The vast majority of Red Sox fans have indicated that they will not attend more games at Fenway Park because of the "price breaks on food and drinks" during the month of April, according to a BOSTON.com poll. Out of 1,871 votes at presstime, 86.1% said they will not be more likely to go to more Red Sox games, while just 13.9% said they would be more likely to buy tickets (BOSTON.com, 3/27). Red Sox COO Sam Kennedy said, "This gesture is meant to be a thank-you gesture. We don't really see it as an enticement to get people to come to the ballpark." He added, "We've got 17 home games in April, which is a lot of games for a month that is traditionally a difficult month for ticket sales for most baseball teams, specifically in markets where you've got colder weather. So we took that into consideration." Kennedy did indicate that "no gesture could be as important to Boston fans as an improved team" (USA TODAY, 3/27). NBC Sports Network’s Michelle Beadle said, “I don’t know if this is an act of desperation or they're just embracing the fan. Their little sellout streak that they're so proud of -- and they should be -- it’s in jeopardy of ending. ... Beer should never be $7.50, period. So I think a $5.00 beer is perfectly acceptable." But NBC Sports Net's Dave Briggs said, "You pointed out that they’re saying thank you to the fans. Is it, or are they saying we’re sorry for the disaster of the last two years?” He added, "The sellout streak, as a Red Sox fan, most of us know is kind of fixed. They give away a lot of seats to keep that going” ("The Crossover," NBCSN, 3/26). MLB Network’s Kevin Millar said of the price reductions, “It makes a lot of sense right now. ... At some point it gets a little ridiculous. $8.50 for a 12-ounce beer? It’s like jeez Louise, what do you do? Five bucks makes more sense. Nice job by the Red Sox” (“Intentional Talk,” MLBN, 3/26).
