Franchise Notes

In Cincinnati, Joe Reedy reported the Bengals for the second straight year are lowering season-ticket prices in a "significant number of sections of Paul Brown Stadium." Price reductions will be in effect in 20 sections for the '13 season. A "number of sections priced last year at $50 per game for season tickets will be reduced to $40, and many sections priced at $60 last year will be reduced to $50." Some ticket prices will increase "for the first time in four years," and prices for at least 45% of seats at the stadium "will remain unchanged" (CINCINNATI.com, 1/14).

PUTTING THE MUZZLE ON: In Miami, Barry Jackson reported Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria, in addition to “forbidding” team President David Samson from doing his radio show, also has “told Samson that he can no longer do interviews.” That is “short-sighted, because Samson made himself more accountable and accessible than many team presidents, even amid unpopular decisions made solely by Loria.” The Marlins owner also has “refused to speak to the media since mid-November” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 1/13).

FRIENDLIER CONFINES: ESPN CHICAGO's Jon Greenberg reported the Cubs are "eliminating service charges" for new mini-plan ticket packages, and it is a "decent deal." Cubs VP/Ticket Sales & Service Colin Faulkner said that service fees "would’ve been as high as $40 for the six- and nine-game plans that go on sale Jan. 23." Greenberg noted the Cubs "want to move inventory before all of their single-game tickets go on sale March 8." The team in previous years "sold out single-game tickets on the day they went on sale," but those days "are long gone" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 1/14).

BLUE TEAM GO: In L.A., Steve Dilbeck notes the Dodgers are "making single-game tickets available to all home games" in the '13 season, but they will not "all cost the same." The team will be using "a new four-tier pricing program." In the past several years, Dodgers tickets to many of the "more attractive games on the schedule were initially offered only as part of a mini-season ticket plan, so that's at least good news" (L.A. TIMES, 1/15).