White Sox' Reinsdorf Wary Of '10 Due To Potential Sponsor Losses

Several White Sox Corporate Sponsorships Expire In '10

Though regular-season ticket sales are "ahead of last year's pace for the White Sox despite a slumping economy," White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf is "bracing for 2010, when several of the team's corporate sponsorships expire," according to Mark Gonzales of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Reinsdorf: "I'm worried about 2010. We lost a number of sponsorships coming into this year, but there are more deals that expire next year." But Reinsdorf added that the "potential dip next year ... might not hurt player payroll because of [GM] Ken Williams' three-year roster projection." Meanwhile, Gonzales notes the "anticipated spike in ticket sales" at the White Sox' new Camelback Ranch Spring Training facility has "fallen short because of the recession as well as delays in building the complex that prevented the Sox from selling tickets and marketing the team in advance." The team will "review their entire spring operations and revise their plans where needed." Reinsdorf: "But the place is terrific. It's really functional" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/15). Reinsdorf said of renegotiating with the team's sponsors, "There are people who are out of the business in sports marketing. Bank of America, for example, is a big sponsor. They're gone. We lost Pontiac this year. I assume we'll lose Chevy next year when their deal is up. This is going on all over sports" (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 3/15). Meanwhile, when asked what the "average fan's perception" of him is, Reinsdorf said, "Nobody wants to be vilified. Based upon the mail I get and the people that stop me, it's probably pretty good, whereas there was a time when it wasn't so good" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/15).