The MLB Rangers for the '14 season "have dropped ticket prices" 4-19% on approximately 94% of their seats and also have "lowered the number of 'premier' games by eight," according to Drew Davison of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. The club has "sold more than 20,000 season tickets" in recent seasons. Matwick said that this mark "remains the goal." Rangers Exec VP/Ballpark Operations Rob Matwick said that the team has "gotten some negative feedback" following the departure of CEO Nolan Ryan, as well as trades of 2B Ian Kinsler and CF Craig Gentry. But Matwick said that that feedback has "been offset with the buzz" surrounding the additions of 1B Prince Fielder and RF Shin-Soo Choo. The Rangers also announced that they will "use an expanded version of the dynamic pricing they put in last season." Additionally, the team is "replacing 1,098 seats in the upper-level suites, overhauling the suite kitchen on the club concourse level behind the press box and installing LED lighting on the relief panels on the exterior of the park." The Rangers have spent about $40M on improvements to Rangers Ballpark the past four seasons. Matwick said that the Rangers next season "might renovate the restaurant in the all-you-can-eat section" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/10).
JACK IN THE BOX: ESPN DALLAS' Richard Durrett reported the Rangers' Diamond Club is "now the Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Club and will have a new look in time for Opening Day." Jack Daniel's signed a "three-year deal with the Rangers and will have naming rights to the Diamond Club," which overlooks the field from the outfield. The 14,381-square-foot space has "had some walls removed to open up the area and will go through an altered seating arrangement and get a new bar near the center of the room." It will be "open to season-ticket holders." Matwick: "We've taken out the carpet and we will modify the rails to put in some different seating clusters. It has a new bar as well. This area hadn't been touched since the ballpark opened. The original carpet was 20 years old and it needed updating" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 1/9). In Dallas, Candace Carlisle noted the club now will "include a full buffet and bar, much like" the one Jack Daniel's has at AmericanAirlines Center (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/9).
