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MLB Franchise Notes: D'Backs Have Sold Around 1,300 New Season-Ticket Packages

D'Backs President & CEO Derrick Hall said yesterday that the team has "sold around 1,300 new season-ticket packages and the renewal rate from last year was near 90 percent." Single-game tickets "went on sale" yesterday. Hall said, "There's definitely been some momentum. Very favorable, especially in this economy." He added, "Our affordability has always played a key role in being an attractive entertainment option for our fans. When they're looking for an affordable option of entertainment with an air-conditioned environment, it's often Chase Field" (MLB.com, 2/27). Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Bob McManaman notes D'Backs ownership "agreed to stretch the overall payroll this year to nearly $80 million, which is about a $15 million jump" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/28). 

ADDRESSING THE MAN
: In L.A., Mike DiGiovanna notes the Angels "appear to have addressed any concerns new slugger Albert Pujols had over the team's use of the term 'El Hombre,' the Man, in a two-month billboard campaign leading up to the season." The nickname is appearing on 20 of 70 billboards the Angels have leased through late March, but the term "is not expected to be used in any further marketing or advertising campaigns or merchandise." When asked if the misunderstanding caused the Angels any embarrassment, Angels President John Carpino said, "I don't believe so. If it caused any embarrassment for Albert out of respect for Stan Musial, that's the only concern of ours" (L.A. TIMES, 2/28).

NEW SHOW IN TOWN: USA TODAY's Paul White in a sports section cover story notes the Marlins "want their retractable-roof stadium to become the next destination" in a town where Heat games "have become the place to be seen." The Marlins are the subject of Showtime's "The Franchise," a "free-wheeling, unfiltered season-long look at whether this is going to work." New manager Ozzie Guillen "figures to be the show's centerpiece." Marlins President David Samson said that he "jumped at the TV opportunity as ardently as the Marlins went after" SS Jose Reyes and other newcomers (USA TODAY, 2/28).

DRINK RESPONSIBLY
: With the Red Sox banning beer from their clubhouse this year, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the move “may be a smart” move, but it is “about PR” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/27). SB Nation's Bomani Jones said, “It absolutely has to do with public relations because of how things looked last year, but let’s be honest. What’s so crazy about your employer saying you’ve got to buy your own brew?” ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan said it is a “PR move, but it’s one that had to be made because there still is a hangover from the whole chicken and beer thing that’s been dragging this team through the mud the whole off-season” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/27). Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of the Red Sox' ban, "It makes sense to me. You have to be careful in this day and age. You don't want people drinking and driving. It's not that you mind a guy having a beer, but when you're at home they're going to get in a car and drive home most likely. I think it's a pretty good policy" (NEWSDAY.com, 2/27).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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