Mariners Face Challenge Of Weak Economy After Down Season

Mariners Expect Attendance To Drop In '09 Due To Economy, Last Place Finish In '08

The Mariners, coming off a 101-loss season, face a "double whammy of bad baseball and bad economics," according to the SEATTLE TIMES' Greg Johns, who examined the economy's impact on the city's pro teams. Mariners President Chuck Armstrong: "Season-ticket sales have been sluggish, and it's hard to know where that'll come out. ... Most of 2008 I'd chalk up to the team's poor performance. But when I'm talking to season-ticket holders now about what's making them hesitate, more are saying economic conditions than the team's performance." Johns notes the team for budgeting purposes is "projecting a slight decline from last year's 2.3 million attendance," and team officials "expect last year's $117[M] player payroll to decline to about" $100M. The Mariners also are the only Seattle sports franchise to have "made layoffs to this point, with about eight employees of the team's merchandising stores let go because of declining sales" (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/13).

TICKET OFFER: In DC, Ben Goessling reports the Mariners are offering "buy two, get two free" full-season ticket packages, "potentially dropping the price of four full-season packages by $6,300." Mariners Dir of Public Information Rebecca Hale: "It's fair to say a lot of people are very concerned. We're accepting (that) they're being very cautious. If someone calls and says they want to stay with us, we'll see what we can do to try and make it possible" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/13).