Some good points here, but I think you're all missing the biggest barrier to a pro league taking off, at least as it's structured now. As I've said many times the biggest issue is that the league plays at the same time as what should be its easiest-to-capture fan base - current fastpitch players. Most youth teams play every weekend from April through the beginning of August. After 12 hours at a tournament, with elimination coming up tomorrow, are you really going to clean up and go watch the Pro League? Doubtful.
During the week? Most teams practice 2-4 weekdays and/or have games, so those days are out too. So your most likely audience is locked out of games, except maybe if their season ends at the end of July. But that would make for a two-week Pro league because you have tryouts and then fall ball plus the start of school.
So if you can't get them, who's left? Do you think Joe Sixpack is going to randomly check out a game? Nope. Teenage boys? Nope. Even women who used to play don't seem to be very interested in going out to watch a game unless they're bringing their kids to one. That's not a big enough audience.
You can market all you want, or change the name of the league, or try all the other stuff, but if people can't get to games because they have other priorities you're just throwing money away.
I do agree that there is no tie to the players either. When I ask students who their favorite Chicago Cubs or White Sox player is they can always tell me. When I ask them who their favorite fastpitch player is I get crickets. So even the girls who play, at least the ones I work with, don't have any interest in following it. Most have never heard of Cat Osterman, Monica Abbott, Lisa Fernandez, Lauren Chamberlain, or most of the others we gush about here. They have heard of Jennie Finch, but it's 50-50 if they know she was a pitcher.
During the week? Most teams practice 2-4 weekdays and/or have games, so those days are out too. So your most likely audience is locked out of games, except maybe if their season ends at the end of July. But that would make for a two-week Pro league because you have tryouts and then fall ball plus the start of school.
So if you can't get them, who's left? Do you think Joe Sixpack is going to randomly check out a game? Nope. Teenage boys? Nope. Even women who used to play don't seem to be very interested in going out to watch a game unless they're bringing their kids to one. That's not a big enough audience.
You can market all you want, or change the name of the league, or try all the other stuff, but if people can't get to games because they have other priorities you're just throwing money away.
I do agree that there is no tie to the players either. When I ask students who their favorite Chicago Cubs or White Sox player is they can always tell me. When I ask them who their favorite fastpitch player is I get crickets. So even the girls who play, at least the ones I work with, don't have any interest in following it. Most have never heard of Cat Osterman, Monica Abbott, Lisa Fernandez, Lauren Chamberlain, or most of the others we gush about here. They have heard of Jennie Finch, but it's 50-50 if they know she was a pitcher.