Nashville Sounds vs. Oklahoma Redhawks

I remember when I loved going to the Sounds games. Now, I only go if the Redhawks are in town since one of our trainers play for them.

Tonight was a reminder of why I don't care about going anymore. I paid $24.00 so my son and I could be down close to the field on the 1st base side and maybe get a chance to talk to Casey when he was running on and off the field. But...since the new owners have taken over, and attendance is way down, we had a ton of kids all around us who obviously did not pay the price to be in these seats. I'm all for kids getting close to the players...but without their parents around, it's just, well, annoying. Not that their parents would actually keep them in line. Seems that's not an option for parents these days.

Anyway, after the $24.00 bucks spent, $35.00 for beer, a few hot dogs and a bag of peanuts, we stuck it our for almost 6 innings.

When I decided to go have a smoke and a restroom break, I was pounced on by a few policemen who said I couldn't smoke in the area that has always been a smoking area. I had to leave the stadium to have a smoke! So, I was directed out the gate so I could stand on the other side and blow smoke right back into the area that use to be the smoking area. Dang...makes a lot of sense to me. The power must feel great to those who made this decision. It's so freakin' insane. Go to the other side of the fence...which is really still just open air since the fence doesn't keep the smoke out. Went to the bathroom after that. I do admit the bathrooms are a lot cleaner now...and a security guard walked through I guess, to make sure no one was destroying it.

These new owners still don't get it. I think they are trying to make this stadium family friendly....but sadly, the families aren't coming anymore. They have big blowup things that kids are suppose to pay to jump in, they have the radar gun set up to see how fast you can pitch...but there are no lines to do these things. No lines, because there are so few people going to the games. Just like the last time I went...there are more security guards, police, and workers, than there are fans. It's like a prison. All you could hear were these folks telling the kids to quit running and having fun. It really is sad.

So, I guess I'll be saving a lot of money these days. I use to go to a Sounds game every week or two....I've been only a few times this year and that was only to support my friend who is visiting from Oklahoma and just happens to be playing at the Sounds stadium.

The place does look clean though and the sound system is a bit better. But, all the money they put into the scoreboard was a waste. Most of the scoreboard doesn't even work anymore....or they are trying to save money and not using it.

I hate what has happened with these new owners in charge. I use to hand out the Sounds schedule to all my customers when they came to visit us...now, I tell them to find a good game at a local park to go to. It's much more fun, an inexpensive outing, and usually, no security guards to tell you to quit having fun.

The Sounds won't last too much longer here if this keeps going this way. Well maybe...if Metro gives them the go ahead to build a new stadium it might last a few years more....but, I doubt the new owners can profit enough in the next couple of years to justify building a new facility.

Oh well...these are the days of "change" so they say. Like most things that are going on in this country...this "change" that the new owners have brought seems to have destroyed the hope we have for professional baseball in Nashville.