The Braves’ attendance pattern through two homestands at SunTrust Park has "been pronounced: good crowds on weekends, not-so-good on weeknights," according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The Braves have "averaged 39,136 fans for their six home games" on the weekend, but are drawing an average of just 23,090 fans "for the seven home games played on Monday through Thursday nights." Overall, the Braves have "averaged 30,496 per game for their first 13 games" at the new ballpark. That is an increase of 4,980 fans per game -- 20% -- from an "average of 25,516 for their first 13 games at Turner Field last season." However, the 20% jump is "smaller than the average boost" of 28% that MLB teams have posted in their first full seasons in new ballparks since '00. Braves officials expect to get a "typical summer boost in weeknight attendance," but the extent of such a boost will be "influenced by the team’s on-field performance." The team currently has the second-worst record in the NL at 11-19 (AJC.com, 5/9). In Atlanta, Steve Hummer wrote for "all of SunTrust Park’s wonders, empty seats there really don’t appear any more majestic than empty seats at Turner Field." Hummer: "We’ll see how business picks up in the summer, when school is out and the curious from around the south make their pilgrimage to the new park. ... If the Braves, such a powerful regional brand, don’t climb up the attendance chart in the heat of the season, there will be some ‘splainin’ to do" (AJC.com, 5/9).
AHEAD OF THE CURVE: In Marietta, Nubyjas Wilborn noted Braves President of Business Derek Schiller has been in communication with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and will be looking into ways to make sure issues like when Orioles CF Adam Jones was "berated with racial taunts and flying objects" at Fenway Park last week "do not happen at SunTrust Park." Schiller said, "This will be an ongoing conversation. We are trying to understand all the potential issues from a player’s perspective and of fellow fans. We are trying to find out what is going on in each city and stadium." He added, "I’ve read the comments from our guys, like Matt Kemp and Brandon Phillips. In the front office, we don’t understand it as well as the players do. They’re the ones living and breathing this every day. ... They know how it is in each city and can speak to that better than I ever could" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 5/9).
