GreenJackets double sales

The new-look Augusta GreenJackets are on pace for their largest season ticket base in team history this season, already having doubled the amount of packages sold from last year.

Benefiting from an ownership change to the Ripken Baseball Group in October, the GreenJackets have sold approximately 800 season ticket packages as of Monday, general manager Nick Brown said. Last year's base was under 400.

With nearly three months before the April 11 home opener, the team easily should top the 1,000-holder mark - and might even triple last season's base.

"We definitely will surpass the largest season ticket base we've ever had," Brown said. "The interest has been so enormous."

Augusta's senior director of sales, Tom D'Abruzzo, said there are several reasons for the spike.

"Having Cal Ripken and the new ownership is exciting enough, and a lot of people have told us they're excited to see what we present," D'Abruzzo said. "The other big factor is that we have more people to do things."

Single-game tickets won't be made available until March, D'Abruzzo said, when spring training buzz should increase interest.

"That's typically when sales go way up," Brown said.

Ripken Baseball is following the model of its original minor league franchise, the Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds, who have sold out every home game the past four seasons.

Here, the group is investing about $500,000 in stadium renovations and upkeep, offering niche ticket packages and bringing back popular entertainment acts and fireworks displays.

"We had a little success in Aberdeen, so we have some good ideas," said Bill Ripken, co-owner and executive vice president for Ripken Baseball. "And I think you're starting to see a little bit of that infectious attitude here.

"We want to show that we'll spend a little bit of money and are willing to work to make this a great atmosphere," he added.

Jeff Eiseman, vice president of baseball for the Ripken Group, said the new model has increased appeal.

"Obviously we'd like to sell out every single night, but for now we're just trying to give the fans something different than what they've seen in the past," Eiseman said.

"A lot of people want tickets, but those who are taking advantage right now are getting the best seats."

The Ripken Baseball Group, for which Cal Ripken Jr. is the president and CEO, purchased the GreenJackets on Oct. 1.

"The name Cal Ripken itself has (lent) a lot of legitimacy to the organization, maybe something that was lacking in the past," Brown said. "Do we think we'll sell out every game? Probably not. But we think we'll sell out every weekend. We're plugging away at that."

The GreenJackets are the Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants and play in the South Atlantic League.

Reach Steve Sanders at (706) 823-3216 or steven.l.sanders@augustachronicle.com.