In Detroit, Tony Paul reports the Tigers' home opener against the Red Sox on Friday is "not yet sold out." In recent years the Tigers' home opener would be a sellout "mere minutes after tickets go on sale." This is a "pretty obvious sign that interest in the team is down, with the Tigers coming off two seasons of missing the postseason" and an offseason in which Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Al Avila "made no major moves." It is also "clear season-ticket sales are down, and perhaps significantly" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/3).
DIGITAL DOMAIN: In Houston, David Barron noted the Astros have "embraced digital ticketing," as bar codes "are the gateway to entry to Minute Maid Park for an increased number of fans." Club officials said that 65% of season-ticket holders "manage their ticket accounts online, printing their tickets themselves at home or presenting them at the gate via a mobile device." That is "triple the number of accounts opting for digital management a year ago." About 10% of Astros tickets in '16 were digital, compared to the MLB average of 7%. Even game-day purchases "have gone digital." However, in-person buyers at Minute Maid Park's box office "still get old-fashioned printed tickets" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/1).
THE FUTURE IS NOW: In S.F., Bruce Jenkins writes under the header, "For The A's And Oakland, A Future At Last." With tonight's home opener against the Angels, it is "inappropriate to be skeptical about a team destined to have an entire professional landscape to itself." It is also "crazy to think" that A's President Dave Kaval is "on the wrong track" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/3).
EYE ON THE BRONX: In N.Y., Billy Witz noted the contracts of Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman expire at the end of the '17 season. That "inevitably will create some urgency for the Yankees to compete this season," either by reaching the playoffs for just the second time since '12 or "at least demonstrating that their youth movement is headed somewhere" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).
