The Mets have sold 37,000 tickets for Monday's opener (N.Y.
TIMES, 3/29)....Phillies President Bill Giles said advance sales
of under 30,000 for Monday's opener against the Rockies were "not
good" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 3/29). The Phillies drew a total of
76,300 for 16 spring training dates. Excluding last year's
strike-shortened season, that's fewer than any other year in the
'90's (PHILA. INQUIRER, 3/29)....Negotiators are close to
scheduling the Mariners to open the '97 season in Japan against
the Tigers. Final agreement is contingent on approval by the
MLBPA and MLB's International Division (SEATTLE POST-
INTELLIGENCER, 3/29)....Tigers season ticket sales are "lagging"
at last year's level of 6,700. Team officials hope to get an lift
from voter approval of a new stadium, in which season ticket
holders will receive preferred position on seats at a new
facility (CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS, 3/25 issue)....The Rockies
will open the season with a payroll of at least $37,023,833, an
18% increase from last year's Opening Day. They will open with
over $9M worth of players on the disabled list (ROCKY MOUNTAIN
NEWS, 3/27)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL's John Helyar marks the
opening of the season by comparing the state of the large-market
Braves with the small-market Expos (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
3/29)....In Toronto, Stephen Brunt reports much less interest in
the Blue Jays this pre-season than in years past. Earlier this
week, there were about 20,000 seats left for the SkyDome opener
(GLOBE & MAIL, 3/29). The White Sox only drew 3,763 per game in
Sarasota this spring -- about half of what they drew in '94 --
and about 15,000 seats remain for the opener. The Cubs have
about 1,000 opening day seats left, and the Reds (where opening
day has near-holiday status) have 2,800 (Andrew Bagnato, CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 3/29).
