Fanatics saw record-breaking sales in the 24 hours after Harper's signing was officialGETTY IMAGES
The Phillies have seen a "record surge" in ticket sales since news broke the team was signing RF Bryce Harper, as 220,000 tickets went in "about 48 hours," according to Marcus Hayes of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Phillies Senior VP/Ticket Operations & Projects John Weber said, “I’ve never seen anything like this. This is kind of like a volcano erupting.” Weber said that when the Phillies signed Jim Thome after the '02 season, he "boosted season-ticket sales" from about 11,000 to 14,000 in '03. Since Harper’s arrival, Phillies season-ticket sales "already jumped" from 9,500 in '18 to "about 11,800." Weber hopes that the Phillies "hit the 14,000 mark this season, as they did in Thome’s first year, and, eventually, 28,000 season tickets." For now, the "immediate goal" is getting 3 million fans to Citizens Bank Park this season. The Phillies "drew about 2.15 million fans last season, so that would be a jump of about 850,000 tickets" -- almost 40%. Weber said that prior to Harper's signing, the Phillies "already had sold about 200,000 more tickets than they had at the same point" in '18 after offseason acquisitions including SS Jean Segura, C J.T. Realmuto and CF Andrew McCutchen (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/4). ESPN's Trey Wingo said of the early ticket sales, "That's incredible. That's a win for baseball right there" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 3/4). CNBC's Steve Leisman said Harper is a "good buy for the Phillies." However, CNBC's Kelly Evans noted team officials are "going to have to keep selling if they want to cover" the $330M cost of his contract ("The Exchange," CNBC, 3/1).
FLYING OFF THE SHELVES: In Philadelphia, Katie McInerney reported Fanatics saw "record-breaking sales in the 24 hours after" Harper's signing was official, as "more people bought Harper’s No. 3 than any player’s jersey launch in any sport." Fanatics also said that sales of Phillies merchandise are "up more" than 5,000% "compared to the beginning of March last season." Fans were able to "purchase Harper jerseys at the team store at Citizens Bank Park as early as Saturday afternoon." Aramark Senior Dir of Corporate Communications David Freireich, whose company manages the Phillies' team store, said that the company "worked overnight to coordinate the production and delivery of jerseys, shirts and hats to South Philly." Meanwhile, the Phillies have "sold more than 10,000 spring-training tickets since Harper news broke" (PHILLY.com, 3/3). THE ATHLETIC's Jayson Stark wrote there "may not have been a team in baseball that needed star power more than the Phillies." Harper is "being paid to be a franchise-changer" and the "magnetic force who will draw millions of eyeballs in his direction and his team’s direction, night after night" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/1).
MORE THAN MARKETING: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale noted Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton during negotiations told Scott Boras, Harper's agent, that he "didn’t want to hear about Harper’s marketability or Q rating." Middleton: "I said, 'Scott, I’m not interested in talking about marketing dollars, tickets sold, billboards, concessions. There’s only one reason I’m talking to you. And that’s because I believe this guy can help us win'" (USATODAY.com, 3/2). Harper said, "John wants to win more than anybody. And I saw that passion, I saw that fire. And I mean, it was just amazing to hear" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/3).
CLASS ACT: ESPN.com's Coley Harvey noted Harper, who wore No. 34 with the Nationals, is switching No. 3 with the Phillies, and he is "doing it in deference" to the late Roy Halladay. The two-time Cy Young Award winner will be posthumously inducted into the Baseball HOF this summer, and Harper said, "I thought Roy Halladay should be the last one to wear it" (ESPN.com, 3/2).
