Baseball attendance trends are pretty basic. The more games a team wins, the more fans come to the park. There are the rare franchises such as the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, which filled their nostalgic ballparks even when they were losing. But the Orioles drew 27,060 fans a game last season, 23rd in the league and the second-worst figure since the club moved to Camden Yards in 1992.
Beyond losing customers because of their poor record, the Orioles will have to compete with a new baseball stadium in Washington.
"There's going to be a level of excitement about the opening that will certainly have an impact on their ability to draw from the D.C. area," Moag said.
Bader said he's not concerned that the new park will dim fans' appreciation of Camden Yards, which can seat 48,290, and predicted that the Orioles will still draw from around the region.
On the plus side, the Orioles feel they'll give fans a better live experience with a larger, sharper video screen and new scoreboards around the park. They'll also present 40 games in high-definition on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.
More importantly, team officials feel they can offer a compelling narrative of rebirth, one starring young players such as outfielders Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
Bader said fans seem "more excited now than they have been in recent memory. They believe in Andy and the direction we're headed."
The team slogan, "This is Birdland," is not an explicit nod to rebuilding. But promotional materials will emphasize young stars and MacPhail's blueprint for the future.
The club does not release sales figures for season tickets, but Bader said, "We've seen a level of enthusiasm in our season holders that's at least equal to what we've experienced recently."
Wakefield said the Orioles are smart to market the ballpark experience and said they might also be able to get fans excited about individual stars rather than team success.
"You have to work with elements you can count on," he said. "What you don't want to do is set up expectations that can't be met."
Players said they'll do their best to win games, but several veterans acknowledged that fresh faces have to be part of the club's pitch for 2008. Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, frequently mentioned as the next player to be traded, might not be part of the future but said fans got what they've been clamoring for this offseason.
