New Syracuse Chiefs manager Billy Gardner, Jr. addresses reporters during media day on Tuesday at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse (photo by Eric Reinhardt)
SYRACUSE — Following an offseason that included a change in team management, the Syracuse Chiefs are set to open the 2014 season on Thursday at NBT Bank Stadium.
Weather permitting, the Chiefs will host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at 2 p.m.
The Chiefs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
The vision is professional minor-league baseball and to operate a “good business model,” says Jason Smorol, general manager of the Syracuse Chiefs
“We are fans first, and if we can get the fans to come out here, it’s on us to provide great value. It’s on us to provide a great experience,” he says.
Smorol spoke with CNYBJ.com during the Syracuse Chiefs’ media day held Tuesday.
If fans come to the games, then “everything works out,” he contends.
“Then we’re selling tickets. Then we’re selling hot dogs. Then we’re doing parking,” the energetic Smorol quips.
And with more fans in the stands, then advertisers will want to be there as well, he believes.
The baseball club announced last October that it would reduce tickets prices for 2014, which means it will no longer offer free tickets to games.
“We have a value, and there’s a value to our products, and that value is either five dollars, 10 dollars, or 12 dollars,” he says.
The move to reduce ticket prices comes after the Syracuse Chiefs last year posted the team’s lowest season total for paid attendance since 1997. The Chiefs attracted just over 345,000 fans in 2013, or about 5,150 per game, according to the Triple-A International League website.
The Chiefs are offering several discounts, including “Family Sunday,” (kids aged 12 and under are admitted free); “Social Media Monday,” (ticket and merchandise promotions available through sites such as Facebook and Twitter) and “Dollar Thursday” (hot dogs, soda, beer, and programs available for $1), he says.
“Free is not generally a good business model,” Smorol says.
New Syracuse Chiefs manager Billy Gardner, Jr. also spoke at media day. He said, Smorol has “really done a good job” in creating a lot of excitement for the season, in response to a reporter’s question about the team’s new business management.
“With the promotions he’s got lined up, the entertainment factor of it and having a good team, it’ll be a … good game day experience for the fans,” Gardner said.
Gardner also believes Syracuse will field a “very good team” and he believes the fans will enjoy coming out to watch baseball this season.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
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