The Indians own MLB's best record heading into Memorial Day weekend, and are "even exceeding their own expectations" from a business standpoint, according to Bill Lubinger of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The Indians are drawing "just over 18,000 fans per game" at Progressive Field, 27th out of MLB's 30 teams. But after setting a record on April 3 for the "lowest turnout since the ballpark opened" in '94, the Indians drew their "first non-Opening Day sellout in three seasons" on May 21 against the Reds. The team has "reached one million tickets sold three weeks ahead" of last season. Single-game ticket sales are up 84% from '10, and "in May alone, fans bought 142,000 tickets, compared to 63,000 for the month last season." Since Opening Day, the "number of season tickets has jumped to 8,100 from 7,000." Lubinger notes "unexpected 'walk-up' crowds have caught the Indians by surprise, resulting in long waits at the ticket window." As a result, team officials "added some new strategies to handle the rush, such as extra ticket kiosks and separate tents for will-call tickets, bleacher seats and cash-only purchases." In addition, TV ratings on SportsTime Ohio are up 136% in May compared to last season and are the "highest since 2007." Concessions sales at Progressive Field are up 18%, and "merchandise sales at the six Indians team shops are running about 60 percent higher than last year, with huge surges the past two weeks." Indians President Mark Shapiro said that the team "hasn't recalculated projections based on the wave of fan interest." But the club "would be able to add pieces if necessary" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/27).
KIND OF BLUE: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth reports the Dodgers are averaging 36,360 fans per game at Dodger Stadium through 25 home dates, down "more than 7,100 paid per game" from '10. That is the "greatest drop for any of the 30 big-league teams," and the Dodgers have "dragged the overall MLB attendance average to where it would actually be about break even from a year ago rather than down by about 200 fans per game across the board through May 23." Season-ticket sales, once "capped to allow walk-up sales, are reportedly down from 27,000 to about 17,000." Hoffarth notes the "backlash to Frank and Jamie McCourt's public divorce, where court documents revealed plans of cutting payroll and increasing ticket prices to go along with other unscrupulous business practices, sits uncomfortably at the top of the list of reasons why many frustrated fans are staying away" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/27).
