The Indians in past years had as many as nine team shops, but by late January "there will be only one -- the main shop at Progressive Field," according to Kevin Kleps of CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS. The Indians on Jan. 27 will "close their team shops at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville, Westgate Shopping Center in Fairview Park and The Strip in Canton." Indians Senior Dir of Communications Curtis Danburg said that as the retail market "has shifted to making purchases online, the team shops became money-losing operations." Danburg said that the club had "a 'significant' spike in retail sales at their team shops during their run to the postseason in 2013." But he added the shops still lost money "because of mall leases and operational costs." The Indians as recently as a couple years ago "generated 25% of their single-game ticket sales from their team shops." As more fans "bought tickets online, the Indians' team shops accounted for fewer than 10% of the club's single-game ticket sales in 2013." Danburg said that the numbers "were continuing to trend downward." Danburg added that the moves "impact about 1.5% of the Tribe's full-time employees and 2% of its part-timers" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 12/2).
