In Atlanta, Tim Tucker cites a financial filing from Braves Owner Liberty Media as indicating that the team's revenue “increased and their player payroll declined in the first half of this year, compared to the same period a year ago. Liberty attributed the revenue increase to "greater attendance and a slightly higher price per ticket," and attributed the decrease in player compensation to "the movement of certain players in the off-season and those costs being recognized" in Q4 '11. The latter was an “obvious reference” to the trade of P Derek Lowe to the Indians, in which the Braves paid two-thirds of Lowe’s $15M contract. The Braves' revenue through June 30 was $102M, compared to $95M "at the same point last year” (AJC.com, 8/9).
NOT FEELING BLUE: The GLOBE & MAIL’s Robert MacLeod writes “about the only positive the Blue Jays can point to these days is their attendance figures at home.” Through 51 home games this season, the Blue Jays are averaging 27,442 fans, which is an “increase of 4,776 a game compared to the same number of home gates last season.” It is the “fifth highest jump” among MLB teams in ‘12. Blue Jays Senior VP/Business Operations Stephen Brooks said, “An increase of about 5,000 per game, I’ll take that.” MacLeod notes in the Blue Jays' last four home games “average attendance spiked at 37,963” (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/10).
COME TOGETHER: Golfer Phil Mickelson said of his role in the O'Malley group's purchase of the Padres, “It's exciting for me to be a part of a team that I've been a huge fan of since I was a kid. I'm really looking forward to kind of bringing them back together with the community. … The last few years, I think the fan base has [lost] a little bit of faith in the team and we’ll see if we can turn that ‘round.” Mickelson added, “I'm not involved in the day to day of it. … I'm a big believer if you get the right people you let them do their job and I am not the right person on the team, they are. But it's fun for me to be a part of it and see if I can help bring everybody together” (ESPN.com, 8/9).
