The Colts’ 9-5 record has “reversed what looked in early October like a bleak scenario for the team’s sales staff,” according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Of the 7,100 club seats at Lucas Oil Stadium, 4,300 were "up for renewal" after last season. But the team then “won five of six as the Colts began their club-seat renewal effort, which ended late last month.” Colts COO Pete Ward said that the renewal rate “soared above 90 percent.” Demand for "all tickets is on the rise," as enough seats "are already sold" for the Dec. 30 Texans-Colts game to avoid a local TV blackout. Additionally, merchandise sales are up 38% "over last year,” while sponsorship sales are up 8%. New sponsors include “Barclays bank; US Foods; and CDW, a Carmel-based information technology firm.” MainGate CEO Dave Moroknek, whose company handles the Colts’ merchandise sales, said, “The combination of the team performing above expectations, having the number one pick [QB Andrew Luck] who is playing great, and the motivation that ChuckStrong brings to the table all line up great for merchandise sales.” Schoettle notes prices for club seats -- between the 25-yard lines -- this year “range from $232 to $283 per seat per game.” Club seat buyers who “took advantage of early renewal are guaranteed no price increase for the first two years of their three-year contract.” Ward thinks that it will “be easy to find buyers for the club seats that aren’t renewed,” as the waiting list is at 1,500. Meanwhile, several hundred names "have been added to the season-ticket waiting list, which is near 8,000 after having been cut in half" following last year’s 2-14 record (INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/15 issue).
