The Mets' season-ticket base "has more than doubled" compared to this time in '15, as the business end of the franchise "continues to benefit from last year's playoff run," according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. Mets Exec VP & CRO Lou DePaoli said that fans are "motivated by the fact that late last year games began to sell out, shutting out non-season ticket holders on the primary market, and because season-ticket plans allow for access to playoff tickets at face value." DePaoli added that individual game ticket sales are up 23% compared to late March '15, and group sales are up 33%. The team's goal this year is to "drive up individual sales in April, May and June, adding to an overall increase when the final numbers are tallied." The Mets last season drew 2,569,753 in paid attendance, their "best such figure since the first season at Citi Field" in '09. Best notes the Mets "raised season ticket prices by an overall average" of 2.86%. DePaoli said that individual game prices "rose by more than that for the coming season, on average, 'but not significantly' more." Best: "The most visible sponsorship change will be the rebranding of the old 'Pepsi Porch' in the upper deck in rightfield to reflect a partnership with Coca-Cola." The Mets "won't reveal" the new name of the seating area until next week, but the Coca-Cola sign "already is partially in place." Nikon has also "signed up" for a 20-fold increase in its sponsorship commitment with the team (NEWSDAY, 3/24).
