Great Depression’s Impact on Baseball Finances

In January, the New York Times looked back at how the Depression affected attendance in Major League Baseball.  While attendance did drop, baseball handled the economic pains of the time better than most industries.  It seems like a similar thing is true today.

A few weeks later, Dave Rouleau at The Biz of Baseball wrote up a good report emphasizing that looked at different opinions on how national economic health affected attendance, but then concluded that baseball had shielded its financial health to a pretty good degree by emphasizing revenue streams other than ticket sales.

I’m not sure how much stock I put in the various historical comparisons to ticket sales during economic downturns.  There are so many different factors in play – significance of sports in American’s lives, population (it’s a lot easier to get 40,000 people out of 3 million to do something than it is to get 40,000 out of 250,000), increased emphasis on season tickets and people’s desire to hold onto seniority, other leisure activity options available, etc., that I’m not sure any of the studies referenced in the linked articles are really worth that much.  Still, they are interesting and worth checking out.

Red Sox Sellout Streak Continues

Despite some earlier troubles (relatively speaking) the Red Sox seemed to be having in selling tickets, it appears their consecutive sellout streak will make it all the way through season.  There was some doubt about Wednesday’s day/night doubleheader since it included a midweek day game and weather had not been great.  But the Red Sox sold out both games and the odds are very good that, at the end of the season, the streak will be up to 549 games.

Steakhouse in SBC Park Apparently Not Close to Worth It

Michael Bauer, food critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, turned in a scathing review of the Acme Chophouse, the steakhouse in SBC Park.  Why anyone would want to order a steak at a baseball game is beyond me, but upscale dining at sporting events is clearly the current trend.

MLB Has a Lot of Deals This Year

Major League Baseball has compiled an exhaustive list of various ticket and food deals from each team in baseball.  Given that many teams deals are written in the first person and some teams have deals listed that others have but are not listed makes me think that all MLB did was cut and paste a bunch of lists together.  Still, it is a very useful resource.  I’ve gone through the list and picked out what I think the best and/or most unique deals out there.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
• 26,000 seats are priced at $15 or less for non-premier games; more than 5,000 seats are $5.
• D-backs 10-Pack Plus features 10 tickets to games of the fans choice, plus a $10 Fry’s Food Store gift card for just $120.
• The D-backs have had the lowest average ticket price among Major League Baseball teams since 2007. Their average ticket price of $15.96 in 2008 was nearly $10 below the MLB average ticket price of $25.40.
• The D-backs have reduced or not raised ticket prices on 76% of the seats at Chase Field with their season ticket pricing for the 2009 season, marking the third consecutive season the D-backs have reduced or not raised prices on a majority of the seats at Chase Field.

ATLANTA BRAVES
• Skyline seats – $1 tickets (186 of them available for each game 3 hours prior to the game.)
• $6 Upper Pavilion tickets available for every game.
• Season Tickets – as low as $249.
• No money down, no payments for 90 days through GE Financing (credit check required)
• A fan can also mix and match any combination of parks with a Braves game. Examples –The Big Catch – Braves game and Georgia Aquarium for $36, fan saves $16. The Double Play – Braves game and Six Flags for $36, fan saves $19.99. The Triple Play – Braves game, Six Flags and Stone Mountain for $56, fan saves $25.99.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
• Kids Night – children ages 10 and under attend Thursday Orioles home games for free when they are accompanied by a paying adult.
• Birthday Ticket Offer – a free ticket voucher to a game during their birthday month (Jan, Feb and March birthdays valid for April; Oct, Nov and Dec birthdays valid for September).
• Bleacher’s & Boog’s – On Thursdays, fans can purchase a Eutaw Street Bleacher seat and a Boog’s BBQ sandwich for $15 (value of $25).
• Kids-sized (and priced) concession stands

BOSTON RED SOX
• Freezing Ticket Prices – The Red Sox froze ticket prices for all seating categories at Fenway Park for the 2009 season. Food prices also stayed the same, the first time that has happened since 2002.
• This year the Red Sox will host a series of special sessions once a homestand where fans attending games can meet and take photos with a player or coach. The photo sessions, which will take place after the end of Red Sox Batting Practice for approximately 30 minutes, will begin during the second homestand and continue throughout the regular season.

CHICAGO CUBS
• The Cubs offer a handful of value days where tickets start as low as $9.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
• Value Mondays – Monday home games this season will offer half off the regular price of tickets for Value Mondays. We have six value Mondays during the 2009 season.
• Family Pack – The Family Pack is a $16 ticket package on select home games that includes an Upper Reserved game ticket and a voucher redeemable for a hot dog value meal (hot dog, chips and a soft drink).

CINCINNATI REDS
• Baker’s Dozen – In honor of Reds Manager Dusty Baker, fans can purchase a season-ticket package that gives you 13 weekend games for the price of 12. Fans choose all Fridays, all Saturdays or all Sundays.
• 3 Innings & Lunch – For select Paycor Business Day Specials, fans can purchase a View Level ticket and a food voucher for up to $10 in concessions for just $15.
• Straight-A Program – For schools that enroll in the program, the Reds and Duke Energy provide two free View Level tickets to students in grades 7-12 who have an “A” average and friends and family are able to purchase additional View Level tickets at half-price for the same game.
• Senior Citizen Specials – For 12 designated games, fans 60 and older may purchase select non-premium tickets at half-price in advance of game day only.
• $5 Outer View Level tickets.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
• Value Based Ticket Pricing: The Indians have developed an innovative value based ticket strategy to debut in 2009. Based on our market research, our ticket buyer’s feedback and their buying habits, the Cleveland Indians organization has responded with a ticket structure that is based on the concept that not all 81 home games are created equal. The inherent reality of the six-month MLB season dictates that a weekday game in April/May has a different perceived value than a summer weekend game. As a result, we have priced the 2009 season accordingly. Four pricing categories have been established for the 2009 season– Spring Super Savers (13 Games- Best Seats 50% OFF); Spring Value (8 Games), Summer Value (29 Games) and Prime (31 Games).

COLORADO ROCKIES
• Opening Day Triple Play – Buy tickets for Opening Day and receive two more games in April or May at half price!
• Rockpile Tickets – Tickets to sit in the Rockpile section are only $4.

DETROIT TIGERS
• $5.00 Tickets are available for every Tigers’ home game including premium dates.
• $5.00 Parking is available every home game.
• Season ticket packages start as low as $243.00 and include complimentary food vouchers at Monday-Thursday home games, merchandise discount, and discounted parking options.
• More than half of the 41,255 seats in Comerica Park are priced at $22-or-less for non-premium games.
• The Detroit Tigers Inc. annually donates between 50,000-80,000 tickets to charitable groups allowing Tigers fans the opportunity to enjoy Tigers baseball at Comerica Park.

FLORIDA MARLINS
• Marlins Mortgage Payout: Each Saturday, the Marlins will award one fan up to $2,500 toward his/her monthly mortgage or rent payment; Twice, the Marlins will award one lucky fan at each game with a check for up to $15,000 toward his/her mortgage or the remainder of the their lease.
• Go Green, Get Green with Marlins Baseball: Vehicles containing four (4) fans or more will receive a complimentary $25 voucher toward the purchase of tickets for select future Marlins games.
• Marlins Workforce Mondays: The Marlins are providing unemployed South Florida residents the opportunity to take advantage of up to four (4) complimentary tickets to Monday Marlins home games in 2009.
• Marlins Stars and Stripes Program: For the seventh season, through its “Stars and Stripes” ticket program Active and Reserve personnel, National Guard, and their dependents can attend Sunday Marlins games at no cost.
• Family Sundays: Every Sunday home game is Marlins Family Sunday. Fans are encouraged to head to Strike Zone early as gates open at 11:30AM. Family Sunday activities at the Strike Zone at Gate H include Snapshot Sunday (where fans can take pictures with a Marlins player for a limited time).
• Super Saturdays: The first 25,000 fans through the stadium gates get a special giveaway that lets the fans be part of the show. The party at the Strike Zone starts at 5;30PM with live music from Dueling Pianos, celebrity and player autograph sessions, the Mermaids, the Manatees, DJ M.Dot, and more. At the conclusion of each Saturday home game, fans will be treated to a spectacular fireworks show, followed by a live on-field concert from popular recording artists. Confirmed acts for the 2009 season include K.C. and the Sunshine Band and The Village People.

HOUSTON ASTROS
• Outfield Deck Seats – Tickets are $1 for Kids and $7 for Adults.
• Special Ticket Packages – 10 for $20. This online ticket offer gives fans the opportunity to purchase tickets to 10 Houston Astros games for only $20!
• Seats for $20 or Less – Minute Maid Park has 13,421 seats (30% of our total inventory) with an every day price of $20 or less.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
• Dri-Duck Fountain Seats – New in 2009, Dri-Duck Fountain Seats are available only on game days for just $5, which is the lowest ticket price offered at Kauffman Stadium since the 2001 season.
• Royal Mondays – $5 Upper Level tickets (excluding View Box) for all Monday games, excluding September 21.
• Military Mondays – Show a valid Military ID any Monday home game and get a free Outfield Box or View Box ticket.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
• Family Sundays (13 games) – Each Sunday is Family Sunday on the Terrace Level out in Centerfield. Kids can take in arts and crafts, balloon artists, face painting and games under the Angel Tents. Prior to the start of each game, a Pop Fly contest is held in the outfield where one lucky kid is chosen to test his/her ability to catch fly balls.
• Season Seat Holder Kids Clinics – Children of Angels Season Seat holders are invited to participate in on-field baseball related activities. Each event will be limited to the number of participants that meet age eligibility. There will be two clinics in 2009.
• Photo Day – Angel fans are given the chance to get up close to their favorite Angel. A limited number of fans will be allowed down onto the field warning track to take photos of Angels’ players and coaches from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• $3 Kids & Teens Nights – $3 Tickets available for select home games.
• Ultimate Father’s Day Sweepstakes – The Ultimate Father’s Day Sweepstakes, gives fans the opportunity to play catch with their father at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 21st. Fifteen (15) winners will receive this once in a lifetime opportunity, tickets to the game, stadium parking and an Angels’ baseball.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
• Affordable pricing ranges from the $4 per seat “Blue Heaven” ticket package on the Top Deck – the most affordable season ticket option in the city – 12-game mini plans starting at $48 per seat, the “Buy Two Get Two” season ticket option (the most affordable option on the Lower Reserve totals to $10 per seat and with this perk, you get four seats total for $5 each), and premier seating located between the bases on the Field Level can be bought for $65 per seat.
• At every home game, fans can shag fly balls and also visit Autograph Alley for an autograph from a Dodger legend at no additional cost.
• New lower-priced options for Coca-Cola soft drinks and water (also beer for adults).
• No increase in Dodger Dogs or any other food items from concession stands or vendors.
• Autograph Alley, which debuted in 2008, gives families a chance to meet a Dodgers Legend and get his autograph before every game.
• Similar to a program started in 2008, kids can shag home run balls behind a new, low, center field fence during Batting Practice.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
• Uecker Seats (81 dates) – $1 Terrace Reserved seats available day of game.
• McDonald’s Big Mac Mondays (6 dates) – Fans who purchase four Big Mac sandwiches at their local McDonald’s restaurant and present their four Big Mac box tops to the Miller Park Ticket Windows will receive two Terrace Reserved seats free, when they buy two tickets of equal or greater value.
• Brewers-State Fair Double Header Deal – For only $24, fans receive two Terrace Reserved Brewers tickets to one of five select “Fair Friday” Brewers games (May 1, May 29, June 26, July 24, or August 28 ) and two State Fair Admission Tickets good any day through the Fair’s 11-day run, August 6-August 16.
• Brewers-Timber Rattlers Fang-tastic Ticket Deal – $15 buys one Terrace Reserved ticket to one of six select Brewers games at Miller Park and one Reserved Bleacher ticket to one of six select Wisconsin Timber Rattlers games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin, plus a special edition t-shirt all for just $15.

MINNESOTA TWINS
• Monday – Market Mondays presented by WCCO AM – will provide a ticket in the Home Run Porch based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average at the close of business each Friday. If the Dow closes the week in the 8,000s, a ticket purchased for any 2009 Monday home game during the following week would be $8. If it closes in the 9000s, the ticket price is $9. If the Dow closes in the 6000’s, Home Run Porch tickets are $6 and so on. The cost of the tickets will rise and fall with the market. The adjustment would be made at the close of the business week each Friday. Not Available April 6th or May 25th
• Sunday – Blue Bunny Kids Day presented by 5 Eyewitness News – $21/$8. Two kids receive FREE admission in the Home Run Porch or Cheap Seats with the purchase of one adult ticket in same section.

NEW YORK METS
• Variable pricing model provides fans access to tickets starting at $11.
• More than 240,000 tickets priced at $15 and under for 28 games of 2009 Mets schedule.
• Families can pick from five dates when children can run the bases after the game in the Mr. Met dash.
• The Mets offer senior citizen discounts as well as Senior Strolls (on select dates where Seniors can stroll the base paths postgame)

NEW YORK YANKEES
• Senior Citizen Games – Senior Citizens (60 and older) can purchase $5 tickets for any Monday through Thursday game in designated seating locations.
• Student Games – Students who present their valid high school or college ID cards when purchasing tickets for any Wednesday game can receive one half-price ticket in designated seating locations.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
• Nearly 3,000 seats per game (Plaza Reserved) have a price of $9 per ticket for all games (premium and non-premium) during the season.
• BART double play Wednesdays will continue for all games, including premium games. This includes doubling the availability $2 tickets to over 9,000 seats per game. $1 Hot Dogs will also be offered throughout the ballpark.
• Reduced certain seating levels for 2009 while maintaining 2008 pricing for the remainder of the inventory.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
• Day of Game Drop Down Pricing(available 3 hours before game)- From 4/5 – 5/14 and 9/11 –10/4 $22 tickets are discounted down to $19, $20 tickets are discounted down to $17, and $16 tickets are discounted down to $13.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
• Single game ticket prices will remain the same price in 2009, the seventh straight year ticket prices will remain the same.
• Introduction of four new value-priced season packages. Starting as low as $399, or less than $5 a game, these packages cover nearly 14,000 seats (36-percent of ballpark capacity) and an average savings of more than 25-percent over last year’s season ticket price.
• Aggressive promotional schedule that includes 13 Dollar Dog Nights throughout the season, up from five last year. Those have also been shifted from Wednesday to Friday when more people have the ability to take advantage of the value.
• New Buc Night promotion on April 15, where fans can purchase $1 seats, $1 dogs, $1 twelve oz. Pepsi and $1 popcorn.
• Ticket prices start as low as $9 for every game.
• An extended payment plan is available for all new and renewing season ticket holders.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
• Kids Pricing – For all 81 games fans ages 15 and under may purchase tickets for only $7.00.
• KTRS 550 First Pitch – At 9:00 on the day of each home game, fans may purchase a voucher good for two tickets for only $5.50 per ticket. Fans redeem their voucher for actual tickets 15 minutes prior to game time. Tickets may be anywhere in the Stadium from infield field box to SRO. Up to 550 tickets distributed per game.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
• Coca-Cola Value Weekends – Get an Upper Reserved ticket, hot dog and a Coke, all for only $12 for any Friday through Sunday Padres regular season home game. Limit 8 tickets per purchase. A family of four can get 4 Upper Reserved tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 Cokes, all for only $48 for any Friday through Sunday Padres regular season home game. Limit 8 tickets per purchase.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
• Almost half of the seating capacity at AT&T Park is priced at $20-25 per ticket. And Monday-Thursday, fans can purchase a View Reserved outfield ticket for $10.
• Prices for 50 percent of single game ticket inventory has been reduced by $1 to $5 per ticket for the 2009 season.
• Dynamic Pricing: The Giants are the first MLB team to institute a dynamic pricing structure which allows the team to continually readjust ticket prices up to the morning of a game based on market demand. By using a computer model created by Texas based qcue, the Giants can adjust ticket prices – up or down – based on the market demand for the game. Dynamic pricing gives the team the flexibility to keep pace with the secondary ticket market and to adjust prices based on unforeseen factors that could increase or decrease demand for a specific game. This includes team performance, the starting pitcher, promotional giveaways or an opponents’ team performance.
• Knothole Gang: The Giants right field wall contains open archways, where fans can walk up and watch the game free of charge. The Giants also pipe in the team’s radio broadcast so fans can follow the game more closely.

SEATTLE MARINERS
• New this year is a “4 For 2″ season ticket special. Get four seats for the price of two when you buy full season tickets in select Field Level and Terrace Club Outfield locations.
• Least expensive seats in ballpark are the centerfield bleachers, which are still just $8 each.
• 501(c)(3) organizations can get special discounts for 40 select home games for fundraising purposes. They can buy $20 View Reserved seats for $8 and re-sell the tickets for any price they choose (up to face value) and keep the difference.

TAMPA BAY RAYS
• Cars with four or more persons park for free.
• Ticket prices are as low as $10 for most games.
• Game ticket also includes free admission to Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame and the Rays touch tank on game days at Tropicana Field.

TEXAS RANGERS
• Rangers/Six Flags Double Play – Save 50% with another new ticket discount for 2009, the Double Play combo from the Texas Rangers and Six Flags Over Texas. Each Double Play combo includes one Lower Box ticket to a Texas Rangers game and one adult admission to Six Flags Over Texas for only $50.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
• All season long, fans can purchase tickets for as low as $9.00 except for Super Premium Games (19 dates). Also during four select Tuesday home games, the price is reduced to $5 in the 500 and 200 outfield levels.
• 15 game Flex Pack purchasers in 2009 will automatically receive a complimentary membership to the Toronto Blue Jays Fan Club. This will enable them to take advantage of many club benefits including invitations to exclusive events and access to players to name just a few.
• Every Sunday home game this season, Blue Jays will have a promotional giveaway!
• Ladies Night Out – Gal pals enjoy a great night of Major League baseball where for the cost of their ticket, available at a 25% discount, they receive a collectable cap and have the opportunity to meet and mingle with a player(s) after the game in our exclusive Club VIP area.
• The Blue Jays have three main ticket offers through which fans can support a cause, celebrate a culture or demonstrate geographic pride while receiving a ticket discount and ensuring that a portion of the ticket sale price is donated back to the group.
• With the expanding fan base in Toronto, the Blue Jays offer numerous ticket discounts for specific theme days/nights such as Speed Dating and Dog Day.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
• Season Ticket Price Reduction – 7,500 Season Ticket prices will be reduced from 2008’s price. Remaining prices will remain constant.
• $5 Gameday Tickets – There are just over 400 day of game tickets in the Nationals Park Grandstand priced at $5 for all games at Nationals Park.
• $1 Kids Day – Purchase up to 4 tickets for children ages 3-12 for $1 each, with the purchase of one full-priced adult ticket. June 11 vs. Cincinnati, August 24 vs. Colorado, September 6 vs. Florida.

Ticket Sales Down in the Bay Area

Both the Giants and A’s are hurting for fans this year, albeit for different reasons.  The Giants have been bad for a couple of years and have yet to find a way to replace the draw that was Barry Bonds.  The A’s have been working hard to abandon Oakland and have alienated fans in the process.

The Giants drew 3.2 million fans in 2007, 2.9 million last year and will almost certainly draw less this year.  Already this season they have had their three smallest crowds since the new stadium opened.

Oakland’s attendance has gone down every year since 2003.  Last year’s attendance of 1.7 million was their lowest since 1999.

Oregon Considering Scalping Sunshine Law

As ticket scalping completes its transition from shadowy enterprise to legitimate business venture promoted by Major League Baseball, and as etickets make it possible for anyone with a high speed internet connection and a little luck to get tickets to any event, we all have to accept that ticket reselling is here to stay.

Once a ticket has been sold by the team/promoter/theater, it is no longer worth face value; it is now worth whatever the market will bear.  A key to an efficient market is information.  That is, the more information is out there, the better the market functions.  Professional ticket resellers have an advantage in the secondary ticket market in that they have an idea how many tickets are out there, where as customers often do not.  That imbalance of information gives sellers a distinct advantage in setting prices.

Some Oregon state legislators are looking to help out consumers a little bit with their new “Hannah Montana bill,” a piece of legislation introduced last March after parents all over the state were outraged over the amount of tickets scalpers had and what they were charging for seats to a Hannah Montana concert.

The bull requires that ticket resellers publicize:

SECTION 3. (1) …

(a) The total number of unsold tickets the reseller or operator has for resale at the time the reseller or operator advertises or solicits the resale;

(b) Every class, tier or level of admission ticket that the reseller or operator has available for resale, together with a description of the type of entry, seating location, services or other privileges associated with each class, tier or level; and

(c) The total number of admission tickets in each class, tier or level that the reseller or operator has available for resale.

Given that a buyer can easily do a search on Stubhub and eBay to get a good idea of what’s out there, there is actually plenty of information out there as to what tickets are available.  Where sellers have a real advantage is at the venue where the event is taking place in the hours before the event starts.  Bills like this do nothing to alleviate the imbalance in information.  Still, I appreciate the sentiment and hope the bill passes.

The Recession Has Hit the Red Sox

The Boston Globe has a great article on parts of the current economic state of the Red Sox, who have been one of, if not the most successful teams in recent years.

Ticket sales are down.  The Red Sox are currently riding a 469 consecutive game sellout streak that could end this month.  There are still seats available for most April home games and for about 30 games this season.  Sales of the premium hospitality suites are also down this year.

Sponsorships also took a hit.  The Red Sox lost a six and seven figure deals with PC Connection and Nikon respectively.  Local sponsors Filene’s Basement and Cambridge Eye Center also pulled out, while DHL and Bano America scaled down their deals.

The slump has also affected neighborhood businesses.  The secondary ticket market has taken a huge hit.  Local broker, Ace Tickets, reports about a 40% drop in ticket prices for Opening Day (the Red Sox held ticket prices steady this year).  The Howard Johnson Inn, which sits across the street from Fenway, usually sells out for Opening Day, but is only about 60% filled this year.

I think that the worst news for the Red Sox is actually the fact that their television ratings dropped 20% from 2007 to 2008, and the pregame show on NESN dropped by 33%.  That tells me that in addition to the economy, which should turn around, the Red Sox are facing a decline in passion among the fan base.  Watching TV is free so the declining ratings can’t be blamed on the economy.  The Red Sox had a good team last year – they made it to within a game of the World Series and they were the defending champions.

The Red Sox have been the best run team in baseball in the past few years on and off the field.   And even as that has been the case, fan interest waned significantly last year and seems to be down even more this year.

All that said, the Red Sox are still in much better financial shape than most teams and their ticket sales still dwarf most teams.  It’s far from panic time in Boston, but you can be sure the team is aware of the current trends and is at least a little worried.

MLB President DuPuy Sees Rosy Attendance Outlook

Bob DuPuy, President of Major League Baseball, puts as positive a spin as possible on 2009 attendance.  He notes that he expects attendance will be down about 1,000,000 people this year based on current numbers, but he’s optimistic that people will decide that baseball is a good value and will head out to their local stadiums, particularly as the season (and the weather) heats up.

Rays Spring Training Attendance Skyrockets

In a year where Spring Training attendance in Florida is down 20%, the Tampa Bay Rays are up 30%.    The Rays had the benefit of a near perfect storm of factors playing in their favor.  First, their previous record of 79,000 was pretty low.  Second, they are a local team so their fan base does not have to travel very far.  Third, they moved into a much nicer Spring Training facility this year after relocating from St. Petersberg to Port Charlotte.  Fourth, by moving to Port Charlotte, they moved closer to fans who aren’t within easy driving distance of Tampa; many in St. Pete likely wait until the regular season.  And fifth, the Rays are coming off the best season in franchise history, a year that saw them go to the World Series.

Redbirds President Blames Cardinals, Not Economy for Poor Ticket Sales

The Cardinals are developing a tradition in which they play a late preseason game in the home stadium of their AAA affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds.  This year, ticket sales are far behind previous years.  Is it the economy?  Redbirds President Dave Chase says it’s the Cardinals:

“The Cardinals had a pretty quiet winter, not too involved,” Chase said. “One of the things we have noticed is when the Cardinals are aggressive in the off-season, building a roster and signing free agents and with trades, that spills over into excitement for the Cardinals’ fans.

“This year it’s been so quiet. That same energy’s not there.”