Sox season ticket prices going down
The White Sox are coming off a disappointing 79-93 season, and general manager Kenny Williams said the 2012 payroll is going to be “a little bit less than what we had last year.”
The Sox opened the 2011 season with a record payroll of almost $128 million, and they actually started cutting in late July when Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen were traded to Toronto. Jackson was quickly flipped to St. Louis, and he helped the Cardinals win the World Series.
With free agents Mark Buehrle, Juan Pierre, Omar Vizquel and Ramon Castro all expected to sign elsewhere, look for the White Sox to field a younger — and cheaper — team next year under new manager Robin Ventura.
Sox fans worried about paying premium ticket prices for an unknown product needn’t fret.
On Monday, a White Sox source confirmed season-ticket prices for 2012 will be reduced up to 18 percent, depending on seat location.
The official announcement is expected to come shortly after Thanksgiving.
Crain’s Chicago Business was first to report the price reduction.
Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has repeatedly said his only financial goal is breaking even.
Last season, the Sox’ total attendance at U.S. Cellular Field was a shade over 2 million. The low point came in late June when the White Sox failed to sell out any of the three interleague games against the rival Cubs.
Another source said 2.2 million was the break-even attendance mark for the White Sox.
According to Team Marketing Report, the Sox had the fourth-highest ticket price ($40.67) in major-league baseball last season.
According to Crain’s, prices for premium lower box and club level seats will remain the same in 2012.
Buehrle watch:Available quality pitching is very thin this off-season, and Mark Buehrle is clearly one of the best options on the free-agent market.Unfortunately for the White Sox, the lack of proven arms is only going to drive up Buehrle#146;s price, which could reach $60 million over four years.According to the Washington Post, the Nationals met with Buehrle Tuesday at his home outside of St. Louis.Buehrle said he wants to pitch for a contending team, and the Nationals are 492-640 since the Montreal Expos relocated to the nation#146;s capital in 2005.But the Nats turned the corner a bit last season, going 80-81 while finishing third in the National League East.Washington has a healthy Stephen Strasburg coming back in 2012, and Jordan Zimmermann is another promising young starting pitcher.The Nationals have money to spend and they need a veteran starter, which is why Buehrle is on their radar.Earlier in November, Washington general manager Mike Rizzo talked about Buehrle.#147;The pitcher we#146;re looking for is a good leader type of guy who can throw a lot of innings,#148; Rizzo said. #147;(Buehrle) has shown he can win in the big leagues and really lead our staff, not by having the best stuff on the staff, but by showing how to be a professional and how to be a winner and how to pitch 200 innings in a season many, many times. That#146;s the kind of the guy we#146;re looking for.#148;