In Toronto, Rob Longley reports the Blue Jays' home opener is sold out, but ticket sales for the rest of the series against the Yankees are "incredibly weak for a divisional rival." Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro has indicated season-ticket sales have "dropped from 20,000 to 13,000 for this season." Longley: "You can bet there will be an indifference among the traditionally strong walkup crowd as well until it is convinced there is something to buy." With the Yankees and Red Sox "loading up and the perception that the Jays brass hasn’t done enough to stay with them, don’t be surprised if fans sit on their wallets until they see what the Jays have" (TORONTO SUN, 3/23).
IN FULL SWING: The Yankees are "opening select gates three hours prior to first pitch for more than 20 home games this season -- giving fans more of a chance to snag a souvenir homer ... during batting practice." Gates 6 and 8 will open early for "every Friday night game, as well as all Saturday games" scheduled to start at 4:00pm or later. Yankee Stadium also will "open its gates three hours earlier prior to the team’s home-opener on April 2 against the Rays." The Yankees will "host three additional 'BP Block Parties'" during the season (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/23). Gates will "open 90 minutes prior to first pitch" for all other games beginning at 6:35pm (Bergen RECORD, 3/23).
LET'S BRUNCH: The Shibe Park Tavern at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum will "feature Belgian Liege Waffles, French Toast Bake and Breakfast Melts" before A's weekend afternoon games. The initiative is called the "Bashin’ Brunch." Shibe during the '18 season also will "schedule a number of tap takeovers featuring California breweries" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/23).
