Another season of professional baseball opened in downtown Chattanooga last week, and drivers streaming in to park just before the first pitch knew they were in for clear evening skies and unseasonably warm weather.
In baseball, good weather goes a long way for fans. But it dawned on me later as crowds continued filing downtown for games hosted by the Lookouts, Chattanooga’s Double-A professional team, that something more than Mother Nature had a contributing hand.
So I checked in with team owner, president and general manager Frank Burke for answers. We talked about difference makers, including hands-on service, a family atmosphere and the advantage of having a downtown stadium in a fan-friendly environment. Then I stumbled upon a gem when Mr. Burke began talking about ticket prices.
Since he took ownership of the Lookouts 16 years ago, general admission ticket prices have remained the same. No increases whatsoever. None.
When you take inflation into consideration, it actually costs less to go to a game now than 16 years ago.
A loaf of bread costs more than it did back then. So does a gallon of gas, movie tickets and just about everything else. Without question the cost of running a professional baseball franchise has increased in that span of time. Yet general admission tickets to Lookouts games cost no more.
In talking with Mr. Burke, I learned that increasing ticket prices over time hasn’t been the strategy.
“We feel like going to the ballpark should be affordable for the entire family,” he said.
Before you laugh, suggesting that prices for items such as drinks, food and souvenirs sold inside the stadium have gone up, let me say that he beat you to the punch – smiling and hitting that point before I brought it up.
“Once people get into the park,” he said, “what they do after that is up to them.”
However, given the fact that food and souvenir purchases are optional, people still can get a minor league baseball experience here for effectively less than they could 16 years ago, making perfect days for baseball that much better.