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InduSTry and ASSOcIATIOn nEWS: ALSD MEMber Venue HigHLIgHTA Brave New World at Turner FieldAligning with the industry trend to decrease the number of suites in favor of mid-priced inventory, the AtlantaBraves are removing two suites and approximately 200 seats to build the Bobby Cox Club presented by SuperiorPlumbing at Turner Field.We’ve done a good job over the past fewyears of revamping our inventory toprovide a lot of different [premium] options,”says Dennette Thornton, GroupSales Manager for the Atlanta Braves. “The biggestpush this year is filling the new club that’sbeing built, filling those tables, and making sureit’s sold out.”The “new club” is the Bobby Cox Club presentedby Superior Plumbing which is located on theClub Level of Turner Field on the third base sideof home plate. The Bobby Cox Club will mirrorthe successful Georgia’s Own Credit Union Club(a concept borrowed from the Colorado Rockies’Mountain View Club) on the first base side whichopened last season.The Georgia’s Own Credit Union Club has20 outdoor tables, under cover to protect guestsfrom the summer sun and backed up by an in-THEMED SUITESAT TURNER FIEldGAME ROOM SUITE• 36-Person Suite• Four HD Televisions• Two Trivia Games• Arcade Games: Golden Tee and Ms.Pacman• Foosball TableBOBBY COX SUITE• 40-Person Suite• Six HD Televisions• Life-Size Cutout of Bobby for PhotoOpportunities• A Timeline of Bobby’s Career• Bobby Pictures and Framed PosterTHE CHAIRMAN’s SUITE:THE BIG NIGHT OUT• 40-Person Suite• Cooking Demonstrations by Atlanta-Area Celebrity Chefs• Fully Catered Suite with MenuDesigned Around the Visiting Team’sLocal Cuisine• Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages(Excludes Liquor Drinks)• Individual Tickets are $145 per person(Includes Food, Beverage, and Parking)Middle Ground: John Farrell explains the benefit of inventory between suites and club seats: “The clubs are the new way. They are a greatmiddle ground…and come with valet parking, in-seat service, and they’re really high-end.”door club lounge. Two of the tables are two-tops,while the remaining 18 are of the four-seat variety.One table is ADA compliant, therefore not sold,but the remaining available tables sold out beforeOpening Day last season. The Braves are on trackto do the same in the Bobby Cox Club this season.“The clubs are the new way,” contends JohnFarrell, Premium Seating Manager for the Braves.“They are a great middle ground for those companiesthat can no longer afford or no longer desire asuite but still like some of the amenities. The newclubs come with valet parking, in-seat service, andthey’re really high-end.”Both the Georgia’s Own Credit Union Cluband the Bobby Cox Club open up to a welcome/concierge area adjacent to a bar through glassdoors, exposing their lounges to curious onlookerswalking the Club Level concourse. There areno restrooms in the clubs, but facilities are a shortwalk down the concourse. At each table are televisionsand power outlets to charge mobile devicesand laptaps in case patrons wish to do a businesspresentation or just follow their fantasy teams.Wi-Fi service is free on the Club Level.Price points are $29,000 and $31,000 per yearfor a table of four in the Georgia’s Own CreditUnion Club and the Bobby Cox Club respectively.Clients must purchase the entire table. Everyticket comes loaded with a $30 food and beveragecredit that can also be used on merchandise. Thecredits do not rollover and must be used for thatgame.TURNER FIEld SUITES“[The Bobby Cox Club] helps us too in regards tosuites because we had to knock out two suites toaccommodate the club, so it shrinks our inventoryand increases the demand,” expounds Thornton.After the completion of the Bobby Cox Club,Turner Field will have 53 suites, 15-20 of whichthe sales team tries to sell on a per-game basis.“We keep some inventory open for daily rentals,”Thornton says. “We really have five suites openthat we try to sell as season leases because they arein prime locations.”SUN TRUST ClUBTurner Field is also home to some of the best seatsin baseball. The first row of the 145 Henry Aaronseats is 45 feet from the catcher, closer than thepitcher who stands 60 feet, 6 inches from homeplate.Underneath the sold-out seating area is the SunTrust Club, a six-year-old lounge with carving stations,tables open for reservations, and a full bar.Sun Trust Club memberships can be purchasedfor three, five, or seven years. According to Farrell,the Sun Trust Club continues to be a hit this offseasonwith four contracts already renewing fiveyeardeals. “[The Sun Trust Club] is our baby,” hecontinues. “We’re actually turning the camera wellinto a few more seats next season.”— Jared Frank34 | S E A T | www.alsd.com | #SEATWinter2013