Angels Season-Ticket Sales Continue To Decline; Lack Of Playoff Appearances A Factor?

The Angels have "three of the biggest stars" in MLB in Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, but season-ticket sales are down "by more than 20%" since '12 and 40% since a record high in '06, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. The decrease comes as the Angels have not appeared in the playoffs since '09. Angels VP/Marketing & Ticket Sales Robert Alvarado said that the team expects "to sell between 18,000 and 19,000 season tickets ... down from 24,000" in '12 and 31,000 in '06. The Angels "sold about 21,000 season tickets last year." The Dodgers have "sold more than 32,000 season tickets this year, with a renewal rate above 98%." Alvarado said the Angels' renewal rate this year is in the "low 80s." He added that fans deciding "not to renew have not indicated they would get Dodgers tickets." The Angels have "sold more than 3 million tickets" in each of Owner Arte Moreno's 11 seasons. Angels President John Carpino said that the decline in season-ticket sales "did not restrict the Angels in their winter spending." Meanwhile, tickets "still are available" for the March 31 opener against the Mariners. However, Alvarado said that he "anticipates a sellout" for that game (L.A. TIMES, 3/20).