The Blue Jays yesterday announced that single-game ticket prices "will increase by $2 [all figures US] for premium and regular games" for the start of the '15 season, according to Robert MacLeod of the GLOBE & MAIL. Premium-priced games "are those played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in Toronto, along with all games" against the Yankees and Red Sox. The home-opener against the Rays on April 13, "normally a sellout, is also considered part of the premium package." Blue Jays Senior VP/Business Operations Stephen Brooks said, "The cost of doing business, general increases across the board. Our payroll has essentially doubled in the last four or five years or so. It’s always something -- you always think twice and hesitate and think through very carefully when increasing ticket prices. But by the same token you look at your business, you look at your cost structure, you look at when you last increased ticket prices and you make a decision from there" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/11). In Toronto, Brendan Kennedy notes it is the "first time ticket prices have gone up in five years," and it follows "similar increases for multi-game packs and season tickets" for the Blue Jays, whose 21-year playoff absence is the longest streak in MLB. The team’s payroll "was a shade under" $79M five years ago, while in '14 it was "a little over" $137M, an increase of 73%. This year’s payroll is "expected to be roughly what it was last season, which should be seventh- or eighth-highest in the league." Brooks said that the price bump "does not have to do with the decline in the Canadian dollar" (TORONTO STAR, 2/11).
