Padres To Renew Focus On Season-Ticket Holders, Mexican Fans

Moorad Hopes To Increase Padres Season-Tix Sales

Padres Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad said that the Padres are "going to renew their focus on season-ticket holders and relations with the club's Mexican fans this offseason," according to Bill Center of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Moorad Thursday said, "Frankly, I don't think season-ticket holders have received full value. For whatever reasons, the focus has been taken off Mexico. How do we welcome fans from Mexico? We have a challenge, we have a border." Padres President & COO Tom Garfinkel said of the team's projected 20% decrease in attendance this season at Petco Park, "The majority of the fall-off is from season-ticket sales. The renewal rate fell from 15,000 in 2008 to 9,000 this year." Garfinkel said the team will announce prices for '10 in the "next week or two." He added 86% of the full-season ticket prices "will be reduced," while 20,000 seats "sold on the day of the game will be $21 or less." Garfinkel: "Family affordability is a priority" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/11).

Strengthening THEIR BRAND: The Padres earlier this week hired Dell Global Consumer E-Commerce Dir Laura Broderick as Senior VP/Brand Development, and Broderick said, "My goal is to work with folks across our organization to elevate the San Diego Padres brand and make the team stand out for our fans and for the community." Broderick said of trying to generate revenue for the team, "Often people think they must pick between selling tickets and marketing the brand. In reality, a great brand -- one that is relevant and engaging -- helps bring people to the ballpark. One key goal for us is to increase our messaging in the San Diego community -- doing so will remind people how much fun they have watching the Padres in Petco Park" (MLB.com, 9/10).