The Marlins are offering "deals aplenty" to combat their NL-worst average attendance of 19,586 this year, and fans "know supply outstrips demand during this season of discontent," according to a front-page piece by Linda Robertson of the MIAMI HERALD. Free tickets are being given out for "test driving a new car or buying a pizza or visiting a museum." Fans also can find deals for "cheap tickets with a Subway sandwich," or offers such as "two-for-the-price-of-one bargains" and food vouchers. The Marlins also have "partnered with the Orange Bowl Committee and Miami-Dade County Public Schools and other entities to give away tickets." It is a "game that precedes the game, and fans are willing to play in order to see baseball but snub" team Owner Jeffrey Loria. The Marlins had "originally hoped for average attendance in the range of 33,000-35,000 when they moved from Sun Life Stadium," but those numbers "proved far too optimistic, and this year is expected to be worse." Marlins President David Samson said, "We are confronting a confluence of things, including a fan base that is upset. We’re trying to bring people to the ballpark to enjoy baseball in spite of their feelings for me or Jeffrey." Robertson notes the Marlins "have not been a consistent big draw in their 20 years," and their attendance was "third-worst in MLB" when they won the World Series in '03. Miami-based Schwartz Media Strategies President Tadd Schwartz said, "Ownership needs to stop the harping on all the animosity by reaching into their pockets, starting a buzz and making a trade to shift the talk to baseball.” Samson said that the franchise will "continue to market itself aggressively" and practice dynamic pricing (MIAMI HERALD, 4/25).
