Trying to figure out if The Athletic will succeed and my early conclusion is yes and no. People who want to read the national writers will likely subscribe for a while. People looking for every day in depth reporting on their local teams I predict won’t flock to the local Athletic pages. In The Athletic Kansas City I haven’t seen anything substantive so far on the Royals that was not there in The Star the same day or on a free message board. And no, I don’t call an overly long overwrought piece on Rex Hudler substantive. The Chiefs? Verdict still out. Kansas, Kansas and Missouri. So far The Athletic isn’t in the game. Have not checked out The Athletic St. Louis. Leave that to folks from the Lou.
