Triple-A Round Rock Express See Merch Boost From Astros Switch

The Triple-A PCL Round Rock Express' affiliation switch from the Rangers to the Astros is "boosting revenue" for the club, "particularly merchandise sales," according to a source cited by Kevin Lyttle of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Express GM Tim Jackson said that souvenir sales are "where the 20-year-old franchise has distanced itself from last year," even when "taking into account the expected bump a club gets from an affiliation swap." Jackson said overall merchandise sales are up 49%. He added, "We initially ran out of stock of throwback jerseys, but cap sales are the biggest thing, by far. Our best-selling item is the Fauxback cap. We've gotten positive bumps in a lot of areas." Meanwhile, at the Triple-A All-Star Break, the team's home attendance is up slightly, about 2.4%, or 210 fans per night, compared to this time last year (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/11).

FUN WITH NUMBERS: SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL's David Broughton reported MiLB and its 160 clubs in the U.S. and Canada combined for a record $73.9M in merchandise sales last year, up 4% from '17's $70.9M. That marks the category's "ninth straight annual increase." That bump was "certainly helped by the success of the nascent Hispanic/Latino fan engagement initiative Copa de la Diversion, or Fun Cup" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/8 issue).

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THE NAME GAME: In Jacksonville, Clayton Freeman noted 24 of the top 25 teams in sales "bear a name different" from their MLB parent club, and many of them "bring a decidedly offbeat flavor," including the El Paso Chihuahuas, Richmond Flying Squirrels and Sacramento River Cats. The Pawtucket Red Sox are the lone exception (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/9).