MLB Franchise Notes: Cardinals Seeing Less Demand For Tickets

MLB Cardinals VP/Ticket Sales Joe Strohm said that the team has "not sold out Busch Stadium for any of this season's 78 remaining home dates." Strohm added that this "does not represent a crisis ... just a return to normalcy." Strohm: "We're pretty much where we were before the last season at the old ballpark." In St. Louis, Joe Strauss reports while Thursday afternoon's game against the Rockies had a paid attendance of 33,748, the "actual attendance stood at 21,781, down from Wednesday night's 31,930, which was down from 33,014 at Tuesday's season opener" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/4).

ORIOLES: In Baltimore, Roch Kubatko reports the Orioles had an announced turnout of 10,505 at Camden Yards for Wednesday's game against the Rays, "almost 3,000 fewer than the previous low." Orioles Dir of Communications Greg Bader: "The club's fan-friendly policy of permitting our season-plan holders to exchange tickets for almost any game, combined with school being in session, poor weather and other factors, all played a role. This is part of the rebuilding process, and we believe our fans are supportive of the new direction [President of Baseball Operations] Andy MacPhail and (manager) Dave Trembley are leading us" (Baltimore SUN, 4/4). However, the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec said, "I would have to think there’s going to be a couple more nights like this" (ESPNews, 4/3).

A'S: In Oakland, Monte Poole wrote, "Given the demands of local sports fans, these A's will be an afterthought for many, an acquired taste for some, a real passion for a select few. ... The A's are going to have to work hard to be an attraction this season" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 4/2). The Boston Globe's Charlie Pierce: "Is this a make or break period over the next couple of years for (A's GM) Billy Beane and the whole 'moneyball' thing? ... This really is the fish or cut bait time" ("The Globe 10.0," NESN, 4/1).

TIGERS: In Detroit, Drew Sharp wrote while for too long the second game of the Tigers' season was the "hangover" from Opening Day, 32,348 fans attended this season's second game at Comerica Park, which "reaffirms how serious it's getting here." Sharp: "It's great the public has embraced the team's possibilities this year despite the economic challenges of the region" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/3).

ROCKIES: Rockies Senior VP/Business Operations Greg Feasel said that the team has "seen an increase in season-ticket sales 'well north of 20[%]' -- even though prices were raised for the second straight year." In Denver, Lynn DeBruin notes the average season ticket cost "increased about 15[%]." While the Rockies last season sold "about 15,000 season tickets and had slightly more than 2.3 million in paid attendance," the team said that this year the "goal is 3 million, a level last reached" in '01 (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 4/4).