Cardinals raising season ticket cost

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals are raising season-ticket prices by an average of $2.85 per ticket for the 2003 season.

The new season ticket prices range from the most expensive single-game seat -- an infield field box for $40 -- to the least expensive, an $11 outfield bleacher seat.

The infield field box cost $19 in 1997, and jumped to $37 in 2001 and last season. The price of bleacher seats rose from $5 to $10 in the same period.

The club also announced new benefits to offset the higher prices:

A "Smart Fan" program for season ticket holders to resell or transfer unused tickets at face value over the Internet.

An interest-free financing on a special credit card account.

First-ever kids' season ticket pricing that allows children ages 15 and under to purchase their very own season ticket for $2 a game.

The Cardinals won't announce individual ticket prices for at least another month, Lamping said.

The Cardinals' payroll was the ninth-highest in the major leagues last season.