Niigata doesn't appear ready for pro baseball franchise

Two years ago, I wrote a column about how I thought the city of Niigata appeared ready to support a Japanese baseball franchise team, should there ever be another expansion (as in the case of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2004) or if an existing Central or Pacific League club decided to move. Now, I am not so sure.

I went there again earlier this month to watch the Tokyo Yakult Swallows host (they were the "home" team) the Yomiuri Giants and found the atmosphere a little disappointing. It was Sunday, Sept. 9, game time was 3 p.m., the weather was good, and I was expecting a crowd of at least 30,000 at Hard-Off Eco Stadium.

However, the paid attendance was later reported as only 17,966 for that important CL contest between the two Climax Series contenders, and it appeared as if there were not even that many spectators. The upper deck of the beautiful ballpark that opened three years ago was almost empty, and it seemed somewhat sad.

The attractions of the city and access to the stadium as reported in 2010, are still OK. There are lots of nice hotels, and it is just a little more than a two-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo to Niigata Station where convenient shuttle buses take fans to the game in 10 minutes.

However, there were fewer selections of food on sale at Hard-Off; no pizza, for example, as they had last time I was there. I somehow am getting the impression that perhaps Niigata was hoping to lure the Yokohama franchise which then-owner TBS Broadcasting had been trying to unload for several years before selling to Mobage-DeNA in 2011.

When it became apparent last December that team would remain in its home south of Tokyo, Niigata may have lost heart — and hope. The city, with its population of around 800,000, would still be a great place to put a pro baseball team, but the authorities should step up their efforts a bit.

Only five games were scheduled in Niigata this season, and the city's sports council would be wise to first of all get more teams to go there and play more games. It should also beef up the ballpark facilities, showcase the stadium and strive to promote pro baseball so as to increase attendance and interest.

Diamond Dust: There were at least nine scouts from six major league teams in attendance at the Sept. 14-16 series between the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome. All were there to check out Hanshin closer Kyuji Fujikawa, about to become a free agent and said to be looking to jump to an American or National League team in 2013.

They also kept an eye on Tigers shortstop Takashi Toritani, another who can declare free agency following the season.

Seen were representatives from the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers. They got to see Fujikawa come in to save the middle game of the series, but he was not all that impressive.

Fujikawa retired in order the three batters he faced on a routine outfield fly ball and two infield grounders, but he did not come close to striking out any hitters, his classic forkball was just so-so, and his fastball, clocked consistently at better than 150 kph five years ago, registered at a maximum speed of 144 kph that night.

What's worse, Fujikawa was de-registered three days later with what was described as a sore right adductor. He is likely done for the year, and this all points to the fact the guy's major league appeal has obviously gone way down.

From the (e-) mail bag: In response to last week's column about the Yokohama BayStars, Yokosuka fan Mike O'Donnell wrote: "What Yokohama needs are ballplayers who can catch. Our pitching staff is not bad. Our batting order could use some shuffling around to support our two decent power hitters. (Alex) Ramirez is a definite upgrade over (Shuichi) Murata, (who left as a free agent and signed with the Giants).

"But the reason we are in last place is our fielding. How many singles have our fielders allowed to become doubles, and how many ground balls have made it through our infield that should have been caught?"

Mike, it is obvious the BayStars, like the Hanshin Tigers, need a complete overhaul for 2013. Yokohama must solve its foreign player, hitting and pitching problems and, as you mention, the defense must also be tightened up.

Ron Scronce, a fan of Japanese baseball in North Carolina, wrote, "As you know, the Little League championships are a big deal for viewers of ESPN in the U.S. but, according to my wife, who is Japanese, there was virtually no news in Japan about the (Kitasuna) team's victory. How could that be?"

Ron, it seems as if the popularity of Japanese baseball ranges from high to not-so-high on alternating levels. The pros and high school teams are the most followed, whereas interest in the college, corporate teams and the Little Leaguers is not that hot.

However, the channels on Japan's J-SPORTS TV network have been showing Little League World Series games, including those (of course) played by the Japanese champion Kitasuna team.

Finally this week, an update on Alex Ramirez's pursuit of the career 2,000-hit mark this season. Through games of Thursday, the Yokohama outfielder and 12-year Japanese baseball veteran had 132 hits in 128 games played to that date. He needs 150 base knocks to reach 2,000, and his current pace is for 148.5 by the end of the season on Oct. 7.

Contact Wayne Graczyk at Wayne@JapanBall.com

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Find Sports Marketing Jobs Or Buy a Great Sports Franchise?

i9 Sports Franchise Review - i9 Franchise Facts

Thrashers franchise relocating to Winnipeg next season

We're back: Fifteen years after the Jets moved south to become the Phoenix Coyotes, the NHL is returning to the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. AP

ATLANTA — First, the Flames. Now, the Thrashers.

The struggling NHL franchise was sold Tuesday to a group that will move it to Winnipeg next season, making Atlanta the first city in the league's modern era to lose two teams.

The Flames left for Calgary in 1980. The Thrashers are following them to Canada three decades later.

"I want to thank all the Thrashers fans that supported us in Atlanta for my two years there. Very unfortunate there will be no NHL hockey," tweeted Evander Kane, one of the team's most promising young players. "I will miss the great people and city of Atlanta."

True North Sports and Entertainment announced the deal during a news conference at Winnipeg's MTS Centre, the 15,015-seat arena where the team will play. The news sparked a raucous celebration in Manitoba's largest city, which is rejoining the league after losing the Jets to Phoenix in 1996.

The new team could also be known as the Jets, though a decision on the name has not been reached. The Thrashers name — which was coined by former owner Ted Turner and referred to the state bird of Georgia — will not be heading north.

Thousands of fans in red, white and blue Jets jerseys cheered, waved flags and played impromptu games of street hockey. While the deal is subject to approval of the league owners, that's expected to be a mere formality when the board of governors meets June 21.

"It's nice to be back in Winnipeg after all these years," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who attended the True North news conference.

In Atlanta, there was little reaction other than a tearful news conference held by co-owner Michael Gearon. He said the group that controls the Thrashers, the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and operating rights to Philips Arena did all it could to find someone who would help keep the financially ailing team in the city.

No one made a serious offer.

"I've been focused on trying to avoid this day," said Gearon, who was glassy eyed and broke down several times as he met with a small group of media at Philips Arena. "I spent time with possible investors going back four years ago, because I was concerned this day would come. I made a desperate plea in February. Unfortunately, that didn't lead to any real prospects. To be sitting here today is just awful for me."

On the city's sports-talk stations, there was more discussion about college football and the scandal that cost Ohio State coach Jim Tressel his job than losing an NHL team that, at best, attracted a niche audience.

The Thrashers made only one playoff appearance in 11 seasons and never won a postseason game. The ownership was plagued by financial problems and attendance became a major issue in recent years. The Thrashers averaged less than 14,000 a game this season, ranking 28th out of 30 teams.

Finally, the group known as Atlanta Spirit decided to bail out of the hockey business. Three weeks ago, after Glendale, Ariz., voted to subsidize the Phoenix Coyotes for another season while that troubled team tries to secure new ownership, True North turned its attention to the Thrashers.

The deal is reportedly worth $170 million, including a $60 million relocation fee that would be split by the rest of the owners.

"Our spirit is back!" said Winnipeg's Braden Hill, decked out in a Jets jersey and hockey helmet, a Canadian flag draped on his back. "Our city lost it 15 years ago. Now it's back."

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Love Sports? An Exciting Sport Franchise May Be For You!

Truth be told, starting your very own sports business may not as hard as you may think. In fact, a franchise business opportunity might be just what you need to get your foot into the door of a lucrative career in the sports industry.

Consider for a moment the potential for sport franchises in today's marketplace. It goes without saying that a business that provides sports oriented products and services can attract consumers of all ages and backgrounds.

Additionally, fitness and physical activity are both encouraged and promoted in today's society; thus, a large percentage of people may be interested in purchasing and participating in various kinds of sport promotions that you could offer through your own sport franchise.

For example, golf attracts both adults and children. And, a sport franchise for an indoor golf or driving range could be profitable year round.

Where to start?



Interested in a sports franchise, but not sure where to start? First, take a look at the growing list of sports-related franchise business opportunities and decide which one is the most appealing to you, paying close attention to your own areas of personal interest as they relate to sports.

In fact, the best way to chisel out franchise success in this unique arena is to find a sports niche that you have a natural interest in and then pursue a franchise opportunity in that area.

For instance, if you are sports-minded and enjoy spending time playing, organizing or just providing sports-oriented products and services to the general public, a sports franchise that provides you with an opportunity to capitalize on your love for fitness, golf, sportswear, baseball or even go carts, is sure to lead you to victory.

In short, choose a franchise that suits your experience and interests then build your dream business!

Attractive start-up packages and low investment requirements



Getting started couldn't be easier when you have a proven game plan already at your fingertips - all from the company itself, which will be provided for you in play-by-play detail. That's because sports franchise companies want and need their franchise outlets to succeed and are willing to give you as much information and detail as you need to make your franchise both highly profitable and highly successful.

And with a proven game-play and rule book to follow, you're sure not to foul out, which makes sports franchise opportunities much more attractive than trying to start your own sports-related business from scratch.

This said, you should know that franchise opportunities relating to fitness, golf, sportswear, and even sports photography are available right now with low investment and attractive start-up packages. The Athlete's Foot®, Snap Fitness, Nevada Bob's Golf and Future Stars Sports Photography are just a few of the sport franchises ready to purchase.

Now, just ask yourself, which of these is best suited to your unique sports passions.

Initial investment- what to expect



Once you choose the sport franchise, you will find that the initial investment required for start-up is usually low. In fact, some franchise companies can even help with financing so that you can start your business as soon as possible. For example, a Simple Golf Solutions franchise requires start-up funds as low as a $5000 liquid capital with financing assistance available!

Additionally, purchasing a sport franchise gives you a framework from which you can start to build your own business, as mentioned above, and will provide you with the support you need to be up, running and profitable in no time.

Sure, you are responsible for maintaining the franchise according to the company guidelines but you still have your own business. Consider Kinderdance® where a complete training system is in place combined with a low start-up cost and simple business procedure make operating your own franchise a reality!

Additional benefits of owning your own sport franchise



As the global economy incorporates massive growth with business performance, the outlook is good for sports franchise owners. Because most consumers associate a "brand name" with superior quality and customer service, when you purchase a well-known sport franchise, your customer base may already be established since your business is largely generated by the consumer's experience with the company.

The combination of the franchise base, your investment in time and effort, and customer service satisfaction may be your game plan for success in the sports franchise arena.

And. as a sports franchise owner, you can forget about the day- to-day grind and experience the freedom to choose your own hours and paycheck as you lead your own team to new-found success.

And, as your own coach, so to speak, you have total control, which means no more dead-end jobs, no more overly demanding bosses.

Now, it really can be you and your team.

Low-risk makes some sports franchises look great



Suddenly, it is not such a huge risk to operate your own franchise. Because you can carefully examine every sports franchise opportunity and crunch the numbers and compare the businesses more important details, you can find one that suits your unique needs and your budget.

You can choose one that allows you to get it on a level you are comfortable with and if you want to add additional players to increase your start-up pool of funds and decrease your personal risk, that's entirely up to you.

Sports-themed businesses you should know about



As you consider sports franchise opportunities, there are a few top producing ones that you may want to look into first, including:

The Athlete's Foot®

Specializing in high quality athletic footwear, The Athlete's Foot® is the world's first franchisor in this particular product line and is recognized today as the world leader in this type of franchise.

Snap Fitness

Snap Fitness caters to its members through its flexible 24/7 operating system where the facility is available at any time regardless of individual schedules and time constraints. Combining a unique 24 hour a day card-locking and surveillance system plus a highly trained and knowledgeable staff ensures a positive and convenient fitness centre experience for each and every client.

Nevada Bob's Golf

This sport franchise offers a wide selection of specialty golf products and services to meet the needs of the amateur to professional golfer. With over 25 years of success in the golf retail industry, Nevada Bob's Golf has everything for the prospective franchise owner and customer!

Future Stars Sports Photography

With a state of the art production facility, unlimited support and extensive training program, any franchise owner can see picture perfect results every time with a Future Stars Sports Photography sport franchise. An amazing product and customer service mean business success for any entrepreneur interested in sports photography.

Franchise opportunities are ready for the taking with low startup cost and turn key operation. And sport franchises are becoming some of the most popular and profitable businesses in the marketplace today.

When you sign on the dotted line



When you purchase your own franchise business, you can start with the knowledge that there is a well-established company behind you that will provide plenty of support and guidance whenever you need it.

Sport franchises are one of the best ways to have a solid and profitable business without investing a huge amount of money to get started. Once you make the decision to purchase your own sport franchise business, you are on your way to realizing the future that you always dreamed about but didn't know how to get started.

A look ahead at sports franchises



Sports are big business. From individuals to elite professional teams, almost everyone is involved in some kind of sport activity. Whether it is just throwing a baseball in the backyard or participating in a worldwide competition, some element of sport is everywhere.

Owning a sport franchise allows you to participate when you provide the products and services. Your business franchise may be geared specifically to one sport or many depending on your interests and business goals. Check our franchise directory to find the sport business opportunity that's just right for you!

Find franchises, franchise opportunities and information for entrepreneurs at Franchise Gator.