Tickets.com Client Spotlight: Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers' ticket sales 10 percent ahead of 2008
The Business Journal of Milwaukee
by Mark Kass

As the Milwaukee Brewers opened their home schedule Friday at Miller Park, the team has already sold 1.8 million tickets, a 10 percent increase compared with last season.

Rick Schlesinger, Brewers' executive vice president of business operations, said demand for tickets has been high, despite the current economic downturn.

"Ticket sales have been in a word -- great," he said in an interview this week. "It is a great tribute to our fans and the demand and interest there is in this team this year."

The Brewers set an all-time franchise attendance mark of more than 3 million fans in 2008 when the team went to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.

Schlesinger said the team would like to exceed 3 million again, but it will depend on how the Brewers do on the field.

"We have had a good start for ticket sales, but it always comes down to how the team plays," he said. "If we are in the playoff race in September, we will have very good year at the gate."

The team has added a new seating area to Miller Park -- a 42-seat elevated seating area that was built in left-center field. It is called the “Harley-Davidson Deck” and features Harley-Davidson motorcycles built into the decor.

Members of Harley Owners Group (HOG) will receive discounted tickets, which will include food buffet and two complementary beverages, to the deck for all games.

Schlesinger said the seating area is already sold out for about 80 percent of the home games.

In addition, the renamed AirTran Airways Landing Zone seating area in right field is sold out for 90 percent of the home games.

AirTran Airways signed a multi-year partnership with the Milwaukee Brewers in January, the centerpiece of which was naming rights to an all-inclusive outfield seating area that has been renamed the AirTran Airways Landing Zone.