"The blockbuster trade that brought pitcher Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday paid immediate dividends in terms of increased ticket sales for next season.

Rick Schlesinger, the team's executive vice president for business operations, said Tuesday that between Sunday afternoon and Monday night the team sold 1,100 new season-ticket packages.

"Those are brand new account holders whom I'm convinced wouldn't be buying if not for the current Greinke deal," Schlesinger said.

Coupled with a spike in sales for the team's four-game holiday packs and a higher-than-expected renewal rate for existing season-ticket holders, the Brewers are enjoying a resurgence in interest after a rough 2010 season.

"Since October of this year, we've had about 400 new accounts. You saw in 36 hours that we had more than double the number of new accounts sold. You have to attribute that to Zack Greinke," Schlesinger said.

In the Mark Attanasio ownership era, the Brewers saw a spike in sales when the team signed CC Sabathia late in the 2008 season. But that was an in-season move and had no direct bearing on season-ticket sales.

After that playoff year, however, the Brewers saw new interest in season-ticket packages for 2009.

The Greinke impact is bigger, Schlesinger said.

Schlesinger said the Brewers had budgeted for an 85% to 86% renewal rate for existing season-seat holders. "That's not a bad number given two consecutive sub-.500 seasons," Schlesinger said. "But with the Greinke trade, I am expecting our renewal rate will be over 90%. We'll know more in January when payment deadlines are due."

The Brewers also are moving to keep interest up in the team even as the Green Bay Packers are trying to make the playoffs and the University of Wisconsin is headed to the Rose Bowl."