The Pirates had the "largest percentage growth in season ticket holders" of any MLB team this year, as a winning '13 season and playoff appearance "brought fans back," according to Michael Sanserino of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. The team gave fans who "purchased season ticket plans for the following season playoff ticket priority over the general public." The Pirates also "throw a party every year for first-year season-ticket holders," and more than 1,000 people "reserved a spot for the shindig" before Tuesday's game against the Orioles. That figure represents a 40% "growth in the Pirates' season ticket base" compared to '13, and Pirates Exec VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Drew Cloud "knows that kind of growth also will test the ticket sales team." Cloud said, "If you look at this from a business perspective, this is a vulnerable group of customers. They're giving you a test drive." Cloud said that his goal is to "create a community of ticket holders who will consider the added value of season tickets in addition to the team's win-loss record." But Sanserino noted it is "not just season ticket sales where the Pirates have excelled," as data from StubHub showed single-game ticket sales were up 109% "at the start of the season" compared to the beginning of '13 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/22).
