Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan said yesterday that the team for the first time since '06 "has seen an increase in season-ticket sales," according to Evan Drellich of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Ryan "didn't have an exact number of how many more tickets were sold for this year." But he said that the number "will be in the hundreds as opposed to thousands." Drellich notes although Opening Day "has passed, the team will continue to sell season tickets." Ryan: "It's the first time we've bucked the downward trend. After the '06 year, season-ticket sales have steadily gone down, and this will be the first time that we turned that number and started heading back up." Ryan added that a "revitalized roster and payroll, as well as the Astros' increased TV presence, all play in to the lift." In August, the Astros "announced they would raise some ticket prices this year." Ryan said at the time that the increase "would affect" about 70% of tickets. Drellich notes the Astros in '14 "drew 21,628 fans per game," the "fifth-lowest average in the majors but an increase from the previous year's 20,394, which was the majors' fourth-lowest average" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/9).
DISCOUNT SHOPPING: In Atlanta, David Markiewicz notes secondary market tickets for the Braves' home opener tomorrow against the Mets "are in demand," as sellers of "even distant seats have been seeking around $40 apiece." But "look out beyond this once-a-year event to most of the rest of the dates on the home schedule and there are discounted tickets aplenty." Lower-price tickets for most Braves games "are also going for less than comparable seats in other baseball cities." Fans who "don’t mind sitting far from the action can get seats for as low as $7.50 at the site for many games, no matter the date or opponent." But the Braves "aren't expressing concern" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/9).
