A whole new game: Downturn impacts Bucks, Packers - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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The team raised ticket pricee an average of 4 percent for the2009 season, somewhat scaled back from what it might have done in better economicf times, Schlesinger said. “We spent a lot of time looking at what othert teams did after they madethe playoffs, whilwe also factoring in where the economy was,” he said. “zA lot of teams that have made the playoffs in the past have raisex prices bydouble digits. But we want to err on the side of The Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals lowered thei r ticket prices for the2009 season, but Schlesingef said most other teams have held stable or had small increases.
As for sponsorships, Schlesinget said the Brewers are projected tohave “a percent increase in The biggest deal was the new pact signecd by in January to be the presenting sponso r of the team. Terms were not disclosed, but it is the largest sponsorship deal other than the naminf rights deal for Miller Park signed by The team lost one of itsmajot sponsors, , which puller out of its naming rights deal for the rightfield picnic area at the end of the 2008 signed a multiyear partnership this week to take over the which will be renamed the AirTran Airways Landingb Zone.
Schlesinger said the team moverd ahead with all of its planneed Miller Parkcapital projects, including the overhaul of the team’s retaiol store along the leftfield The only project that has been put off is the replacemenyt of the centerfield scoreboard, whicbh was planned for 2010. “It is a huge investment for us and we just decidedd it would be better if we wait a year or he said. “It is not like the existing scoreboarde isnot working.” Schlesinger said the Brewers have not reducedc staff, but the team is not expecting to add any new positionz in the coming months. “We are doinhg much better thanother teams,” he said.
“But we know that can So we are watching everything very Steinmiller said the team is averaging slightly morethan 15,00 fans per game, down from the 15,609 it averaged during the 2007-08 At a recent Monday night game, there was an announcedf crowd of about 12,000. “People who in the past have come to 10 gamesz are now coming to seven or he said. “People are more pricew conscious.” In response, the Bucks offered most of theBradlet Center’s upper level seats for $10 per game in November and December. The team also introduced special deals with that includew ticketsand pizza, along with a soon-to-be-announced similar deal with Applebee’a restaurants.
The Bucks have signed with to includes a ticket special in all of thecablw company’s Milwaukee-area bills in the coming For existing ticket holders, the team has addef pre-game events with Bucks’ general manager John along with new club areazs for fans to get food and drink during the “I really think the $10 ticket gave us a bump and blunter a little effect of what was going on in the Steinmiller said. Team Marketing Report’xs Jon Greenberg said the Bucks are in a tougj position because they have to be careful that theit discount ticketoffers don’t offend the fans buying the high-pricec seats near the court.
“You don’gt want to insult your season ticket holderswith cut-ratre prices,” he said. “Bugt on the other hand, given their struggles over the pastfew seasons, the Bucks are goint to have to be incredibly creative to get people in the seats.” Steinmiller said the team has increasedf its focus on customer service, knowing the importancew of keeping existing ticket buyers. “We just can’t surrender to the he said. “You have to be aggressivre and try new things to make sure peopl keep coming throughthe door.” HITTING THE WALLET The average tickef price for all three Wisconsin professionakl sports teams is below the league averages.