Ranking AL Central towns and ballparks

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

Comerica Park is the nicest ballpark in the AL Central ... for now.

By PATRICK REUSSE, Star Tribune

Last update: March 29, 2008 - 3:05 PM

RANKING AL CENTRAL BASEBALL TOWNS

1. Detroit The Tigers had seasons in which they lost 106, 109 and 119 games from 1996 through 2005. Once encouraged, the Michiganders came flocking back to the Tigers -- and they anticipate selling out every game in 2008. 2007 average attendance: 37,618.

2. Kansas City This is a town with the heritage of both the Kansas City Monarchs of Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Royals of George Brett. Give K.C. just a hint of success and Kauffman Stadium (undergoing a $200 million face lift) will be full again. 2007 average attendance: 19,961.

3. Cleveland The public was quick to quit on the Indians after losing seasons in 2002 and '03, but attendance is expected to head back into the high 2 millions this season. The Indians did go through a four-decade drought (1955 through 1993) of mostly ineptitude that would've killed baseball in many cities. 2007 average attendance: 28,448.

4. Twin Cities (Minnesota) The Twins needed three consecutive division titles (2002-04) to finally get back to over 2 million in ticket sales in 2005. You don't need much more evidence to realize that, as a whole, this metro area lacks a baseball passion. 2007 average attendance: 28,350.

5. South Side (Chicago) The White Sox sold 2,957,411 tickets in 2006 after winning Chicago's first World Series in 88 years. It was fun while it lasted, but the Mighty Whities are back in the second division and back to being Chicago's poor stepchildren of baseball in comparison to the Cubs. 2007 average attendance: 33,140.

RANKING AL CENTRAL BALLPARKS, IN TWO YEARS

Patrick Reusse takes a sneak peek at the AL Central ballparks in 2010, when the $200 million remodeling of Kansas City's stadium will be complete and the Twins' new facility will be open in downtown Minneapolis.

1. Kansas City, Kauffman Stadium (1973) Still a great ballpark, and it's only going to be better with the face lift scheduled for completion in 2009.

2. Twins, "Wheaties Field" (2010) Two things: A) We're guessing on the name, but how could General Mills pass on this marketing opportunity? And B) If the Twins and HOK pull off the same ballpark seen in their large model, it's going to be magnificent. Just be sure to wear a windbreaker in April.

3. Detroit, Comerica Park (2000) Came along six years after Cleveland's ballpark, and you can see the design improvements made in that time. So, imagine what a decade of improvement will mean with the Twins ballpark.

4. Cleveland, Progressive Field (1994) It was The Jake -- for Jacobs Field -- for its first 14 seasons of existence. Now there's a corporate sponsor, and "The Pro'' doesn't have the same ring to it.

5. Chicago, U.S. Cellular Field (1991) The poor White Sox: They wound up with the last of the old-style facilities (with the stands too far away), before Baltimore's Camden Yards came along and changed the culture from stadiums to ballparks.

TICKET PRICES COMPARISON

A comparison of AL Central ticket prices, ranked by average ticket price:

1. White Sox Average ticket price: $30.28; box: $51; cheapest: $8.50; most common: Lower Box (8,501 seats, $36); 2008 tickets sold: NA; 2007 attendance: 2.684 million.

2. Tigers Average ticket price:$23.25; box: $65; cheapest: $5; most common: Outfield Box (7,201 seats, $32); 2008 tickets sold: 2.6 million; 2007 attendance: 3.047 million.

3. Indians Average ticket price: $21.32; box: $50; cheapest: $8; most common: Upper Box (8,084 seats, $22-$25); 2008 tickets sold: 1.5 million; 2007 attendance: 2.275 million.

4. Twins Average ticket price: $20.94; box: $50; cheapest: $7; most common: Upper Club (12,393 seats, $21); 2008 tickets sold: 1 million; 2007 attendance: 2.296 million.

5. Royals Average ticket price: $17.18; box: $37; cheapest: $9; mots common: View Infield (8,358 seats, $15); 2008 tickets sold: NA; 2007 attendance: 1.616 million

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