The Blue Jays are "showing a strong growth in attendance" this season at Rogers Centre, leading all MLB clubs with a 56.5% increase through 11 home games, according to Robert MacLeod of the GLOBE & MAIL. The Blue Jays are "crediting the surge," an increase of 8,655 fans per game, "to a renewed marketing effort" on behalf of Rogers Communications. The club's ownership, "for the first time, has been aggressively promoting the team over its wide range of media platforms." Rogers owns weekly news magazine MacLean's, and that publication last month "took the unprecedented step of publishing a Blue Jays souvenir edition." Blue Jays President Paul Beeston said, "Whether it's using the radio, the magazines or on television with Sportsnet so far it has been working. We can help them out, they can help us out." In addition, MacLeod notes the Blue Jays' national TV viewing audience has "experienced a healthy jump to an average of 541,000 a broadcast, up from 437,000 last season" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/6).
RED FEVER: In Cincinnati, Tom Groeschen reported the Reds through Tuesday "had seen an attendance boost" of 18.5% compared to the same period last season. The Reds made the playoffs for the first time in 15 years last season, and Reds Senior VP/Business Operations Karen Forgus said, "People were excited, coming off of last year. We've had a lot of pre-sales and we've generally done well with walk-up sales." Season-ticket sales at Great American Ball Park "have risen." Reds VP/Ticket Sales John Davis said that the "current figure is nearly 11,000, compared to about 8,500 last year." Also, FS Ohio Communications Manager Kate Buddenhagen said that the team's TV ratings are up 55% from last year (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/5).
STREAK ROLLS ON: In Philadelphia, Paul Hagen notes the Phillies recorded "their 140th straight regular-season sellout" at Citizens Bank Park Thursday night. There is "no end in sight" for the streak, since "virtually all the tickets for the remainder of the regular season are accounted for." The Phillies "hold back 500 standing-room-only tickets that go on sale 4 hours before each game," and they "generally have what's described as 'limited' tickets available for impulse purchasers." Phillies VP/Ticket Sales & Operations John Weber: "It's mostly standing-room-only. But the Dodgers games in early June, we have limited tickets available. It might be a hundred, it might be 200. So yes, it's limited but most of it's standing room" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/6).
APRIL SHOWERS, MAY FLOWERS: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes while the Cubs "averaged 34,801 fans at Wrigley Field in April," the "high amount of no-shows reduced actual attendance several thousand fans per game." Sullivan: "Terrible weather, a mediocre start and lackluster opponents ... contributed to the unprecedented number of early season no-shows." But with "better weather on tap for a nine-game homestand" that begins Friday and features the Reds, Cardinals and Giants, "the stands should be fuller with far fewer fans feeling compelled to eat their tickets" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/6).
