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March 2, 2009

An Open Letter To The Atlanta Braves

Posted: 05:30 AM ET

Writer Keith

Dear Atlanta Braves,

I was extremely excited this past Thursday to see that single game tickets for the home season were going on sale. I was looking forward to buying tickets for one of the games that my beloved Boston Red Sox were in town. See, I'd buy all three games but my daughter will most likely be two weeks old by the time the Sox hit town.

Don't worry about that booing, you have 5 more games to warm this crowd up.

So you can imagine my surprise when I found out that the only way to get Red Sox-Braves tickets was to buy a multi-game pack. I understand you can't sell out your ballpark for regular season games during the week, but holding customers that cheer for certain teams (Red Sox and Yankees) over the barrel is just flat out wrong.

This may be the first time since 1918 that Yankee fans and Red Sox fans see eye-to-eye. Well with the exception of agreeing that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez should never have been together.

As you may or may not know, the economy is in the toilet. I don't think it is that much of a stretch to say attendance at ballparks across the country is going to be down this year. Many families cannot afford to go to one Major League Baseball game, let alone six. So why would you put provisions on fans that are willing customers?

Along with that, think about how you may be hurting our local economy. Many people may have been looking to fly into our fair city to catch the series. What are they going to do with three sets of other tickets? I have flown to Baltimore in September to catch the Sox play the Orioles. With a team 20 games out of the lead, the fine people of Baltimore were happy to get money for their hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and bars seeing as Camden Yards would have been pretty much a graveyard for any other team.

I have been an Atlanta resident for nearly ten years. The only times I have seen Turner Field full is for three teams. Boston, the Yankees, and the Cubs. See, our fine town is filled with people from other places. I enjoy going to "the Ted" despite the fact that there is pretty much nothing to do around the stadium and that the ushers can be sometimes pushy. I was so much looking forward to see my Red Sox during Saturday afternoon’s matinee, but was given the facepalm by your ticketing policy.

Maybe it's me, but I'd rather have a sell-out for ten games then have a bunch of disinterested fans.

What about you? were you burned by the Braves' multi-game ticket plan? Any other baseball ticket policies that you find disappointing?

Posted by: Baseball, the braves, the red sox, Writer Keith
Filed under: Morning Express crew • Sports

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javajunkie1960

March 2nd, 2009 7:17 am ET

In these hard economic times you would think that the Braves would have a heart and put this practice on hold for this season, better yet just remove it all together... Where is their compassion for the people in their community who are avid fans of baseball and who have lost their jobs or had their hours cut back and can't afford to buy this multi-pack???

larry thomas

March 2nd, 2009 9:27 am ET

I agree with Keith after the way thay played the last two years any
ticket thay can sell is a plus

Shane

March 2nd, 2009 9:37 am ET

I don't really know too much about baseball ticket policies. I just know that their TOO much and many people can not afford them now with the economy the way it is. The prices should be lowered and you should be able to buy single game tickets. You shouldn't have to buy a pack to see the games you want. Then what? Go to games you have no interest in seeing. That's kinda stupid

Stephen Coney

March 3rd, 2009 5:31 am ET

Just another bad play by another MLB club. If MLB cared more about it's fans and less about the greenbacks perhaps there would be more fans in the stands.

Mom

March 3rd, 2009 7:54 am ET

Keith, Guess what?? Redsox.com is also selling the game pax for Atlanta games. Maybe Atlanta asked for help in selling these packages?? Why do they think I want to attend a game in August or September in Atlanta?? Apparently, no one else is buying. Heard of a similar practice for Red Sox game tickets in Cinncinatti. What's going on???

Writer Keith

March 3rd, 2009 9:10 am ET

Philadelphia and Washington are both having "ticket lotteries" to get Red Sox tickets if you don't buy a "flex pack." The Phillies I can see, but the Nationals? The ushers and beer guys don't want to be at those games.

Why are the Braves to blame?

March 3rd, 2009 1:45 pm ET

You have lived in Atlanta 10 years and only go to watch the Yanks, Cubs or Red Sox? Why should they change their policy for you? You are not a Braves fan, in fact they are telling you kiss their @ass for living in a town 10 years and giving zip for support to the city you live in.

Rather than have the seats full of out of town rejects, the Braves are wisely boosting the numbers for other games, they get to claim you as being there even if you feed your new crumcruncher on the couch.

You want Bo Sox tickets so you can prop your team, good pay the price and shut bean town yap!

Writer Keith

March 5th, 2009 3:58 pm ET

Just for the record: I have seen the Braves play: the Red Sox; the Giants; the Reds; the Mets; the Expos (yes, the Expos); the Rockies; the Padres; the Phillies; the Cubs; the Pirates; and the D'Backs.

Writer Keith

March 5th, 2009 4:08 pm ET

To add to my previous comment: I was the head of the "Outback Austell Marcus Giles Fan Club,." Marcus, the teams past 2nd baseman, is a pal of mine and I spent nearly $200 on t-shirts for people.

Lucy

March 11th, 2009 9:16 am ET

We won't be taking n any Braves games the flex package rules out taking our family out to the ball park. Every year we have taken our grand kids and spent a few days in Atlanta taking n the sight's and spending a day at the ball park. Not this year instead of taking the four hour drive to Atlanta we are going camping. They can keep the flex packs our 12 seats will be empty

March 30th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

Here's a suggestion – buy the pack for your "BELOVED" Sawk and sell the games you don't want...
btw – I'm glad you can't make it – the only thing worse than having to put up with Red Sox fans is to put up with obnoxious Cub fans.

GO BRAVES!!!!!!

michael

April 8th, 2009 2:10 pm ET

I am in agreement. This new "policy" will push away a lot of baseball fans. I myself live in Atlanta and only go to see my hometown team. I was extremely disappointed with this new ticket scam.

Even if people were to buy the plans, they probably wouldn't be able to sell the other tickets, they can't sell turner field out anyway!

Take away your "Braves" pride and imagine living somewhere else and being told you have to buy all of these other tickets to see your Braves play. I don't think you would defend this ridiculous move then...

Eric Johnson

April 15th, 2009 3:06 pm ET

I am an avid Braves fan and have lived in Atlanta my whole life. I attend around twenty games a year and would like to see the Bravos play the sox and yankees but forcing you to buy a four game pack is just not right to me. Go Braves!!!!

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