A sellout crowd of 9,848 fans filled Clearwater's Spectrum Field for Harper's Phillies debut on MondayGETTY IMAGES
Hype around the Phillies' signing of Bryce Harper has been palpable in the two weeks since the deal, and fans "are invested," but this is the "most cautious case of hysteria in sports history," according to Marcus Hayes of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The Phillies currently "stand at 12,700 season tickets, an increase of 3,200, or, incredibly," more than 33%. However, only the opener is "sold out." Fans are "hopeful, but skeptical." Even if the Harper buzz is "no longer palpable, the effect remains tangible." A sellout crowd of 9,848 fans filled Spectrum Field for Rays-Phillies on Monday, and team officials said that more than 20,000 Spring Training tickets sold the "first week after the news of his signing broke." By Monday, Spectrum Field had "turned into Bryce Harper, Inc.: authentic jerseys, $120; seven different varieties of T-shirts and tank tops, $35-$48; cotton Harper caps with a Liberty Bell logo, $30" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/12).
PREPARING FOR THE PANDEMONIUM: THE ATHLETIC's Meghan Montemurro noted the Phillies’ business and marketing departments "developed three plans this offseason: One for if they signed Manny Machado, one for Harper and another if they signed neither." As talks with Harper "started to heat up, the business department debated whether to reserve time on billboards in Philadelphia." Phillies Senior VP/Ticket Operations & Projects John Weber told the Phillies’ call-center employees that if Harper signed with the organization, they "would need reinforcements." In-season promotions "were considered as well." The Phillies "saved a date on their ballpark giveaway schedule for a potential Harper or Machado signing." As Spring Training continued, brand marketing, advertising and social media teams "had daily meetings at the Phillies’ spring training complex." Ten days before it became official, the Phillies "began working on the graphic that would be used on the team’s Twitter and Instagram posts to announce the Harper deal." They also "worked on something similar for Machado." Harper this season will be at the "center of the Phillies’ marketing strategy as they look to return to the postseason for the first time" since '11 (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/8).
