Mud Hens ticket sales are keeping pace with last season’s, according to Erik Ibsen, assistant general manager of ticket sales and operations.
Approximately 285,000 tickets have been presold for the Mud Hens season so far — slightly ahead of the past two seasons.
“It had been higher before the economic downturn, but we are heading back to those ranges we were in previously,” Ibsen said.
By Opening Day, 300,000 tickets are expected to be bought, which is consistent with last year and includes everything from game plan ticket packets to group reservations.
“Ticket sales are really going great. You can tell the season is around the corner,” he said. “The weather hasn’t hurt, probably has people thinking about it.”
Ibsen said the 27 suites leased on a multiyear basis are sold out. Last year marked the 10th season in the ballpark, so many of the suites were up for renewal.
“Just about every organization did come back to us,” he said. “We are in a great situation. The corporate community has supported the ballpark since before it was built.”
The four party suites that can be rented on a game-by-game basis are also keeping pace with previous seasons. These suites are used for surprise parties, reunions and when companies want a suite for their employees, but don’t need it every game.
“In the course of a season, we rent out more than 200 times per year. We still have availability if people are interested in that,” Ibsen said.
Last year, 214 were rented, a suite record, and 99 percent of the suites were filled after Memorial Day.
Speaking of records, Ibsen would like to set a new one.
Elliston native and “American Idol” runner-up Crystal Bowersox helped set an attendance record of 13,200 when she performed at a game on May 14, 2010. The second largest attendance record was made Opening Day on April 16, 2009, with 13,100 fans. Many of the 10 games with the highest attendance are from Opening Days, Ibsen said.
“We are hoping to be right in line and the fact that Opening Day is on a Friday this year, [attendance] should be in that 13,000 range,” he said.
Justin Hemminger of Columbus, who graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School in 1997, is returning to Toledo to see the home opener. He has attended every Opening Day game since 2002 when the new stadium opened. “My family’s from Toledo originally,” he said. “It is a heritage thing, a hometown pride thing.” The stadium seats 8,943, in addition to picnic areas and standing room-only locations. Most Fridays and Saturdays, the ballpark attracts at least 10,500 people, Ibsen said. In 2011, the Mud Hens ended the season with a total attendance of 549,438 and have boasted 5.5 million in the first 10 years at Fifth Third Field. One reason the organization does so well with ticket sales is its commitment to affordability, Ibsen said. Opening Day tickets are $13 for seats and $10 for standing room. Regular season tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for children 12 and younger. On fireworks nights, tickets are $9 for everyone. Ibsen said the regular season ticket price has increased just $1 in the past decade.
“Minor league baseball prides itself on family fun entertainment. There are a lot of activities for family, friends and companies,” he said. “The blueprint has to be affordable.”
Attendees range from families, younger friends and teens and empty nesters on date nights.
“We really run the whole spectrum as far as people, which is another reason the affordability is so important,” he said.
Last year, the team attracted 139,296 attendees through group sales, down from the record of 143,226 established in 2007. The largest groups in 2011 were ProMedica, YMCA, First Solar and HCR ManorCare.
Online ticket sales keep growing as well.
“The technology makes that a huge part of our business. We sell about 60,000 tickets online and that has increased each year,” Ibsen said.
New for this year are mobile apps for iPhones and Droids to purchase tickets.
“The idea with the technology is to make the purchase easier,” Ibsen said. “Not having to wait to get to the ballpark to see if it is a sold-out game, not even having to wait to get home to your computer.”
For more information, visit www. mudhens.com and click on Tickets.
