Tuesday, August 25, 2009

All together now: We're No. 203! We're No. 203!

Montgomery ranks close to the bottom among minor-league markets, according to a study by Sports Business Journal.

The city is 203rd with a "score" of minus-23.53 -- right behind Asheville, N.C., and just before Albany, Ga. Montgomery, with the Biscuits as its only current team, has recently lost two indoor football teams, the Bears and Maulers.

Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa., is No. 1. Richmond, Va., is last at 239th.

Inside the state, Mobile is 85th, Huntsville 138th and Birmingham 190th. Mobile has the BayBears. Huntsville has a hockey team and an indoor football team to go along with the Stars (and recently lost an NBADL team). The Birmingham market has the Barons (and recently lost an indoor football team).

Around the Southern League -- 45. Knoxville, Tenn.; 52. Jackson, Miss.; 59. Jackson, Tenn.; 70. Chattanooga, Tenn. (Jacksonville, Fla., and Raleigh, N.C., are major-league markets.)

The rankings are based on how long a town has had a team, how well a town supports those teams and the health of the town's economy, particularly the effect on attendance. Montgomery ranked 205th in tenure, 184th in attendance and 196th in economy.

No comments: