The "most encouraging numbers" so far for new Penguins
Owner Mario Lemieux is at "the box office," according to
Dave Molinari of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, who noted that
the team's average attendance through ten home dates is
14,846, up from 14,045 at the same point last season.
Penguins VP/Communications Tom McMillan noted the team's
difficult bankruptcy proceedings last year led the franchise
to "give away 2,000 or 2,500 tickets to some games" just to
build up crowds. But this year, the comps are down and
Molinari wrote that the "announced crowds apparently are a
far more accurate measurement of the number of seats sold."
McMillan says ticket sales "for the season are about 50,000
ahead of this time last year, in large part because the
team's 15-game season-ticket package has been well-received
by the paying public." So far "more than" 4,000 of the 15-
game plans "have been purchased," up about 150% from last
year. McMillan: "The man on the street has stepped
forward." He said the team plans to keep selling the 15-
game plan as long it can, while also starting "a campaign
aimed at selling half-season tickets to corporations"
(PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/28).
