A weekly update on the business of the Braves:
Marketing: The Braves' celebration of their 50th season in Atlanta continues with a fan vote for the team's most memorable moment of the past five decades.
The vote, which started this week, will be conducted online in a bracket-style format featuring a new head-to-head matchup each Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sept. 30. The first Round 1 matchup was Hank Aaron’s 715th home run in 1974 vs. Rick Camp’s 18th-inning Fourth of July home run in 1985. Aaron’s homer advanced to Round 2 with 91 percent of the vote.
Other moments on the bracket include the final out of the 1995 World Series, Sid Bream's famous slide in the 1992 Natonal League Championship Series, the 13th consecutive win to open the 1982 season and 27 others that will bring back memories. For video of each moment, and to vote, go to www.Braves.com/A50.
Attendance: The Braves' first homestand after the All-Star break, featuring series against the Cubs and Dodgers, provided an attendance boost. The six games drew announced crowds totaling 201,950, an average of 33,658 per game. The first two games against the Cubs last weekend posted Turner Field's two largest crowds since this season's home opener: 42,532 and 45,758.
Through 46 home dates, the Braves are averaging 26,046 per game, ranking 22nd in the major leagues and down 3,765 per game from the same point last season, according to baseball-reference.com.
TV ratings: The Braves' local TV ratings for the first five games after the All-Star break stayed in a remarkably narrow range, registering 2.0 or 2.1 for each of the games. Wednesday's game against the Dodgers then dipped to a 1.2 rating, attributable to the noon start.
The rating is the percentage of TV households in the market tuned in on average.
