American football, basketball and ice hockey teams are mostly avoiding ticket price increases while watching attendance drop for Major League Baseball as the economy takes a toll on US sports teams.
Commissioners for the four major US sport leagues spoke at a forum here on Wednesday with economic issues a major topic with baseball attendance down seven percent and only 11 of 30 teams at or above last year's attendance level.
"Clubs have done more marketing this year and been more aggressive than I've ever seen and I hope that will continue," Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said at the session, sponsored by the Wall Street Journal.
"I think overall the clubs have been remarkably sensitive. I think it's the reason our attendance is holding up as well as it is."
The recession struck last September, early in the National Football League season and after most sponsor and season ticket deals had been made for National Hockey League and National Basketball Association clubs.
This year's Major League Baseball attendance average of 28,591 through Tuesday's games includes major plunges for league-doormat Washington, off nearly 40 percent, and more than 20-percent drops for Atlanta, Toronto and the New York Mets.
The Mets, off 23 percent, and New York Yankees, down 12 percent, moved into new stadiums with smaller seating capacities and higher ticket prices.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said 24 of 32 avoided ticket price increases for the 2009 season while about 20 of 30 NHL teams will not raise prices next season and 27 of 30 NBA teams will leave ticket prices the same next season.
"There are going to be adjustments based upon the economy," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "There will be some re-pricing mechanism built in."
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
