June 18, 2008 [LINK / comment]
Be$t $eat$ in the hou$e
Sunday's Washington Post surveyed the upper range of seating prices for major league stadiums, for those exclusive "club" sections that come with complimentary drinks and food. As the first sentence in that article correctly points out, that is why the Yankees are replacing "The House that Babe Built," not because of any structural deficiencies. Not surprisingly, the Nationals came in fourth overall, and the wood paneling inside the "Presidential Club" looks like it belongs in Georgetown or on K Street NW. Here are the teams charging in the three-figure range:
| Team | 2008 average premium ticket price |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | $222.38 |
| Yankees | $203.72 |
| Red Sox | $163.86 |
| Nationals | $125.00 |
| Twins | $113.61 |
| Mets | $103.58 |
The question is whether rising ticket prices can be sustained in a recessionary economy, and how such pricing strategies might affect attendance at baseball games. Nationals President Stan Kasten brushed off questions about whether some sections at Nationals Park are over-priced, which is not an encouraging sign. Of course, for the folks at the top of the heap, the "good times" never stop rolling...
Coincidentally, Bruce Orser recently forwarded to me an article from the April 6, 1960 edition of the Sporting News, which describes the new plush swiveling, cushioned seats being installed in Yankee Stadium. The total cost of the upgrade was $65,000 -- a pittance by today's standards, and all of it was paid for by the fans. You'll never believe how much box seats for season ticket holders cost back then: eight dollars! High-class refreshments meant hot and cold water on tap, instant coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate, and boullion. How times change...
Mets fire Randolph
Willie Randolph was fired by the Mets during the wee hours of Tuesday morning, which seemed pretty tacky, and probably not necessary. Pinning the blame on a "fall guy" is not how an organization succeeds. I hate to say it, but I think the Mets have caught "Yankees Disease" -- they've become a bunch of high-priced superstars who are more devoted to themselves than to the team as a whole. 
Another low-key manager whose team is underperforming, Manny Acta, seems secure in his job as manager of the Nationals for now...
Nationals Park tweak
After further scrutiny of photos in the team magazine and ones I've taken, I have made a few minor adjustments to the Nationals Park diagram.