In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes the fact that Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom admitted that the team would be worse without RF Mookie Betts following his trade to the Dodgers was a "refreshing bit of honesty at a time when accountability" is in "short supply on Jersey Street." This is an "enormous moment in Red Sox history." By "every measure, the trading of Betts is going to impact the Red Sox franchise competitively, financially, culturally, and at the box office for years to come" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/12).
STAYING ON TOP: For the second straight year, the Hawks and State Farm Arena "finished first in overall in-game experience among season-ticket holders in an NBA-wide survey recently completed by the league." The Hawks also finished with "top-5 rankings in overall satisfaction and Net Promoter Score, how likely an individual is to recommend season tickets" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/12).
GROWING THE HOME BASE: In Nashville, Drake Hills notes MLS expansion club Nashville SC yesterday unveiled an "inaugural season ticket membership program." The "First String MLS Founding Members program" will offer "incentives for fans who become inaugural Nashville SC season ticket holders before" the club's first game Feb. 29. Perks "include priority seat selection, preferred pricing on future season tickets and a permanent display of founding members' names at the club's future soccer stadium" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/12).
