Last month’s debut of SunTrust Park resulted in a new revenue record for the Atlanta Braves, according to Liberty Media.
Liberty Media, which owns the Braves, recently released its first-quarter earnings, and simultaneously revealed the new record for the Braves. The April 14 opener against the San Diego Padres drew 41,149 fans and set new revenue records across sales for tickets, merchandise, and concessions, providing a financial success story on a night that also saw the Braves pull off a 5-2 victory.
While the revenue from that game was earned in the second quarter, Liberty Media noted the record when it revealed its first-quarter report. More from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“The team put on a hugely successful opening day,” Liberty Media president and CEO Greg Maffei, who attended the game, said on the call with investment analysts. “All revenue fronts exceeded expectations. We saw World Series-type retail and concession numbers.”
Liberty didn’t disclose specific figures for opening-night revenue.
Although SunTrust Park has about 9,000 fewer seats than predecessor Turner Field, higher ticket prices – particularly for about 4,000 premium seats – are expected to drive higher revenue. Braves officials also noted on opening night that food-and-beverage sales were unusually strong.
As the only new ballpark opening in the majors this year–and the first to debut since Marlins Park in 2012–SunTrust Park should attract plenty of attention throughout the season. The ballpark will also have more amenities surrounding it soon, as development on the remaining phases of The Battery continue. Portions of the development have already opened, and Liberty Media has reported that work on the rest of The Battery is on time and on budget.