VenuesNow (09/03/20) Muret, Don

The Atlanta Braves are seeing increased sales of game-used equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, which Braves President Derek Schiller says have exceeded all sales posted last season by 20%. Such items are sold online and the team has "authenticators" working the game, collecting each piece, putting a sticker on it, dating it, and documenting when it was used. The job of the two authenticators currently working the 30 home games at Truist Park this season has been easier, given the lack of fans in the stadium. Home run balls at empty venues have become highly sought-after additions to the Braves Authentics business. Schiller believes Authentics sales are being driven by fans who want to maintain a connection to their favorite team even though game attendance is impossible this year. Meanwhile, the Braves Clubhouse Store has been open since early July, and has been seeing solid business, given the circumstances. The store limits capacity in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regulations. "All of us are learning how to live with this and have some degree of separation," Schiller explains. "In the meantime, we'll do little things like opening the Clubhouse store."

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