Ticket sales for the three games accelerated as soon as the Braves promoted AcuñaBraves
The Braves return to SunTrust Park on Friday sitting in first place in the NL East, and team President & CEO Derek Schiller said that he "expects 'at or near capacity' crowds for at least the first two games" of this weekend's series against the Giants, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Ticket sales for the three games "accelerated as soon as the Braves promoted" LF Ronald Acuña Jr. on April 25, and by early this week, his No. 13 jerseys "lined the front windows of the Braves' Clubhouse Store" at SunTrust Park. Schiller said, "Acuña joining the team is certainly one reason for it. But I would also tell you I think a lot of it has to do with the overall performance of the team." Schiller added that standing-room-only tickets "will be put on sale for any game in which all seats are sold." But Tucker notes even before the Braves' recent surge on the field, ticket sales were "going well for Friday's game, due in part to a 'Star Wars Night' promotion." Through 12 home games this season, the most recent on April 21, Braves' attendance is "virtually even with last season." Their "average announced attendance this season is 29,721 per game, compared to 29,687 after the same number of home games last year" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/4).
TRENDING UP: THE RINGER's Michael Baumann writes despite the Braves' early success, there is "no guarantee that the magic will last." But any magic is "worth celebrating," particularly when the team "wasn't supposed to be close to contention this year." Moreover, it "marks a refreshing change for a club that for the past few years has had no choice but to sell fans on some hopeful but nebulous future while upper management fought off scandal after scandal" (THERINGER.com, 5/4).
