Sports provide a unique perspective to measure success. No matter how good a team performs, only one team will hold up the championship trophy. Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants had a historic run in 2021 and yet the organization was left with the bitter taste of defeat.
Despite losing 2-1 in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on a controversial call that went the Los Angeles Dodgers’ way, it only took Giants president and CEO Larry Baer a couple of weeks to turn his attention elsewhere — and he immediately turned his attitude toward gratitude. Baer was so grateful for the amazing season and the fan support, he penned a letter thanking the fans.
“That was therapeutic. Right. It was therapy. That was about a week later because you just feel all that you did accomplish during the year. I think that for somebody like me, who’s running the business but not on the field, that helps me,” says Larry Baer.
The Giants have since turned their attention toward the upcoming season and maximizing the momentum.
“The first thing I would say is that we just feel very blessed that we had this magical season — 107 wins last year. And that when that happens, you’ve created a surge in fan interest, lots of sellouts at the end of the season, lots of sellouts in the playoffs. And so you want to take advantage of that, going into next year, into the selling season,” says Baer.
Winning creates excitement in the community for any sports franchise. Everyone feels it. The energy is palpable, even more so during a playoff run. And considering COVID-19 and the challenging times since the start of the pandemic, it’s a beautiful thing to see people inside stadiums and ballparks instead of cardboard cutouts.
The Giants have a new level of fan enthusiasm and they’re working on ticket packages for season tickets and group tickets, as well as sponsorships, to take advantage of the moment.
“Just double down hard and come out and celebrate this team. Let’s come out and celebrate, and we expect you to pick up from early October of 2021 to early April of 2022,” Baer adds. “It’s like, just keep the buzz, keep the momentum, keep the energy. We’ll be putting signs up around the city and just doing all the things to get people excited.”
The SF Giants CEO and his front office have a lot to be excited about. Last year, the team wasn’t allowed to sell a full ballpark’s worth of tickets until June 26. By season’s end, they welcomed capacity crowds to cheer on the ballclub in the NLDS after claiming the NL West pennant.
It looks like the Giants are going to start this upcoming season selling a full ballpark. The team views the pandemic as moving to a different phase: not necessarily going away, but a phase where players and fans can enjoy games together.
Getting fans in the stands is always of the utmost importance. As ticket sales take place on the business side, spring training is around the corner. The Giants train in Scottsdale, Arizona, and fans fly in to spend time watching the players prepare for the upcoming season.
Once spring training wraps up everyone around baseball looks forward to opening day. The Giants front office is no different.
“It’s like a civic celebration,” says Giants CEO Baer. “Getting people prepped and prepared for opening day, and getting everybody set up for opening day, it’s going to be exciting. We’re planning all those things now and can’t wait to jump in and actually play ball.” Opening day is only one day for the Giants faithful to look forward to. The entire 2022 campaign will be a season of celebration. One of the organization’s all-time greats, Buster Posey, retired this offseason and the future Hall of Famer didn’t get the proper send-off. Larry Baer has that high on his list of priorities.
“So what we’re going to do is we’re going to focus on the appreciation for Buster. And we haven’t put all the final pieces together, and we’re putting the dates together. So that’s coming. So planning that,” adds Larry Baer.
The upcoming season also marks the 10th anniversary of the 2012 championship. The front office is planning something to honor that accomplishment and at the same time, looking to restart what they call the Golden Era. They won championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
The team plans to celebrate Matt Cain, owner of the first perfect game in San Francisco Giants history. His memorable night took place in June 2012.
Larry Baer is starting his 30th year with the Giants, and his 11th year as CEO. He and his staff sense the euphoric attitude over getting back to baseball in San Francisco.
The experienced executive is expecting the players and coaches to take care of the first pitch to last out while the front office executes the vision from last out to first pitch.
Read more recent news about Larry Baer and the SF Giants: https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/sf-giants-ceo-larry-baer-shares-details-on-new-partnership-with-the-san-francisco-giants-and-alaska-airlines
