Season-ticket demand is such that, for the first time in history, the Padres are considering capping them for next yearGetty Images
Padres fans, in "contrast to a reputation for occasional ambivalence," have "responded with wild enthusiasm to the club’s recent string of big ideas and bigger gambles," according to Scott Miller of the N.Y. TIMES. The club ranked fifth in MLB in attendance at 36,947 fans per game through Wednesday, trailing only the Dodgers, Cardinals, Yankees and Braves. The Padres have "been playing to 91.5 percent capacity at Petco Park." Only the Braves (93.4%) rank higher. The Padres also rank fifth in the majors with a club-record $220M payroll following their signing of Juan Soto and others. Padres CEO Erik Greupner said, "What we’re still in the process of assessing is how much revenue we can generate from that increased fan support and then, long-term, run the payroll off of something that is organically supportable through revenue we can generate in our local market. I would say the early returns on this increased commitment to payroll have been very strong." Miller writes in San Diego, a city that has never won a title in any of the major North American men’s sports leagues, "dreams are growing." Season-ticket demand is "such that, for the first time in history," the Padres are "considering capping them for next year." Since last week’s trading deadline, the club already has "fielded requests translating into about 1,000 more season tickets for 2023" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/12).
