In Pittsburgh, Rob Biertempfel notes Pirates officials confirmed that they "intend to raise prices for the 2012 season," marking the team's "first major increase in ticket prices in 10 years." It is expected to be an "across-the-board increase, but the team has not finalized the increases for full-season packages, partial plans or single-game tickets." The Pirates this season "raised the prices of some tickets" by $2-5 through the implementation of a day-of-game pricing plan. For six consecutive seasons, the Pirates "have ranked among the five lowest in average ticket price among the 30 major league teams" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/12).
PACKIN' CASH: In Milwaukee, Tom Lynn noted the Packers are "well-positioned in terms of salary-cap flexibility and cash reserves," and team President & CEO Mark Murphy said that GM Ted Thompson "won't be limited monetarily when it comes to shaping his roster in the next few years." Murphy said, "There's no question in my mind we have the resources that are needed." The Packers since '09 have "re-signed 13 players to major contract extensions," and in that 26-month span, they "haven't signed a single unrestricted free agent or acquired a starting-caliber player by trade." Coach Mike McCarthy said, "We're trying to stay true to how we operate. We want to draft them, develop them and hopefully sign them" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/11).
YOUR AD HERE: In St. Petersburg, Steve Huettel noted a Pinellas County Tourist Development Council panel "turned down" the Rays' request for a $250,000 "elite event" grant. Council members said that the Rays deal "was more of an advertising buy than support for annual events such as the Outback Bowl, the Honda Grand Prix or the Transitions PGA Golf tournament." The Rays "offered an advertising package of Pinellas tourism promotions for the $250,000" that included "30-second TV commercials on 75 game broadcasts, 'rotator signs' behind home plate, and the county's tourism website address on the home team dugout rail at Tropicana Field" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/11).
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: In Winnipeg, Tom Brodbeck writes the thing "opponents of the new Winnipeg Jets logo fail to understand is that honouring our air force -- or our military generally -- has nothing to do with supporting Canada's foreign policy, either current or past." Brodbeck: "You can express respect and appreciation for Canada's military and still criticize decisions made by politicians regarding the deployment of troops" (WINNIPEG SUN, 8/12).
