Gio Gonzalez has many friends and family members, at least, according to the Miami Marlins.
Gonzalez was born and raised in the Miami area and is now a starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals. The Nationals happen to be playing in Miami this weekend, and the Marlins’ marketing department saw an opportunity to push some tickets.
The team is offering a “Gio Gonzalez Family & Friends” discount ticket package for the three-game series for fans who want to see the opposing team’s starting pitcher. The discounted prices are being marketed as “exclusive” to Gonzalez’s family and friends, but the team may be confused about what the word “exclusive” actually means.
To receive the discount, Marlins fans do not have to provide Gonzalez’s mother’s maiden name, his favorite color or any other proof that they are, in fact, a friend of family member of Gio Gonzalez. All they have to do is head on over to the Marlins’ ticket website and make the purchase.
The gimmick should come as no surprise considering the fact that the Marlins have struggled with low attendance all season and had to close the upper bowl of the stadium during some home games because fans weren’t showing up. The team has the worst average attendance (17,162) in baseball and the lowest total attendance (738,000). Apparently, fans have not come in droves to see the fantastic home run sculpture in action.
The fact that the team has reached such a desperate point that they are marketing other team’s players to their home fans shows the sad state of the Miami Marlins in 2013.
Here’s a photo from the last time the Nationals traveled to Miami on April 15.
Photo via Twitter/@Cbaranik
