the original magic number, and that hasn’t happened. After the opening homestand saw only 1,071 fans per contest cruise through the turnstiles, that break-even number was lowered drastically, to 1,100 fans, by owner Vince Burns.

And guess what? The numbers have slipped even more. After 27 dates, Bangor is down to an average of 918 per game. And when there’s been a conflict – like some honest-to-goodness sunny weather or the Bangor State Fair – that number plunges even more.

Thursday’s attendance was just 609 on a hot summer night. During a four-game home series against Newburgh during the state fair, the string went like this: 412, 712, 521, 494. That’s anemic. Even a further lowering of the magic number won’t change the fact that those totals are dismal.

Don’t forget, the Ox have been winning during that span. In fact, they’re in first place in the race for the second-half crown in the Northeast League. Still, they can’t draw. Four of the six teams in the league draw more than 1,000 fans per game. Only Bangor and Rhode Island don’t.

But if the Ox go to pasture after one year, the fans can’t be the only ones who take some blame.

One saving grace could have been the sale of souvenirs. In today’s market, the No. 1 souvenir of choice is a ballcap. Preferably a fitted, 100 percent wool one, if you ask the diehard collectors out there.

By all accounts, the Ox caps were wildly successful. That is, up until the team ran over a month ago and didn’t get any in the last two weeks. At $15-20 per cap, that’s a lot of needed cash that hasn’t been pouring in.

The Ox do put on a good show in addition to playing some pretty good ball. Slinging hot dogs around the park, singing, dancing in the aisles – it’s a good product. As a matter of fact, it’s probably the best entertainment deal in the Bangor market that nobody has seen.

As of right now, all that the people of greater Bangor have proved is that they won’t support minor league baseball. That’s not a knock. That’s just fact. And they’ll have no right to complain about the demise, if it does come to pass.

-John Holyoke, BDN

After two years as a demonstration sport on the conference level, racewalking will become an exhibition sport at regional and state track meets this year in Maine.

Advocates are upset racewalking won’t be scored. Those who oppose the addition of the event cry it will slow down meets. Well, neither group should worry.

It’s right that the event shouldn’t be scored because as a non-scoring event it will provide a true test to see whether athletes really want to compete. The fact the event will be tested for interest with the unattractive effect of slowing down meets provides an added handicap, and that’s OK.

It’s important that the event’s desirability be proven because if it were added with the lure of helping in team scoring, athletes that don’t have a passion for track and field may fall into the racewalking category to help in scoring at meets.

As an exhibition event, the athletes who love the event will come out and compete. They won’t care if it offers points or medals. They will work on their technique, build their endurance and prove the worth of their sport.

If enough do, that will prove to skeptics of the event that it belongs at Maine meets. If few do, that will prove there is not a widespread passion for the event. Then, officials can proceed in their never-ending task of trying to speed up meets.

Currently, it’s not an event in college at the NCAA championships.

If racewalking can offer a niche for high school athletes who find no joy or success in running or field events but do in racewalking, the event will evolve. And if it doesn’t catch on, that’s OK.

But it is right that racewalking should be tested as a non-scoring event to prove it’s desirability.

– Deirdre Fleming, BDN

Readers may submit “Sounding Off” comments to the Bangor Daily News’ Sports Desk at P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329. Our fax number is (207) 990-8092. All comments will be edited for accuracy, clarity, content, and taste.