Money On His Mind: DuPuy Discusses Economy On "Baseball Tonight"
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DuPuy Applauds Players'
Community Involvement |
MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy appeared on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” yesterday and discussed the economy’s impact on MLB with the net’s Karl Ravech. DuPuy said he and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig “warned the teams last fall to be concerned about this, and they have responded in force.” DuPuy: “Two-thirds of the clubs have held the line or decreased ticket prices. Every single one of the 30 clubs have value packages where a family of four can get four tickets for $50 and a soda and a hot dog or can get an autograph session with players, or a ‘Dollar Night.’ The clubs have been very original.” He noted Selig and the individual teams “take the idea of social responsibility very seriously. The clubs are reacting seriously to the problems out there, and you’re going to see a lot of value propositions.” Ravech said to DuPuy, “You know how the PGA (Tour) players relate to their fans, how NASCAR drivers … relate to their fans. Do you think more accessibility from player to fan is one way to kind of keep people coming?” DuPuy: “There’s no question about that. But I think our players have been very good about that over the last several years. There have been a lot of autograph sessions, a lot of work done in the community.” Meanwhile, DuPuy said the Marlins receiving approval for their new ballpark is “huge.” DuPuy: “The commissioner has been committed to this market all along, but there’s no question they needed a new ballpark. They needed a weather-protected ballpark, they needed the amenities that the 22 other clubs since Camden Yards has opened have gotten” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 3/25).
TEAMS HESITANT TO MAKE DEALS: ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the economy has “had a huge impact on the trade market this spring." Several teams have players with large contracts they would like to deal, but “teams are not spending money.” Olney: “A couple years ago (a player salary of $8M) wouldn't have been any big deal, but (GMs) are saying, ‘Look, just nobody's taking on money right now.’ They're scared about what the attendance is going to be. They're scared about how the economy is going to affect their team” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 3/25).
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