AL President Gene Budig began a tour of spring training
camps at the Orioles' site in Ft. Lauderdale and predicted the
league's 14 teams would see a 5-7% increase in season ticket
sales over the strike-shortened '95. Budig: "It is a time for
optimism. Major League Baseball is on its way back" (Mark Maske,
WASHINGTON POST, 2/27). But CNN's Sean Callebs reported from the
Braves camp in FL, "Both the players and owners are pushing a
positive approach, trying to win back the hearts and the dollars
of the fans. ... Despite all this promised good will, marketing
analysts say many advertisers are steering clear of baseball."
Braves GM John Schuerholz: "Those who have to make business
decisions about investment of their discretionary dollars for
advertising and such may be a bit more hesitant than they have
been in the past. But hopefully as they see baseball flourishing
again and coming around, they too will feel this is a good place
to invest their money" ("Moneyline," 2/26).
FIRST THINGS FIRST: With the courting of Radio City Music
Hall exec Arlen Kantarian reportedly over, MLB "has postponed"
its search for a marketing chief. BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton
reports acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has been instructed by
other owners to get a labor deal and hire a full-time
commissioner. The "ubermarketing" position will be reduced to a
six-figure job (BRANDWEEK, 2/26 issue).
SELIG REASSURES MINORS: In an interview on Boise's KTIK
all-sports radio, Selig was asked about reports MLB will cut back
on its developmental relationships with some minor league teams.
Selig: "I don't think [cutting short-season teams] is true. We
have the best relations with the National Association members
that we have ever had, and we are going to be extremely sensitive
to all their concerns." Later, he said, "I think even the NAPBL
people have to admit that we have to be more efficient than we
have been in the past. We just haven't come to the alternatives
yet on restructuring the farm systems" (THE DAILY).
