Moorad Pleased With Early Attendance Results For Padres

Moorad Hopeful Padres Can Inspire Greater Support

Padres Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad yesterday said that he "likes the support the Padres are getting during a steep recession and said he is hopeful the club can inspire greater support," according to Tom Krasovic of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Moorad: "We're encouraged by the first week. We drew 125,000 for the Dodgers' (four-game) series and came back strong on Saturday and Sunday against the Giants and understandably were a little light on Easter Sunday. At this point, we're still getting our arms around the business operations of the club." The Padres are 6-2 so far this season, and Moorad said, "It's all about steady progress, and the club's shown the ability to achieve that." Meanwhile, Moorad and new Padres President & COO Tom Garfinkel last Thursday "toured the commercial district beyond left and center field at Petco Park," and they "stopped at a restaurant or two and chatted with Padres fans and personnel." Moorad: "We took a 10-block walk to try to understand the feel and vibe of the area. I tell you, I got more and more excited about the Padres, with Petco anchoring the Gaslamp (District)." Krasovic notes Padres GM Kevin Towers in December suggested that moving Petco Park's rightfield wall closer to home plate is "more likely to happen than not," but Moorad said that the move is "yet to be decided." Moorad also "gave no specifics about the club's operating capital going forward" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/15).

TAKING CHARGE: In California, Dan Hayes notes Moorad upon completing his purchase of the Padres last month "immediately empowered ... Towers as his decision maker in the baseball operations department." The method in which the front office operates now is "vastly different for the Padres," and sources said that "that's a good thing." Moorad: "It streamlines the process. It makes reporting channels unambiguous, and at the end of the day, I think, makes for a clearer-thinking organization" (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 4/15).