In business, series game is a ticket to schmooze

When it comes to schmoozing business clients, lunches are out.

World Series tickets are in.

So when Colorado Rockies tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday on the team’s Web site, Colorado Springs real estate developer Jim Morley will have seven or eight employees at their computer keyboards — typing fingers and credit cards ready.

As a season ticket holder, Morley already has four tickets to each of the World Series games the Rockies will play at Coors Field in Denver starting Oct. 27. And Sunday, season ticket holders will get a chance to buy four more tickets before they go on sale to the public Monday.

But recognizing their value as a way to wine and dine customers and clients, Morley wants more tickets — if he can get them.

“I have had no less than 20 people call me about tickets,” Morley said. “It would be a nice perk, if you have them, to take a client. It’s the first time for a World Series ever in Colorado and, quite frankly, who knows when there will be another?”

Assuming fans don’t go through brokers, buying World Series tickets via the Rockies’ Web site will be tougher to get than a Barry Bonds autograph. Morley, a one-time San Francisco Giants minor leaguer, is willing to take his swings.

“It would be builders or bankers that I would take,” Morley said. “There are plenty of them out there that suddenly have some serious interest in baseball.”

Eric Smith, a vice president with Matrix Design Group Inc., a Springs planning and engineering firm, said the company has four tickets as a season ticket holder and doesn’t plan an organized employee assault on the Rockies’ Web site to get more.

Still, Matrix recognizes the value sporting events play as a way to occasionally show appreciation to customers and clients, Smith said. The company invites them each year to an Invesco Field suite to take in a Denver Broncos game and also has a Pepsi Center luxury box.

“But I would think these would rank pretty high because it’s such a special event,” Smith said of World Series tickets. “It only happens once every — never. And with having four seats, it allows oneon-one time with a client. So I think it ranks very highly.”

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs has four season tickets that are typically given to employees during the course of the year, said hotel president Steve Bartolin.

The hotel plans to do the same with its World Series tickets. But the hotel has a special client from Arizona that has scheduled large meetings at The Broadmoor the past few years. To show its appreciation, the hotel will take two officials from the company to one of the games, Bartolin said.

The Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. would love to treat prospective employers to a World Series game, but none are scheduled to visit the Springs in the next week, said David White, the EDC’s marketing vice president.

Besides, the World Series in Denver was unexpected and therefore difficult to plan for, White said. The EDC already plans to take clients to next summer’s U.S. Senior Open golf tournament, which will take place at The Broadmoor.

“A Super Bowl is a lot better venue,” White said. “You have a month or at least a couple of weeks. You can plan on that.”

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0228 or rich.laden@gazette.com