Baseball "is in the air" once again in Toronto, as the
off-season moves by the Blue Jays have increased interest in
the team, according to Larry Millson of the Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL. George Holm, Dir of Stadium & Ticket Operations said
that the early offseason signings had caused interest to
"pick up," but the team's deal with Roger Clemens was "icing
on the cake." Holm: "Everybody's excited again." Millson
notes in the '92-93 championship years, the Jays sold 26,000
season-tickets. By '96, that figure was down to 22,000.
Holm: "We think we'll be up a bit, but 26,000 is probably a
little out of reach. We would like to increase by 4,000,
which is probably a bit of a stretch when you have to
consider that you have to cover what doesn't renew." Holm
feels the Jays could average "at least" 40,000 a game in
'97. In '96, the team average 31,600, fifth in the American
League (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/18).
STAVRO AS SCROOGE? In the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, David
Shoalts examines the Maple Leafs. Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher
has had to "slash" payroll by C$7M while team Owner Steve
Stavro has raised ticket prices. While many have blamed
Fletcher for the Leafs troubles, the team is currently 13-
20-0, Shoalts writes that "the Scrooge who has turned the
Maple Leafs into the Tiny Tim of the NHL is not Fletcher,"
but Stavro. Shoalts notes with ticket prices ranging from
C$23.50-92.50, Stavro's pre-tax profits for the first nine
months of '96 were "about C$7M," and the team's last
financial statement before being made private showed the
Leafs with more than C$28M in the bank. Shoalts: "Where's
the money going? Now that he owns a private company, Stavro
doesn't have to tell. ... it sure hasn't bought any decent
hockey players" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/18).
