Fans bought double the amount of normally-projected tickets in the two weeks after Machado's signing GETTY IMAGES
The Padres have generated close to $3M in "additional ticket revenue in the two weeks" since Manny Machado announced he was signing with the team, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. Padres President of Business Operations Erik Greupner did not say how many tickets have been sold, but said that it was "'at least double' what is normally projected for that time of year." He compared this sales spike with that of '15, after a "flurry of offseason trades and free-agent acquisitions," and '16, with the team "set to host the All-Star Game." Greupner: "It's been maintained for a longer period of time so far than some of the spikes we've seen in the past. So we're encouraged that it's really setting a new trend line for us this season in terms of demand for tickets and merchandise" (ESPN.com, 3/5). The Padres earlier this week announced the March 28 home opener against the Giants has sold out, and while it will be the 16th straight sellout for a home opener, it is "one of the earliest" sellouts in recent team history. Some seats are still available through season-ticket sales, which continue until Saturday (10NEWS.com, 3/4).
INSTANT IMPACT: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki noted the Phillies "expect at least 25,000 to 30,000 fans per game during the team's 17 home games in April" after last April saw "fewer than 25,000 fans in eight of 16 games" at Citizens Bank Park. Since news of Harper's signing last week, the season-ticket base has "jumped from 9,500 last season to 12,400 and rising." Phillies Exec VP Dave Buck said of the increase, "I knew it would be big, but it's really big." Meanwhile, Harper's press conference on NBC Sports Philadelphia on Saturday "ranked No. 1 in the region among key demographics, beating out college basketball and more" (MLB.com, 3/5).
