The Padres have become the latest MLB team to implement dynamic pricing, meaning fans purchasing single-game tickets well in advance of games this season "will usually get a discounted price," according to Bill Center of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Padres President & COO Tom Garfinkel yesterday said, "Nearly three-quarters of our tickets will go on sale at or below 2011 prices. The primary motivation is to provide advance discounting to fans to encourage early purchase." The Padres' new computer-controlled pricing program "will give the team the ability to adjust ticket costs higher or lower based on a number of factors including market demand, pitching matchups, the team’s performance, weather and potential milestones." The program "will differ from other major league teams in at least one respect: There will be a wider range of tickets available for advance purchase." Fans buying in advance "will also have three free delivery options." Garfinkel said season-ticket renewals for the '12 season will "end up in the mid to high" 70% range" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/7). MLB.com's Corey Brock noted the Padres "studied dynamic pricing for nine months before joining the Cardinals, Giants, A's, Twins, Mariners and Pirates in offering some semblance of dynamic pricing this season" (MLB.com, 2/5).

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Don Muret reports the Padres have “signed a long-term deal with Verizon Wireless to upgrade Petco Park for Wi-Fi and 4G coverage that will ultimately serve as the backbone of the team’s new fan membership program.” Garfinkel said that the agreement is “one of the first deals for Verizon Wireless" in MLB. Sources said that the deal “spans more than 10 years and is valued in the high six figures to low seven figures annually.” Muret notes the Padres’ goal is “to ‘layer’ other elements on top that are connected to a fan loyalty program under development, such as a special section where members can access tablets or the ability to order food and beverages from their seats.” Members can “elevate their status by becoming season-ticket holders and attending games, making them eligible for exclusive experiences.” The Padres will “test the program this season with about 300 to 500 people tied to 150 to 200 season-ticket accounts” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/6 issue).

In L.A., Bill Shaikin reports N.Y. Observer Owner & Publisher Jared Kushner has "emerged as a candidate in the bidding for the Dodgers." Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump, purchased the weekly newspaper in '06 and, at 31, he would be the youngest owner in MLB. The Kushner bid is "one of at least nine to advance to the second round of the Dodgers' ownership sweepstakes." The bid, which has not previously surfaced publicly, "would be funded primarily by the Kushner family, whose net worth is not publicly available" (L.A. TIMES, 2/7).

SPRING IS IN THE AIR: In Florida, Thomas Himes notes Lee County has "targeted the Washington Nationals in an effort to bring big league baseball back to City of Palms Park." County officials said that within the "next three weeks, commissioners will be asked to authorize formal negotiations between county staff and the team." This will be the first spring that City of Palms Park "will be without a major league team." The Nationals' contract to play at Space Coast Stadium in Viera "expires after the 2017 season" (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 2/7). 

WARDROBE CHANGE: In Oklahoma City, Jacob Unruh notes even though new Astros Owner Jim Crane "decided against changing the name of the team, he said on Monday the possibility remains of a logo and uniform change." Crane said, "It's got to be approved by [MLB]. If so, it's natural we would do it next year" (OKLAHOMAN, 2/7).

NEW REGIME: In Boston, Nick Cafardo reported a "couple of frustrated agents have described dealing with the Red Sox front office/ownership as a 'different environment' from what they were used to in the past, but there has been quite a bit of praise" for new GM Ben Cherington (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/6).

In N.Y., Mike Lupica notes for the second time in four years, the Giants have won "better than any New York team ever has." Lupica: "We are reminded once again in Indy on Sunday night that the Giants, when they are on top, feel like the biggest game in town, and you know 'town' includes Jersey, too. Other teams win big. The Rangers were beyond big in 1994. The Giants win better" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/7).

STICKING WITH TRADITION: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler noted an NFL Panthers fan last week wrote to the team website and said that he "really wanted the Panthers to change their uniforms since the team already has altered its logo." Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson responded to the fan and said that he was "a traditionalist and the uniforms wouldn't be changing" in his lifetime. Richardson also told the fan that the Panthers' helmets "would change in 2012 but that he wasn't going to go into specifics about that" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 2/6).

STILL MOVING FORWARD: In St. Louis, Jeremy Rutherford noted the group attempting to buy the Blues "missed a deadline Friday, a date scheduled to provide a commitment letter from its bank," but an NHL source said that the development "would not hinder the sale process." The source said that the ownership group, led by Blues minority Owner Tom Stillman, signed a purchase agreement last month and "remains on track to complete the sale." Stillman's group has a "75-day exclusive period to finalize a sale with the Blues, a period that would run until mid-March." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly "estimated last week that the sale could close in March" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/4).