With a slight attendance dip last season and a disappointing number of walk-up sales, the Tacoma Rainiers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are looking at ballpark improvements to attract the impulsive.
The team just ended a second season at a renovated Cheney Stadium: after setting an attendance record in 2011, the numbers were down last season. In response, team president Aaron Altman says the Rainiers are looking at additional ballpark features designed to attract walk-up sales, which are traditionally weak. From the News Tribune:
“We have the lowest walk-up in the league,” Artman said. “In terms of our market size, we should get another 50,000 a year in walk-up.”
One explanation might be the location of the stadium, almost suburban and dependent on fans driving to the ballpark. In the highest-attendance cities, the ballparks are downtown or among other attractions….
He’d like to attract more 20-somethings with an expanded beer garden, similar to The Pen at Safeco Field. And he promised better food and better service next year with emphasis on local products.
Image by binw.marketing, via flickr.com.
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