D'Backs Beginning To Generate Buzz; MLB Team Notes
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Players Like Byrnes Helping
D'Backs Score With Fans In Arizona |
In a year when MLB “expects to break its attendance record for the fourth consecutive season," the D'Backs are averaging 26,332 fans per game at Chase Field this year, compared to nearly 33,000 leaguewide, according to Dan Bickley of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. However, through 58 home games, the team, which currently has the best record in the NL, was ahead of last year's pace by 93,000 tickets sold, and team officials "expect to surpass" 2.1 million in attendance this season. The D’Backs entered the ’07 season with a season-ticket base of just 14,000, but there are “signs that a buzz is growing,” as the team drew more than 30,000 fans for consecutive games against the Nationals last weekend. One of the "bigger deficiencies of the baseball experience in Arizona -- a terrible ballpark vibe -- has been addressed and rectified," as the team has opened the roof for 30 of the first 57 home games, eight more times than the entire '06 season. The D'Backs also have "imported the bar crowd, an array of musical acts and Saturday night fireworks shows. More importantly, they're offering up a huge core of young players," such as RF Justin Upton and LF Eric Byrnes (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/12).
NOTES: Saturday’s crowd of 49,242 for Red Sox-Orioles was the largest of the season for the Orioles and the sixth largest in Camden Yards history. Five of the ballpark’s seven largest crowds have been for Red Sox games, and with yesterday’s sellout, the series “will go in the books as drawing more fans for a three-game set than any other in the ballpark's history” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/12)....Braves Exec VP/Sales & Marketing Derek Schiller said that the club has sold about 10,000 tickets for the new all-you-can-eat seats through the 16 games at which they have been available. Schiller said of next season, “I suspect we'll offer some in season-ticket (packages)" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 8/12)....FSN’s Ken Rosenthal, on where Giants LF Barry Bonds might play next season: “Several members of [the Giants] believe Bonds will be back next season simply because management wants to milk his countdown to 3,000 hits” (“FSN Baseball Report,” FSN, 8/10).
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