In DC, Scott Allen reports the Nationals are giving fans who renew or make a deposit on full, half or partial season-ticket plans by Oct. 5 "the opportunity to win their seats for free" if they can "hit a home run at Nationals Park." One person per ticket plan "is eligible to compete in the 'Swing for Your Seats' promotion, which will be held on a to-be-determined date during the offseason." Fans will "stand at home plate and receive up to one swing at up to two pitches from an automatic pitching machine" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/22).
WE ARE THE TWELVE: In Seattle, Brad Broberg reports the Seahawks "capped season ticket sales at 61,500 this year," but that "still leaves 12,000 people on the Blue Pride wait list and 52,000 on the Blue Pride notification list." One out of every five people on the waiting list "was able to purchase season tickets after the Seahawks added 1,000 new seats to the stadium and took back 4,000 tickets they previously sold to ticket brokers." The average season ticket price "rose $7 per game this year." The least expensive season ticket "cost $52 per game," while the most expensive was $430 (PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/18 issue).
GIVE ME LIBERTY: NBCSPORTS.com's Kurt Helin wondered how much longer 76ers Managing Owner Josh Harris will "trust the process" of rebuilding the club. Harris "has been patient." He "bought in from the start" on GM Sam Hinkie's plan and has "stayed out of his way." Helin: "But it's fair to ask after a third straight ugly season ends next April for the Sixers, will he continue to be that patient?" A lot of it "likely comes down to progress shown" (NBCSPORTS.com, 9/21).
I'LL SPREAD MY WINGS: In Baton Rouge, Scott Kushner notes the Pelicans have "unleashed a barrage of surveys to learn customers’ opinions on such things as the halftime entertainment, music and the concession lines in the concourse" at Smoothie King Center. Pelicans Senior VP/Marketing Michael Stanfield said, "We take those results and put them through an analytical department who goes through it and carves it up so it’s digestible. Then we meet as a management group. ... It really has gotten very analytical" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 9/22).
