MLB Rangers Home Attendance Figures On Pace To Hit 20-Year Low

Rangers On Pace To Set 20- Year Average Attendance Low

The MLB Rangers' home attendance at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington this season has "averaged about 20[%] less than through the same numbers of dates in 2007," according to Gary Jacobson of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. So far this season, "about half of the available tickets have sold for each game on average." If that rate holds the rest of the season, the Rangers "would record their lowest average attendance since 1988."  The Rangers to match last year's attendance mark "must average about 35,200 for each of their remaining 35 home dates." Rangers President Nolan Ryan said, "When the season is over, attendance will be very comparable to last year."  The number of no-shows is "down 14[%]" from '07. The team has "tried a gasoline promotion (a $5 coupon with a ticket), offers all-you-can-eat seats and free tickets to teachers." And a new marketing campaign "features the team's 2008 All-Stars in TV commercials." Ryan said that this year's marketing budget "equals last year's." Meanwhile, the Rangers on TV are "attracting more viewers this season." FSN Southwest PR Dir Ramon Alvarez said that ratings on the net "have increased every month since the start of the season and were up 16[%] from a year ago through the All-Star break." Jacobson noted the economy "doesn't seem to be hurting the Cowboys or the Stars." Stars President Jeff Cogen said that season-ticket sales for '08-09 "are tracking about 1,000 ahead of last season's pace" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/28).