January 21, 200620 yr Spring ticket sales up nearly 17 percent By Joe Capozzi Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, January 21, 2006 JUPITER ? If there is any fan backlash about the changing of the Marlins' roster, it's not being felt yet at the spring training box office. The Marlins, who have slashed the payroll, will report to spring training without Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca. But the team already has sold 28,247 tickets ? through group, mini-plan and season-ticket packages ? for games this spring, an increase of nearly 17 percent compared to this time last year, said Rob Rabenecker, general manager of Roger Dean Stadium. "I was going into the season expecting to see a drop of 20 to 25 percent and it's been just the opposite," he said. "I'm pleasantly surprised." Ticket sales for the St. Louis Cardinals, who share the stadium with the Marlins, also have increased. The Cardinals have sold 40,131 tickets, a jump of nearly 17 percent. Individual tickets for Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals spring games at Roger Dean will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the stadium. During the Marlins' three years of training in Jupiter, fans have lined up as early as 6 a.m. for the spring training "open house." Tickets also will be available starting at 9 a.m. through Ticketmaster. Fans interested in tickets for the stadium's biggest games ? Boston vs. Florida on March 8, New York Yankees vs. St. Louis on March 17 and Yankees vs. Marlins on March 18 ? still have a chance to earn a ticket to one of those sold-out games while doing something good. The Community Blood Center has purchased 100 tickets to each of the three games and will give two tickets to people who donate blood at the stadium starting at 9 a.m. For regular-season tickets, the Marlins will have a select-a-seat event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 28 at Dolphins Stadium. The Marlins' winter caravan will begin Feb. 6 and conclude Feb. 11 with FanFest at Dolphins Stadium. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...rlins_0121.html
January 21, 200620 yr WOW!!!!!!!!! Great NEWS!! Maybe that this little satidum threat willl boost sales for the regular season and many ppl will buy at fanfest! COOL STUFF!
January 21, 200620 yr It's probably because the schedule features more games against desireable opponents (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Cardinals). Not being mean, just trying to explain it.
January 21, 200620 yr It's probably because the schedule features more games against desireable opponents (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Cardinals). Not being mean, just trying to explain it. "through group, mini-plan and season-ticket packages" tends to mean that these buyers have made a commitment for the Grapefruit season.
January 21, 200620 yr It's probably because the schedule features more games against desireable opponents (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Cardinals). Not being mean, just trying to explain it. "through group, mini-plan and season-ticket packages" tends to mean that these buyers have made a commitment for the Grapefruit season. Yeah, but it's probably a Dolphin like numbers fudging where mini plans are purchased and a pre-sale is given for the desireable games, while those numbers still figure into the numerical total. Like the Dolphins allow pre-season presales for the Patriots and Jets, I'm sure the Marlins are doing this with the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.
January 21, 200620 yr Marlins Front Office needs to treat fans similarly to the Dolphins Organization. How about some perks and custoemr service?
January 21, 200620 yr Author It's probably because the schedule features more games against desireable opponents (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Cardinals). Not being mean, just trying to explain it. "through group, mini-plan and season-ticket packages" tends to mean that these buyers have made a commitment for the Grapefruit season. True, but, If they wanted to see the Yanks, Sox etc: they would have bought single game tickets rather than season tix or the mini game plan. If people wanted to see the Mets or the Cards why are they buying Marlins season tix rather than Mets/Cards season tickets? The Cards play in the same stadium and the Mets play about 30 minutes from RDS! Maybe its because people really want to watch this team in ST. If something good happens everyone wants to make all these excuses.
January 21, 200620 yr A bit surprising, but good news nonetheless. It probably has more to do with a growing population in Palm Beach nd St. Lucie Counties that enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of ST games.
January 21, 200620 yr Spring Training will be quite unlike recent years. In the past, the players who made the team rarely played and were nearly always available for autographs. This year, anyone who stands to make the team will be busting their butts throughout to be able to beat out their competitors for jobs.
January 21, 200620 yr That's very strange...between the loss of most of our roster, and the fact that Willis and Cabrera will be gone for most of ST for the WBC...
January 21, 200620 yr I hate to be the cold water coming from the shower.......but it's Spring Training and means nothing. People come to Spring Training from all over the world to watch their teams play. Let's see how the Marlins draw during the week in April and May when they're not giving something away.....my guess is horrible! And if it's a day game, you'll be able to count the heads in the stadium without having to announce the crowd.
January 22, 200620 yr I wonder how many people would be at a marlins day game at home in July when d-train isnt pitching?
January 22, 200620 yr They don't come to Fort Myers this year because Boston is visiting Roger Dean. I hope to make a game or two at Dolphins Stadium this season, but a visit to Roger Dean may not be out of the question...and I don't mean the Chevy dealer on the corner Pine Island and Santa Barbara here in the Cape. In other news, Cape Coral is going after the Cleveland Indians..... 2006: Indians Spring Training? 2036: Florida Marlins? :mischief J/K guys
January 22, 200620 yr Alright well I got Standing Room Only on Marlins side vs the Yankees.... can someone who knows a lot about Roger Dean give me some insight... I obviously want to get Yankee autographs before the game, like 2 hrs early.... so would I be permitted to Yankees side access? This is just for the 2 hrs before, like BP etc... is it possible? Please shed some info, Thanks. Anyone happen to know what Hotel the Yankees might be staying at overnight because they play Cardinals day before.
January 22, 200620 yr Alright well I got Standing Room Only on Marlins side vs the Yankees.... can someone who knows a lot about Roger Dean give me some insight... I obviously want to get Yankee autographs before the game, like 2 hrs early.... so would I be permitted to Yankees side access? This is just for the 2 hrs before, like BP etc... is it possible? Please shed some info, Thanks. Anyone happen to know what Hotel the Yankees might be staying at overnight because they play Cardinals day before. There's no problem getting auto's before the game along the field where the bullpens are. The Cardinals take the 1B side of the field. You can get a spot to stand right behind home plate if you like. It's first come first serve.
January 22, 200620 yr I wonder how many people would be at a marlins day game at home in July when d-train isnt pitching? About the same amount tha came out to see Carlos Delgado and Armando Benitez? :mischief
January 23, 200620 yr That's lovely, but regular season ticket sales will drop about 50%, which means more legroom for me and it will easier to upgrade.
January 23, 200620 yr Spring training audience is completely different than regular season audience. Many of our opponents fans will be coming down during the spring to watch their teams. Plus Jupiter is great place and the Roger Dean is a great stadium. I don't think Marlins attendance will break 1.2 million this year.
January 23, 200620 yr Along those same lines, the "season ticket" and "minigame" packages bought for Spring Training are usually snowbirds or retirees who live down here and are "baseball fans" not Marlins fans or Cardinals fans per se. Most of those folks are gone by the time the regular season starts. It's great that sales are up 17%, but, then again, this season both the Sox and Yanks are coming to Jupiter, there's your 17% right there. I'm sure I'll have no problem walking up to the box office in a couple of weeks and getting tix to a Nats or Dodger ST game.
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