The MLB Giants yesterday unveiled an electronic ticket-
exchange plan which is "new to professional sports but which
no doubt will become the model for other teams," according
to Glenn Dickey of the S.F. CHRONICLE. By going to the
Giants' Web site, at www.sfgiants.com, season-ticket holders
will be able to sell tickets they can't use "at face value
or higher, and buyers will be able to purchase them directly
with a credit card." The tickets "will not change hands."
The bar-code number on the sold ticket will be voided. The
buyer either will get a new ticket in the mail or will pick
it up at the park. Dickey notes that the Giants "can use
this system because they are one of three clubs in baseball
(Baltimore and Cleveland are the others) with electronic
turnstiles." A 10% processing fee will be charged on
transactions to "pay for the cost of installing the system."
The team will make "no profit" on transactions. The Giants
sent a letter explaining the process to their season-ticket
holders Friday, and "though there has been no publicity
before now, there were more than 500 transactions recorded
over the weekend." Giants COO Larry Baer, on the new
system: "Other teams have seen their season-ticket sales go
down in the second and third year of a new park. We think
we'll be looking at something like a 90 percent renewal next
year because of this program" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/14).
