In Boston, Callum Borchers cites TiqIQ data as showing that the average price for Saturday's Ravens-Patriots AFC divisional playoff game "is $336.68 on the secondary market." That figure "is nearly three times the face value" and 26% higher "than what fans paid for last year’s divisional round matchup" with the Colts. Saturday will mark the Patriots and Ravens' "fourth playoff meeting in the last six seasons." The Ravens "won two of the previous three," even though the Patriots "had the home-field advantage each time." The price of tickets to Ravens-Patriots is "the highest among four playoff contests this weekend, even though two of the other home teams played in last year’s Super Bowl, and the third has the most famous stadium in the sport, Lambeau Field" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/8).
INTO THE WILD: In Minneapolis, Patrick Reusse writes under the header, "Wild's Second Honeymoon With Ticket Buyers Is Alive And Well." The Wild's average attendance "at the midpoint of the schedule is 18,958." Wild COO Mat Majka said of whether any ticket inventory remains for the second half of the season, "There are selected games, in late March and early April, with some tickets remaining. We would anticipate, unless something unforeseen were to happen, that we will sell out the entire home schedule" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/8).
ANGELS' ANGLE: In California, Tully & Marroquin in a front-page piece cited Angels officials as saying that the team's '05 name change from the Anaheim Angels to the L.A. Angels of Anaheim "did indeed increase the team's reach." The new moniker has now "existed two years longer" than the original ever did. Angels President John Carpino said of the name change, "Absolutely, it was worth it. The team would not have been able to compete at such a high level ... without the name change." Chicago-based consulting firm SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said, "There is a national perception that the Angels are more of an L.A. regional team. It certainly has reduced the visibility for Anaheim" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 1/6).
