The Astros have debuted a new advertising campaign this season called "We Are Your Astros" that is "designed to reflect the team's connection to the community," according to Allison Wollam of the HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. The campaign, via Lee Queano Creative, California, features several city landmarks, including the "downtown skyline, the Sam Houston statue at Hermann Park and Houston City Hall." The images are "bathed in orange and Astros red hues of a morning sunrise." The creative can be seen on "several Houston-area billboards in addition to graphics both in and around Minute Maid Park including wallscapes facing the U.S. 59 Freeway, column wraps and light pole banners." The campaign will "extend to surrounding cities" such as Austin and San Antonio. The area around Minute Maid Park in previous years had featured long-time Astros P Roy Oswalt and 1B Lance Berkman, both of whom were traded last year (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/14).
SLIGHT TICKET INCREASES: In Houston, Zachary Levine reports Astros single-game tickets will go on sale Friday "with ticket prices up $1-$3 in all but the least expensive sections sold on a single-game basis and consistent in the $7 outfield deck." Some weekday tickets "will be discounted" as part of several ticket promotions (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/16). Also in Houston, Richard Justice wrote the price increases come as the Astros "continue to lower both their payroll and expectations." However, the increases "were so small they're hardly worth mentioning" (CHRON.com, 2/15).
