MLBN's daily schedule lets fans follow spring training games both in Florida and Arizona, with at least two broadcasts daily. It's interesting to see the teams that draw in spring and the ones that don't. And yes, there's often a correlation between win-loss records in the regular season. Despite the economy, the Phillies have been playing to standing-room-only crowds at their Clearwater park.
Given the innovative variety of ticket plans and offers being flogged during spring training games, lots of teams are scrambling this spring to fill their parks during the regular season. Take the Pittsburgh Pirates, who play in one of the two best new parks in baseball, the other being at the opposite end of the state. They are offering a full-season ticket plan for $399. That's 81 games, folks, at about $5 per game. That's less than my minor league season tickets cost, and the minors have a shorter season. Those seats are, no doubt, in the upper reaches of the ball park, but those wishing to sit at field level can actually do so for about $600 for the season. For the season!
Other plans include free jersey give-aways for group ticket buyers and opportunities to be on the field for batting practice for higher-priced plans.
The beautifully-located Pittsburgh park is almost always empty. When it does fill up, you know it's Opening Day or visiting fans are in the house or there's some kind of promotion that night or a concert after the game. But how can a baseball fan in Pittsburgh, not even of the Pirates, pass up season tickets for $399?
On the other hand, $30 or so will get you a seat behind home plate to most games, and that's as a walk-up.
