ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss reports all tickets for Patriots home games in '15 "will remain the same price." Season-ticket holders "received this news over the past few weeks in a letter" from team Owner Robert Kraft and President Jonathan Kraft. The Krafts in the letter wrote, "Last season, we introduced variable ticket pricing and received very favorable feedback from Season Ticket Members. In 2015, we will keep the variable pricing model by game and the cost of each season ticket will remain the same as last year." The letter also noted that a "number of stadium construction and enhancement projects are underway, including a new lounge at field level, a fantasy zone, and an expansion of the pedestrian bridge underneath the lighthouse" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 3/5).
NAME GAME: In N.Y., Filip Bondy notes MLS expansion club NYC FC is "hoping a nickname springs up organically, through fans and the media." NYC FC VP/Communications Martin von Wuthenau said, “On all our stuff, we are going with New York City FC, not NYC FC, in terms of the way I’m putting it on press releases and way I’m talking to media. Fans seem to be calling it New York City, City, NYCFC or New York City FC. There are a lot different things coming up from the fan base.” Bondy notes a poll on the club's supporters’ website "delivered a near majority, 47.2%, that simply wanted 'NYC,' dropping the FC -- which would at least be a bit easier on commentators." Other names "garnering decent support in the poll included 'New York City,' 'City' and 'Gotham Blues.'" There is also a fan group that "calls itself the Skyscraper Blues" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/5).
IF YOU BUILD IT...: In N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes the Padres “are ready for a change, and the fans are responding.” The team said that by mid-February “season ticket sales were up” 600% from the same time the previous year. The Padres “ranked 12th in the N.L. in attendance last season, but now they should put on a better show.” P Ian Kennedy said, “It’s pretty cool to have a fan base, and I knew it was bigger than it looked like when we were playing there the last couple of years. Hopefully this is a good reason for them to show up, and we can start playing better” (N.Y. TIMES, 3/5).
TICKET TO RIDE: ESPN.com's Ben Goessling noted the Vikings yesterday, on the one-year anniversary of their stadium preview center opening, said that they “already have commitments for more than 33,300 seats in their new stadium.” The team added that 70% of Metrodome ticket holders “have committed to seats in the new stadium,” scheduled to open in August ’16 (ESPN.com, 3/4).
