Giants’ New Park Already a Hit

The San Francisco Giants are offering charter seat licenses at their planned ballpark to the general public ahead of schedule.

The Giants are expected to announce today the availability of about 4,700 seat licences for the Pacific Bell Park in China Basin.

The move was prompted by the quick sale of 9,000 charter, or lifetime, seat licenses to season ticket holders. The rights to the seats had not been scheduled for sale to the public until this summer.

The licences still available cost up to $5,500 each, which reserves the seat forever. It does not include the cost of tickets to individual games.

“It’s a pioneering effort for us,” said Larry Baer, Giants’ executive vice president. “We’re thrilled with the results. We’re finding there’s a huge demand for the best seats in what people feel will be a great ballpark.”

The team expects to raise $40 million through the seat licenses to help finance the 42,000-seat, $255-million, privately funded ballpark, scheduled to open in April 2000.

So far, with no advertising, Baer said, the charter seats have raised more than $30 million.

The Giants expect to break ground for the stadium in November.

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To make room for pitcher Dave Swartzbaugh, who was recalled from the minors, the Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Larry Casian on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 21, because of a strained left groin.