In Pittsburgh, Karen Price notes the Pirates yesterday announced a “dynamic ticket pricing structure … that results in the going rate for the nearly 1,400 bleacher seats at PNC Park fluctuating based on demand.” Pirates Exec VP & CMO Lou DePaoli said that there will be “no price minimum or maximum for the general admission outfield tickets.” The ticket price, which last year “was $9 in advance and $11 on game day -- will continue to change as the market dictates until the day of the game.” The Pirates are the “first team in this market to employ a dynamic pricing structure,” and DePaoli said that for that reason “they wanted to start slow.” If it “proves successful, they will look into expanding in 2013” (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/15).
LOWERED EXPECTATIONS: In Seattle, Larry Stone wrote it “appears that the Mariners’ payroll is going to go down” in ’12 after reporting over $7M in losses. When a team loses money, and “projects for its attendance to decline even more this season, it's not surprising that payroll is going down.” The danger for any team in the Mariners' situation is “they can get caught in a never-ending cycle of poor attendance, low revenue, low payroll and losing teams.” Stone: “Just ask the Pirates and Royals.” But Mariners fans “are not a happy group these days, beaten down by six last-place finishes in eight years.” Stone wrote, “I think many are intrigued and excited by the young kids on the rise. They will be waiting to see if and when management hastens that process by spending to acquire established players” (SEATTLETIMES.com, 3/14).
I'LL DRINK TO THAT: In Baltimore, Kevin Cowherd writes Orioles fans have started a Facebook campaign in an attempt to “persuade the Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority to lift the no-tailgating policy at Camden Yards and designate one or two parking lots for grilling and alcohol consumption.” Tailgating is permitted “in designated parking lots at M&T Bank Stadium when the Ravens play.” As of last night, “129 people had joined the three-day-old Facebook campaign.” Austin Bogus and Joe Norman, who spearheaded the Facebook campaign, said that the goal “is to gauge the level of interest in tailgating among Orioles fans.” If there is enough response, they “hope to mount an email campaign" (Baltimore SUN, 3/15).
