After three years without a ticket-price increase, the
Marlins announced Friday that they will raise prices for the
'01 season by an average of 16%, according to Sarah Talalay
of the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL. Team officials said
that the increase, which brings the average ticket price
from $12.55 to $14.54, is "needed to offset the cost of next
season's payroll." Talalay noted that ticket prices will
range from $4-55 (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 11/18).
DITTO IN ANAHEIM: Angels tickets will range from $4-24
for the 2001 season, marking a 5.6% increase from this
season (Angels). In L.A., Chris Foster wrote that the
Angels' announcement "was made a day after the Dodgers said
they will not raise their prices" (L.A. TIMES, 11/17).
SQUEEZE PLAY: In Phoenix, Paola Boivin wrote that the
D'Backs' budget cuts mean a "curtailing of the Christmas
party," as only employees "will be invited"; "significant
pay cuts for many upper-management types," including
President Rich Dozer, VP & GM Joe Garagiola Jr. and Senior
VP/Marketing & Sales Scott Brubaker; and "no more bonuses"
or raises in the "foreseeable future" (AZ REPUBLIC, 11/18).
KENDALL DEAL: Pirates Managing General Partner Kevin
McClatchy, on signing C Jason Kendall to a six-year, $60M
contract extension: "If you don't do things like this, free
agents aren't going to want to come to this market because
they think we're not serious about winning" (POST-GAZETTE,
11/18). In Toronto, Steve Simmons: "Poor baseball, forever
in search of answers, pokes itself in the eye once again
with Pittsburgh awarding [$60M] to catcher Jason Kendall,
who doesn't sell a single ticket" (TORONTO SUN, 11/20).
