MLB Tickets News

Our Yankees Ticket In The Batter's Eye Seats!

Back at the end of May, we had the privilege of sitting high atop the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar after purchasing a pair of Yankees tickets dubbed the “Batter’s Eye Seats.”  For those who don’t know, the “batter’s eye” is an area beyond the center field wall at a baseball stadium, intended to provide a dark background for batters to better see pitches thrown to them.  At Yankee Stadium, the “batter’s eye” happens to be a blackened glass structure that houses the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar. On top of this “batter’s eye” (but presumably not within the sight lines of the batters) are two rows of seats.   Akin to the “Green Monster Seats” at Fenway Park, Yankees tickets in the “Batter’s Eye Seats” provide one of the most unique experiences that Yankee Stadium has to offer.

Directly in front of the “Bleacher Cafe,” the 80 “batter’s eye seats” offer breathtaking views of the entire field, and a unique perspective of both bullpens.  Upon arrival, it is impossible not to take this photo:

Batter's Eye Section 2, Row 1, Seat 13

Or this one:

Andy Pettitte Warming Up, As Seen From The "Batter's Eye Section"

The actual seats in the section are comparable to other non-premium sections throughout the stadium (Main, Terrace, Grandstand) both in design (they aren’t padded), and in terms of legroom. If you are lucky enough to be in row 1, you’ll have more legroom and a ledge to place personal items on (even though rules state otherwise, security seems to be more lax in this section and didn’t bother us when we left some stuff on the ledge).

Batter’s Eye Section 2 is the most centered of the three sections, with seats number 1 and 2 being the “best” if you want to be aligned directly with home plate.  Food and drink vendors don’t pass through this tiny section, but there is a Johnny Rockets (burgers, fries, milkshakes), Famous Famiglia (pizza) and Stadium Grill (ballpark favorites) steps away in the outdoor “Bleacher Cafe.”

The seats share a home with the center field video cameras, but they don’t cause any obstructed views.  You’re directly below the massive HD video board in center field, so between inning games and advertisements take some serious neck craning to see. More worrisome for some (especially older folks, and those with small children) is that the “Batter’s Eye Seats” offer no reprieve from the sun during day games.  The day we went, temperatures soared into the upper 80′s, and by the third inning, we needed a break from the sun.  No amount of SPF 50, baseball caps or 24 oz. cups of Gatorade were enough to allow us to stand the heat for more than a few innings at a time – and we’re not old, nor are we toddlers.  One of the benefits of Yankee Stadium is that it encourages fans to walk around and experience the entire structure, but if you want to view an entire game start to finish on a sunny summer day, it could be tough to do so in these seats.

Something else to consider; these seats are in close proximity to the bleachers, but with a significantly higher price. For comparison’s sake the face value of Yankees tickets in the bleachers are $15 in advance, while “Batter’s Eye Seats” are $125.  Sure, these seats are slightly more elevated, and they have seat backs unlike the benches in the bleachers, but they can’t be more than 100 feet away.  This might bother some, so it is worth mentioning.  

If you have visions of snagging a souvenir baseball while sitting in these seats, you might want to temper your expectations.  Only one player has even hit a ball off of the black glass “batter’s eye,” and nobody has ever hit one on top.  On the day we went to the game, we were lucky enough to see Alex Rodriguez blast a grand slam into Monument Park (directly below us), but we never had a chance to catch the ball.  Of course we tried, and we have a screen grabs from that day’s game to prove it!

A-Rod's Grand Slam on 5/31/10

And here we are trying (and failing) to catch it!

If you arrive early for batting practice and get the attention of a player, they might toss a ball up to you, but that is probably the only way you’ll go home with a free souvenir.

Overall, the “Batter’s Eye Seats” experience was unique and one that we thoroughly enjoyed.  We’ll admit that it isn’t for everyone, and  night games are probably even better.  Further, the price you pay for these particular Yankees tickets will significantly affect the value proposition compared to other locations in the stadium, so be sure to search using FanSnap before you buy.

Ross Sheingold is a Yankees season ticket holder, the creator of the Yankee Stadium blog NYY Stadium Insider and a contributing writer at FanSnap’s blog.  You can find him on Twitter @StadiumInsider

Although it feels late in the season to be talking about a player returning to visit his former team’s home stadium, that will be the narrative in the Bronx later this evening. Because of MLB’s strange scheduling, those with Yankees tickets for tonight’s game against the Tigers will have the opportunity to enjoy Johnny Damon’s first visit to Yankee Stadium in 2010.

Johnny Damon signed a four year deal with the Yankees after the 2005 season as a Red Sox hero. Just a year removed from bringing Boston their first championship in 86 years, it was hard to fathom Damon ever becoming a Yankees fan favorite. In four years with the club, however, he did just that.  He not only helped to change a clubhouse culture in dire need of change, but he also performed on the field.  In fact, many Yankees fans are hard-pressed to recall a more successful signing by long time General Manager, Brian Cashman.

From 2006-2009, Damon only finished in the top 20 in MVP voting once (in 2006), didn’t make any All-Star appearances, and slowly declined in the field (going from noodle-armed center fielder to noodle-armed left fielder/DH). However, he was as solid as a rock offensively, compiling an OPS+ of 113 (an on base plus slugging average 13% better than the rest of MLB). He saved his best season for his last in pinstripes, defying age with a .282/.365/.482, short-porch aided triple slash line. He topped it all off with a heroic two-base steal in the pivotal game five of the World Series, helping to lead the Yankees to their 27th World Championship.

After the 2009 season, the path seemed to be paved for Damon to return to New York and finish his career in pinstripes.  Hideki Matsui quickly saw the writing on the wall and bolted to Anaheim, leaving an open DH slot.  Unfortunately, Damon was represented by super agent Scott Boras, who refused to budge on multi-year contract demands.  There was a lot of he-said/she-said back and forth between the Yankees, Johnny Damon and Scott Boras, but the end result was Johnny Damon signing a one year, 8 million dollar deal with the Detroit Tigers, significantly less than what the Yankees supposedly had offered initially.

In the eyes of some Yankees fans, this forever sealed Johnny Damon’s legacy as a mercenary. Back in 2006, it had seemed to be a bit of an overreaction by Red Sox fans to boo Damon so vociferously in his return to Fenway park, four years later, Yankees fans were finally able to understand their frustration. There was no better of a fit for Johnny Damon than the Yankees heading into the 2010 season. They had a spot for him, they wanted him back, he was a well-liked teammate and the fans loved him. Unfortunately, he wasted that opportunity by being a puppet to a money-first, happiness second agent.

All of that leads us to tonight in the Bronx. Johnny Damon will likely receive his 2009 World Series ring, but what will the reaction from fans holding Yankees tickets be? Will they remember him as the fun-loving winner with the unorthodox but wildly successful swing, or will they remember him as the former Red Sox mercenary who spurned the team because they didn’t want to overpay him?

If you want to be there to witness the reaction to Johnny Damon’s return to Yankee Stadium firsthand, FanSnap has you covered. There are 8/16 Yankees vs. Tigers tickets available all over the stadium, and the best value tool is zeroing in on some great deals.

Ross Sheingold is a Yankees season ticket holder, the creator of the Yankee Stadium blog NYY Stadium Insider and a contributing writer at FanSnap’s blog.  You can find him on Twitter @StadiumInsider

Need great tickets to a hot live event?  There’s now an app for that.

We are excited to announce the launch of the FanSnap Application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.  Our live-event tickets iPhone application is free in the iTunes app store [link] just in time for the NFL and NCAA football seasons, the approaching MLB playoffs, the concert and Broadway seasons, and the announcement of the new NBA schedule.

Perfect for fans who are looking for hot, even sold out, events, while they are on the go, the FanSnap tickets app puts 15 million sports, theater and concert tickets in your pocket!  With the FanSnap app, fans who want to catch a nearby game, concert, or show – even the same day – can find and buy tickets from their iPhone.

With the FanSnap tickets app, you can:

• See a list of the hottest live events nearby using the iPhone’s built-in location finder.
• Access local sports teams, concert and theater events via one-touch icons that the app automatically generates.
• Refer to FanSnap’s detailed venue maps, including row level labeling.
• See photos of the view from sections of the venue (available for many venues).
• Access previous saved searches for their favorite teams, performing artists, or shows.
• Click through to buy online, or even call to buy tickets with quick one-touch dialing.

No matter where you are,  you can find the best sports, theater, and concert tickets for less with the FanSnap app. The mobile ‘web app’ version of FanSnap.com was recently named one of Boston Globe Magazine’s ‘15 Must-Have Local Apps.’  We have improved upon that with the addition of the maps and venue photos with the goal of making the FanSnap app an indispensable resource for fans.

The FanSnap app is particularly useful for spur of the moment ticket buying, business travelers, and vacationing fans.  FanSnap search results include tickets from dozens of the most trusted ticket companies in the U.S., so a search, for example, for tickets behind home plate to tonight’s game, or for concerts playing locally this weekend for less than $50 a ticket, is a snap.

Here are a few screenshots:

After shoulder inflammation landed the star pitcher on the Nationals’ 15-day Disabled List, Stephen Strasburg is set to return to Washington’s rotation tonight against the Florida Marlins.

In June and July, Strasburg was the biggest name in baseball. We’ve been keeping a close eye on the “Strasburg Effect” on Nations ticket prices. Has the time on the DL made fans hearts grow fonder or made them forget what all the hullabaloo was about?

• Prior to the All-Star break, tickets to Nationals home games that Strasburg starts averaged $58.10. Tickets to the other games in series when Strasburg did not start average $25.99. That’s a 123% Strasburg Effect.
• This week, Stephen Strasburg starts on Tuesday at home against the Florida Marlins and is a probable starter for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The combined average price for these games in which Strasburg starts is $47. For the four games in between, the combined average price is $36. That is a 30% increase.
• Tickets to Strasburg’s starts have averaged $58. For his two starts since returning from the DL tickets average $47, that’s an 18% decrease in average ticket prices to see Strasburg pitch since being sidelined.
• Ticket prices for today’s game peaked at $58 – Five days ago.

From this data, we see that the Strasburg effect is still influencing Washington National’s ticket prices, but not by as much as he was when he made his first splash in the Big Leagues in June. Assuming he returns to his dominant self, we expect tickets to see Stephen Strasburg pitch to return to pre-DL levels.

For Washington Nationals tickets to see Stephen Strasburg, as well as the other games in DC, check out FanSnap.

August 10 vs. Florida Marlins (Strasburg)

August 11 vs. Florida Marlins

August 12 vs. Florida Marlins

August 13 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

August 14 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

August 15 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (Potential Strasburg)

When two of the biggest names in baseball (if not all of sports) play against one another, fans and players alike expect great, exciting games. But when these teams two teams happen to be the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, there is much more on the line than just wins and losses.

Both teams NEED wins this weekend, as the Yanks just lost their division lead to the Rays, and the Sox are still six and a half back with the playoffs right around the corner. But arguably greater than that is the fact that when the Sox visit the Yankees, or vice versa, the balance of history is on the line. Red Sox – Yankees is the most famous, most storied, and most intense rivalry in all of American sports, and over a century of bragging rights hangs on the line when the two ball clubs meet.

Red Sox-Yankees tickets

Boston and New York are two of the biggest sports markets in the country, and both teams have an incredibly strong international fan base, so it is no surprise to see high ticket prices for the upcoming series this weekend.

• Sox @ Yanks, Friday, Aug 6th: $144
• Sox @ Yanks, Saturday, Aug 7th, $187
• Sox @ Yanks, Sunday, Aug 8th: $132

So, the overall average New York Yankees tickets price for the series is $154. Seem high? When the Detroit Tigers visit the Bronx next week to play a three game series against the Yankees, the average series ticket price $60. Compare that to the average ticket price for all upcoming Yankees home games, $81, and it is clear just how excited baseball fans are to see these games.

Where to find the highest valued tickets

FanSnap is all about helping fans find the best possible values on tickets, no matter how high demand is for any particular event. Check out these great values on Red Sox-Yankees tickets:

• On Friday, find two tickets in the left outfield, section 131 for $99 which is half of the average ticket price for this area.
• For tickets to Saturdays game, sit in Terrance Infield 314 for only $58, which is a mind blowing 61% off the average price of $190.
• And on Sunday, find some seriously good tickets in Champions Suite 29, right along the 3rd baseball, for $337, half off the average price similar tickets are going for on the secondary market.

The last time Alex Rodriguez hit a home run was July 22. 37 at-bats isn’t necessarily a exceptionally long stretch of time to be without a home run. But when the slugger happens to be at #599, one shy of the illustrious #600 mark that only Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth (among others) have reached, the anticipation and pressure to hit that next bomb is felt nationwide. But how much do fans really care about seeing A-Rod the hitting elite with his 600th HR?

The average ticket price for New York Yankees tickets to their upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays is $50. This is lower than the average price for Yankees tickets (for all upcoming games this season, which average $81).

For Monday’s game, the home run chase has driven up prices over the past week from $64 to $75. This average price is more than the series average of $50, so clearly A-Rod has brought up prices.

Blue Jays @ Yankees average ticket prices

• Monday, August 2nd: Avg Ticket Price = $75
• Tuesday, August 3rd: Avg Ticket Price = $45
• Wednesday, August 4th, Avg Ticket Price = $41

If catching the HR ball is what you are after, expect to pay a bit more for good tickets in the outfield. As previously reported, left field sections 233a- 236 and 132-136 have the highest probability of landing a home run ball. In left OF sections 233-236 and 132-136, tickets are within a range of $27 to $208 for Wednesday’s game. Those tickets in the $200′s are all in the “hot” home run sections (135+136), and these are some of the highest prices we have seen in these sections: the range is much higher than past games in the Bronx where A-Rod might have hit 600, as last Saturday’s game against the Royals, the price range was only $27 to $98.

For Wednesday’s game, tickets in the OF are still available, but at a price.

Fans clearly want to see and hope to catch Rodriguez’s 600th, as tickets for Monday’s game are higher than the series average price. New York Yankees fans are keen to catch a-Rod’s 600, as tickets are going for more in these areas than they have in previous games against small market clubs (like the Royals two weekends ago).

It has been ten days since his last HR, yet the buzz about Alex Rodriguez hitting the historical long ball seems to have increased. With #600 looming, a strong lead in the American League East, recent trade acquisitions, and an upcoming series against the Red Sox, baseball in New York is electric.

Although Alex Rodriguez’s pursuit of his 600th career home run has been rightfully overshadowed by the recent passing of Bob Sheppard and George Steinbrenner, fans in New York are gearing up this week to get a chance to see, and possibly catch, a piece of baseball history. Going into this week’s series vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, A-Rod is just two short of the milestone at 598. If he can’t reach 600 against Angel’s starting pitchers Sean O’Sullivan and Joel Piniero, he will undoubtedly be able to ‘go yard’ in the Yankees four game series against the Kansas City Royals.

Compared to some other big sports stories of the day, there has been relatively modest media coverage of Rodriguez’s chase to his 600th four-bagger, but that doesn’t mean fans in the Bronx and surrounding New York City area are oblivious to this historical moment. For fans looking to catch the record A-Rod home run ball, look no further than the block of outfield sections 132-136 and 233a-236.

Published reports state that A-Rod pulls nearly 50 percent of his Yankee Stadium home runs into this block of sections down the left field line

What price for a piece of history?  The range of ticket market prices in these outfield sections are:

$24-$138 on Wednesday vs. Angels (Piniero)

$20-$133 on Thursday vs. Royals (Chen)

$20-$144 on Friday vs. Royals (Bannister)

$45-$172 on Saturday vs. Royals (tba)

$21-$222 on Sunday vs. Royals (tba)

Save that ticket stub!

Average price for Friday’s Rays – Yankees tickets have more than doubled in the last two days and are up 85% — since fans learned of Steinbrenner’s passing. Ticket availability for Friday is down 60% in the same time frame and going fast.

Fans started buying up Yankees tickets when they leaned Yankees PA announcer, Bob Sheppard passed. When Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died on Tuesday, that rate significantly increased. Friday’s Rays – Yankees game will be the first time Yankees fans can gather together at Yankee Stadium since the passing of two Yankee legends. It’s clear Yankees fans want to be together at Yankee Stadium on Friday to say goodbye to Sheppard and Steinbrenner.

Read more in our post: Tribute To George Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard – A Somber Home Stand At Yankee Stadium

As the Yankees cruised into the All-Star break last week, fans holding Yankees tickets for the first series out of the break had one thing on their minds – Alex Rodriguez’s 600th home run. The soon-to-be youngest member of the 600 home run club was sitting at 597 home runs after a hot west coast trip, and all signs were pointing toward him blasting his way through the milestone during the upcoming home stand.

On Sunday, longtime Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard (known to some as “The Voice Of God”) passed away at age 99.  Then on Tuesday, former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, possibly the most famous owner in the history of sports passed away at age 80.  Suddenly, true baseball fans with Yankees tickets for the upcoming games against the Rays were given a chance to have an experience much more valuable than seeing a millionaire chase a personal milestone.  These fans now had a chance to be there in person to witness the tributes and pay their final respects to two men that each uniquely shaped the Yankees franchise.

Bob Sheppard never stepped foot in the new Yankee Stadium which ensured that it always felt like something was missing from the experience.  This wasn’t a knock on current public address announcer Paul Olden. It was just hard to accept that the legendary voice of Yankee Stadium was alive somewhere, but wasn’t well enough to do what he had done for all of those years.  As Yankees fans, we all knew it was only a matter of time before news of Sheppard’s passing ominously appeared in our Twitter feeds, but it didn’t make it any easier to accept when it actually happened. Many of us even had  irrational thoughts of Sheppard one day making his triumphant debut behind the microphone at the new Stadium. It wasn’t meant to be.  On Friday night, those with Yankees tickets will undoubtedly be witness to a stirring tribute to the voice of Yankee Stadium, the “Voice Of God.”

Many longtime Yankees fans felt like they knew George Steinbrenner, even though they didn’t.  What we did know was that there couldn’t possibly be another owner more dedicated to making our favorite team in the world a winner.  For all of the memorable moments that commitment delivered to us, we were eternally grateful.  Like Sheppard, Steinbrenner was mostly absent from the shiny new venue sometimes known as “The House That George Built.” He had engineered  the political string-pulling that ensured plenty of taxpayer funding for his billion-dollar “home” in the Bronx, but his health was declining and he only made a few token appearances there.  In his final years, the eminently fiery “boss” had gracefully faded into the background, become softer, more vulnerable.  This somehow enhanced his legendary status and made him an even more beloved figure among Yankees fans –  something that seemed like an impossible task for much of the 1980′s and 1990′s.

Today, people are scrambling for Yankees tickets unlike they’ve done for any other game this season for a tribute that still isn’t announced. Via the FanSnap Twitter account, we learned that the price of Yankees tickets for Friday July 16 had risen 30% on the news of George Steinbrenner’s death.  Tickets for Old Timer’s Day on Saturday were increasing in popularity as well.

Yankees fans are a nostalgic bunch with a keen sense of history, and we cherish the opportunity to honor the past along with the present.  The emotional meaning behind witnessing the yet-to-be announced tributes for Yankees legends Bob Sheppard and George Steinbrenner this weekend far surpasses the allure of any milestone home run chase.  Alex Rodriguez is still chasing history, but that chase clearly isn’t the draw this weekend.

Ross Sheingold is a Yankees season ticket holder, the creator of the Yankee Stadium blog NYY Stadium Insider and a contributing writer at FanSnap’s blog.  You can find him on Twitter @StadiumInsider

MLB All-Star Weekend marks the half way point in the 162-game baseball season, it gives the players a chance to take a break from the mid-season grind, it gives fans a chance to see the best in the league play in one single game, and it decides which league gets the home team advantage in the World Series.

The allure of the Home Run Derby is much simpler: fans want to see their favorite sluggers knock the cover off the ball and hit as many long balls as humanly possible. Although both events may take on different meanings for baseball fans and players alike, they are both an important part of Major League Baseball.

When you compare this season’s All Star Game and Home Run Derby ticket prices to last year’s, it is interesting to see how they are relatively lower in Los Angeles this year than they were in St. Louis in 2009. What’s more, St. Louis is a mid market while L.A. is the second largest and home to two team — both of which went to the Championship Series last season. So, a 50% drop in All Star Game ticket prices year / year is significant. Ticket prices to the Home Run Derby are down 60% from 2009 as well.

There aren’t many Derby tickets left in the secondary market, which may put pressure on prices to increase. The tickets that are available are averaging roughly $200. For seats in the outfield, prime home run ball real estate, your best value tickets are going for $151. This is a whopping 77% below average prices ($664) for tickets in this area. If you want to sit closer to the action, grab a seat in the Field All Star 128 for $225 bucks, which is 78% percent off the average price.

All Star Game tickets are averaging $442 dollars. There are still a fair amount of tickets left, and that means there is still great values to be had. Looking for the best seat in the house? Sit in the Diamond Hall of Fame 121 right behind home plate for $1202 dollars, 46% less than the average price of $2237. If you sit in the View All Star 511, up a few sections along the 3rd baseline, you still get a great view of the action. These seats are going for $155 dollars which is a substantial 45% percent less than the average price.

Stephen Strasburg’s next projected start is at home against San Francisco on July 9th.  His last few “humanizing” starts don’t seem to have diminished Strasburg’s stardom. And if they have, fans in D.C didn’t get the memo. As we’ve mentioned before, Strasburg has a biggest impact on tickets of pitcher in the MLB.

Strasburg’s crazy impact on tickets continues as the San Francisco Giants come to Washington for a series, July 9th – July 11th.  Strasburg will likely face Matt Cain. In fact, the ticket differential between Strasburg- and non-Strasburg starts is as large as ever. The average price of July 9th Nats tickets currently stands at $75.87 for the phenom’s next start. Comparing this with average Nationals ticket prices from the other two games in the Nats-Giants series, $28.80, we see a 163% increase in ticket price on the market when Strasburg is expected to pitch. Even after an unspectacular five innings against the Mets on July 3rd where he allowed two earned runs, with five Ks, it is clear that Nats fans want to watch Steven Strasburg significantly more than any of their other starters.

Here’s a look at the price differential for Strasburg’s previous home starts as well as his upcoming start against the Giants:

So although Strasburg’s first home start against the Pirates saw an unprecedented increase in ticket pricing versus other games in that series, this upcoming series against the Giants is nearly as impressive. Even after four home games, when Strasburg pitches, the average ticket price goes up three fold. Guess the “Strasburg Effect” is proving to be a lasting phenomenon.

Alex Rodriguez is nearing yet another historical baseball achievement: Number 600. After hitting a grand slam (which brought him into second for all time grand slams, tied with Manny Ramirez) and a solo shot in Tuesday’s game against the Oakland A’s, A-Rod is now three away from hitting his 600th home run of his career. He would only the seventh in the history of baseball to hit 600, right behind legendary names such as Willie Mays (660 HR’s), Sammy Sosa (609 HR’s) and Babe Ruth (714 HR’s).

It is truly an astounding number, this 600. If the average home run is about 400 feet in distance, this would mean, by number 600, A-Rod will have hit home run ball more 45 miles. That’s also 600 baseballs scattered around the country, where fans able to complete the death grip on one of his homers hold a piece of history.

As much as Rodriguez may want to hit the 600 mark in the Bronx (he hit #500 at the old Yankees Stadium), it looks like he may be making history in Seattle where the Yanks meet the Mariners in a four-game series this weekend. How ironic it would be for Rodriguez to hit his 600th at Safeco, considering he hit his first ever home run of his professional career in the Kingdome (the Mariner’s old stadium) in 1995.  Although the M’s are starting aces Cliff Lee (who may soon be a Yankee) and Felix Hernandez, A-Rod is on a hot streak, hitting six homers in his last thirteen games dating back to June 22. It looks more and more like he will hit the big one at some point this weekend.

So for fans trying to catch a glimpse of history in Seattle, expect higher prices at Safeco Field this weekend. The Yankees are second only to the Red Sox as the hottest road teams in baseball.  We just completed a study looking at which team brings the highest price when on the road. We found that the New York Yankees had an average away price of $95 dollars. The teams the Yankees visit have an average ticket price of $52. When the Yankees come to town, ticket prices increase by 82%.

So, prices in Seattle for the Yankees series should be up. Pile on the fact that A-Rod may hit his 600th dinger and prices in Seattle — the place where his career began and where he had so much early success —  should be off the charts. Maybe even Steven Strasburg-like? Right? Wrong.

Ticket prices in Seattle currently average $44.72. With the Yankees coming to town and the possibility of Alex Rodriguez’s 600th HR, you might expect tickets are averaging $100+, but that simply isn’t the case… At least at this point.

The M’s were picked by many to be the sleeper team in the A.L. this year. That hasn’t happened. The Mariners are sitting at the bottom of the American League West. Now, M’s fans may lose Cliff Lee. In short, Mariners fans haven’t had a lot to cheer about lately and seeing one of their own come back in pinstripes and blast #600 may be just too much for the beleaguered Seattle sports fan.

Still, for fans excited about the chance to see A-Rod hit #600, that series may be too good to miss — especially given how well Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez pitched in New York.

For tickets to these and all other New York Yankees games, check out Fansnap for the best tickets at the greatest possible values. Find tickets to watch A-Rod and the Yanks this weekend in Seattle below:

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

This is the continuation of a series of Yankee Stadium Insider posts called “getting the most out of your Yankees tickets.”  As the summer heats up, so does the popularity (and price) of Yankees tickets.  We’re here to help you get the most out of your money.  Today, we’re going to transform into a food blog, as we help fans choose the best $15 steak sandwich at Yankee Stadium.  Please check out the previous post in this series, Getting The Most Out Of Your Yankees Tickets: Arriving Early For Batting Practice.

During the 2009 season, fans lucky enough to score Yankees tickets were bombarded with new food offerings. From sushi, to garlic fries to “frickles” (and everything in between), those with an adventurous taste for food  at the ballpark were rewarded with more than just the typical fare.  While many of the new food options ended up leaving our wallets empty  and our palate dissatisfied, one stood out as a shining star – the Lobel’s steak sandwich.  At the time. we extensively reviewed the Lobel’s steak sandwich and were so impressed that we asked, “is it possible that the best food we have ever eaten comes from a concession stand in a baseball stadium?”

Fast Forward to 2010 and the success of the Lobel’s steak sandwich is obvious.  The stand, located on the field level of Yankee Stadium near section 132 regularly has a line 25-35 people deep (don’t worry, it moves fast) and the $15 sandwich has received critical acclaim from most who have tried it.  Of course, Lobel’s unrivaled success in the high-end steak sandwich category has led to other vendors attempting to get a piece of the  lucrative steak sandwich business.  Back in April, Yankee Stadium’s upscale steakhouse, NYY Steak (you need to have Yankees tickets on the day of a game to eat there) opened a concession stand called NYY Steak Express near section 109 on the field level and started selling their own $15 steak sandwich.  This sandwich known as “beef on weck” (a type of steak sandwich famous in the Buffalo, NY area), promised a different high-end steak sandwich for the same $15 price point.

As soon as we heard about this steak sandwich newcomer, we knew that a showdown was in order.  Fellow “Stadium Insider,” Nick came along to a game in May armed with a Flip Cam, ready to buy both an NYY Steak “beef on weck”  and Lobel’s Steak Sandwich to decide once and for all where steak-loving fans with Yankees tickets should pledge their allegiance.

First up on this beautiful spring day was the NYY Steak “beef on weck” sandwich from the stand near section 109 dubbed “NYY Steak Express.”  We had enjoyed the Lobel’s sandwich many times before, so as steak lovers we were anxious to try our the new kid on the block.  The first thing people need to know about “beef on weck” is that the roll is what makes it unique, but the meat is what is supposed to set it apart.  The kummelweck roll is a type of kaiser roll that is covered in salt and caraway seeds and definitely isn’t for everyone – therefore, NYY Steak Express also offers a more generic version without the salt or seeds.  We wanted the “authentic” experience, so we went with the kummelweck roll.

Unfortunately, the stand wasn’t selling too many  $15 sandwiches on this particular day, so there were dozens of them lined up behind the counter waiting to be eaten. Since we were planning on reviewing our experience, we wanted to give NYY Steak a fair shot and asked the stadium worker to serve us one that was freshly sliced and piping hot.  They supposedly obliged, but it still didn’t turn out well. Immediately, we noticed that the sandwich in our tray wasn’t as advertised.  While the sign above the stand featured a photo of rare “USDA Prime Beef,” the meat on our sandwich was anything but rare and didn’t seem “prime.” We even took a video to prove it:

After spending $15, we weren’t going to just give up on the sandwich, so we split it in half and ate on. Sadly, there wasn’t much good news to report and the highlight of the meal was washing down the sandwich with our yellow Gatorade. Sidebar: the fountain lemon-lime Gatorade sold at concession stands around the stadium is some of the best Gatorade in the world. The ice and the fountain machine water the Gatorade down just a bit and makes it especially refreshing. There isn’t anything better on a hot day, and some stands sell a small, 12 oz. cup for $3 – great for those on a budget.

The “beef on weck” experience literally left a bad taste in our mouths and we almost canceled the steak showdown.  Nonetheless, we headed down the left field line near section 132  a few innings later and hopped in line for the coveted Lobel’s Steak Sandwich.  It was later in the game, so there were only a few people in line. Even without crowds gobbling up the sandwiches, Lobel’s has an efficient system to keep their meat warm, juicy and fresh.  They keep the roasts warm in ovens and once the chefs slice them, the meat is placed into trays filled with the meat juices. We actually prefer our meat more natural, so when we order the Lobel’s Steak Sandwich, we ask the person working the stand for a sandwich “fresh sliced” off the roast.  Some people love the “au jus” that the meat is placed in, but we’ve tried it both ways and prefer it “au natural.”

On this Sunday afternoon, the Lobel’s Steak Sandwich stand was serving prime rib, permanently turning the tide in an already one-sided steak sandwich showdown.  Just take a look at this beautiful pile of meat.  How can you not get hungry looking at that?

And it didn’t only look delicious – it delivered on the promise.  The prime rib was as tender as steak could possibly be, almost butter-like when bitten into. The flavor of the meat was perfect, even without it having soaked up the juices from sitting in the tray.  The quality and preparation of this beef makes it better without any sauces getting in the way.  As always, the cheese-coated, onion-flavored bun was fresh and it perfectly soaked up the juices of the steak for an optimal eating experience.  The portion was extremely generous, and even splitting the sandwich among two hungry men, it was a decent serving of meat.  People often ridicule the idea of spending $15 on a sandwich at the ballpark, but if you’re going to spend $12 on chicken fingers and fries, why wouldn’t you spend a few more dollars and get a larger portion of far superior food?

It should be noted that there are other $15 steak sandwiches spread throughout Yankee Stadium.  There is one on the main level behind home plate (near section 223) that is supposedly NY Strip and is served with onions. That is an impostor.  There is a mystery meat version sold at the concession stand near Grandstand section 434B. That is an impostor as well and you’ll regret buying it .

The bottom line is, eating the Lobel’s steak sandwich at Yankee Stadium is like having a gourmet dining experience at the ballpark while all of the other options are like eating a steak sandwich from a ballpark.

Ross Sheingold is a Yankees season ticket holder, the creator of the Yankee Stadium blog NYY Stadium Insider and a contributing writer at FanSnap’s blog.  You can find him on Twitter @StadiumInsider

There’s been no shortage of debate as to whether Stephen Strasburg should be named to the N.L. All-Star team. True, Strasburg hasn’t had enough starts. His .500 record in 5 start isn’t stellar. Strasburg has a solid 2.27 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched. But wait a minute. What is the All-Star Game, really? It’s for the fans. Fans want to see the most exciting and electric ball players out there on July 13th. And because it is a fans game, shouldn’t the players the fans most want to see get the nod? We say yes!

FanSnap is the most comprehensive ticket search engine in the U.S., displaying ticket data from every major ticket marketplace and every major ticket broker who sells direct online. Of the 60+ most trusted ticket sites online that FanSnap searches, we created the “Fansnap 60 Index.” FanSnap Tickets Reports are based on data gathered from the FanSnap 60.

FanSnap is able to see that demand very clearly in the ticketing market, and from our data, it is clear that not only should Steven Strasburg be in the All-Star game, but he should be a shoe-in. His ticket numbers and therefore the demand to see him is simply extraordinary. When Stephen Strasburg pitches, tickets increase by an average of 123%. That’s well above the other top pitchers in both the National and American Leagues.

Tickets to games that Strasburg starts average $58.10. Tickets to the other games in the series average $25.99.

In this category, if nowhere else, he blows away the competition. So, particularly with a game that is based on fan enjoyment, we say, give the people what they want!

In order to responsibly suggest who should or should not be in the All Star game, Fansnap first compiled a list of the best all around starting pitchers in the Major Leagues. They were chosen based on the common baseball statistics. We took into account, wins, strikeouts, ERA, and walks plus hits/ innings pitched (WHIP) just like we do in fantasy baseball). We then evaluated the average ticket price of all home starts by these pitchers, and compared them to the average ticket prices of the games in the rest of those specific series.

For example, when evaluating Tim Lincecum, Fansnap took the average ticket price from his home debut against the Atlanta Braves and the average price from the other two games in that series. The same was done for his other 8 starts. From there, an overall average of home starts by Lincecum was compared to the combined average of all other games in those series.

Aside from Strasburg, the two highest percentage change in ticket prices came from John Johnson of the Marlins (+24%) and Tim Lincecum of the Giants (+24%).  Other pitchers of note were Jared Weaver of the Angels at +15% and Roy Oswalt of the Astros at +13%. For the most part, these are small market teams who have fans that seem to get more excited (and are willing to pay more) to see their stars pitch.

Remember: for all tickets to Major League Baseball this summer, including All Star Game tickets and Home Run Derby tickets, visit Fansnap to find the best possible values on the best possible seats.

As the All-Star break approaches — the long MLB season’s half-time equivalent — here at FanSnap we’re taking a look at each team’s success based on… ticket demand of course. FanSnap is the most comprehensive ticket search engine in the U.S., displaying ticket data from every major ticket marketplace and every major ticket broker who sells direct online. Of the 60+ most trusted ticket sites online that FanSnap searches, we created the “Fansnap 60 Index.” FanSnap Tickets Reports are based on data gathered from the FanSnap 60.

The Boston Red Sox started the season with the highest ticket demand. Even with a start that wasn’t what Boston fans hoped for, ticket demand has remained strong. The fact that ticket prices have remained stable throughout the first half of the season at Fenway speaks to both the die-hard attitudes of Sox fans, the relatively small capacity of Fenway, as well as as fans willingness to endure rough spots during the season (at one point during the season they were more than 10 games back).

In Minnesota, there is a very different story. Twins fans appear more and more interested in the home team, considering the increase in prices from the beginning of the season to current prices ($72-$97). The $25 dollar increase is largest increase in the MLB. Twins fans are becoming believers. In the A.L., The Yankees and Jays are also seeing demand increase. Conversely, the Mariners, Orioles and Angles have seen softening demand as the season has progressed.

In the N.L., Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros fans were very excited to begin the season, but the last few months of sub .500 baseball are reflected in the overall drop in ticket demand. Perhaps most surprising is the lack of enthusiasm in L.A. for the Dodgers. The Dodgers nearly made the World Series last season had it not been for the Phillies. This year, the ticket demand for the Dodgers is among the lowest in the MLB. The Phils have the highest ticket demand in the N.L. It’s ebbed slightly since the beginning of the year. Even with the huge fan buzz around Stephen Strasburg joining the Nats a few weeks ago, ticket prices on average have gone down a bit for the Nats as the season has gone on — even as ticket prices for Strasburg starts have given lift to the overall average Nats ticket demand.

Examining market price averages is one useful way to examine the market trends and help quantify relative fan demand for events. It is important to note, however, that FanSnap regularly finds market prices for comparable tickets varying by 25%, 40%, 60% or more at any given time. Also, all market prices quoted include both the ticket price and the commission charged by the ticket site, so fans can compare tickets from several sites all at once, ‘apples to apples.’

We also looked at average ticket price for a team at an out-of-town ballpark.  From this number, we can show which team in the American League and the National League has had the largest impact nationally.  Essentially telling us how much excitement an away team brings to a select number of venues.

The two “hottest” away teams — by far — to go see are the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The average away ticket prices are $95 dollars for Yankees tickets, and $80 dollars for Red Sox tickets. After the Red Sox and Yankees come the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at $57 dollars and the Minnesota Twins at $56 dollars. The Cleveland Indians generate the smallest average ticket price when on the road, averaging about $37 dollars.

It is clear from the average ticket prices that the front runner in the NL is Philadelphia Phillies tickets at $56.92 and then St. Louis Cardinals $54.18.  The lowest average ticket price on the road is Cincinnati Reds tickets at $29 followed by Florida Marlins tickets at just over $31.

When comparing the American and National League over average away ticket prices, A.L. teams drew an average price of $52 dollar compared to the N.L. average of $42.90 dollars. This is not incredibly surprising, considering the fact that teams in the A.L. are usually the bigger market teams that command higher ticket prices.

For All Star Game tickets, Home Run Derby tickets, and tickets to the second half of the MLB season, be sure to check out Fansnap for any and all games throughout the rest of the year.

On Independence Day, we celebrate what it means to be American, and part of that means celebrating baseball. That’s  probably why America’s past time tends to raise its ticket prices on the Fourth. Taking four series that overlap with the national holiday, we saw that the effect on MLB ticket prices was pretty significant. Out of four of the hottest baseball markets, ticket prices have jumped over 26% on July 4th versus the average of the other games in the series.

If you’re planning a trip to these parks this weekend, here are some good values on tickets in these four series:

Baltimore Orioles @ Boston Red Sox Tickets

July 2nd: Right Field Roof Box 91: $63

July 3rd: Right Field Roof Box 25, $74

July 4th: Bleachers 39, $41 each or Right Field Roof Box 31, $80 each

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees Tickets

July 2nd: Grandstand Dugout 419, $16 or Main Outfield 233A, $30

July 3rd: Bleachers 239, $23

July 4th: Grandstand Outield 434A, $18

Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs Tickets

July 2nd: GA Bleachers, $41

July 3rd: Club Box IF 11, $120

July 4th: Upper Deck Reserved IF 503, $13 or Club Box OF 4, $89

New York Mets @ Washington Nationals Tickets

July 2nd: Left Field Corner 109, $20

July 3rd: Infield Club 215, $110

July 4th: Left Field Reserved 103, $35

Here’s a link to the other Fourth of July MLB games: http://www.fansnap.com/events?from_date=07%2F04%2F2010&to_date=07%2F04%2F2010&x=13&y=13&q=mlb+tickets

Rookie Stephen Strasburg will look to improve to 3-0 today against the Kansas City Royals. If he strikes out as many as he has in his last three starts (14, 8, and 10 K’s) Strasburg will stir up even more talk about the possibility of him being voted into the All Star game this July. He is that good. And this Wednesday, Nationals Park will be packed yet again to see if Strasburg can continue to dominate.

The great news for National’s (and Strasburg) fans is that tickets are still available to see the rookie pitch. Find a seat in right field for $23 dollars, 44% less than the average price of $41 dollars. Or, get closer to the action and sit behind the away dugout for $87 dollars a seat.

And so the rivalry continues… Is it better to be a Sox fan or a Yanks fan? It seems like this is the consensus: While it’s better for your eternal soul to be a Red Sox fan, it’s much better for your wallet to be a Yankees fan.

That’s right, for the upcoming three home series at Yankee Stadium, the average ticket price is currently $79.73, while at Fenway, for the next four home series the average is $134.31. That means Red Sox fans will pay an average of 68% more for tickets into early August.

That being said, in a comparable seat breakdown for both team’s upcoming home games (SEA @ NY, TB @ BOS), prices are pretty similar :

Yankee Stadium…………………….vs………………….Fenway Park

Grandstand Outfield 408 – $36          vs.          Outfield Grandstand 5 – $45

Field Infield 127 A – $219                    vs.          Loge Box 144 – $188

Field Dugout 115 – $289                      vs.           Field Box 16 – $219

In the next month or so, both teams travel to three of the same cities.  This is what we found at those parks.  With the exception of Seattle, Yankees away games average a slightly higher ticket price.  That may be a very small silver lining for Sox fans.

Upcoming Red Sox and Yankee Away Series: Average Ticket Prices

Count one for Yankees fans, they certainly have the edge when it comes to finding deals on tickets in the near future.  It’s probably because there isn’t a bad seat at Fenway Park.  With that in mind, here’s some of the best ticket deals available currently for the next Red Sox home game against rival Tampa Bay Rays:

Location………………………..Low Price………………..Average Price………………..You Save!

Bleachers 38……………………$45ea………………………$63…………………………….29%

Right Field Box 8……………..$71ea……………………….$102…………………………..30%

Right Field Roof Box 33……..$85ea ………………………$186…………………………..54%

Infield Grandstand 29……….$85ea……………………….$120…………………………..29%

Field Box 71………………….. $144ea………………………$284………………………….49%

This week, the New York Mets begin a six game home stand against the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins. Both series will be important to all participants, as the Mets are two and a half games back of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and the Twins and Tigers are first and second in the American League Central, respectively.

The Mets are looking to stay strong at home. They have won their last 10 of 11 at Citi Field, giving them the second best home record in the National League. Both the Mets and the Tigers are 9-3 in interleague play. Coinciding with these three games, the Twins will take on the NL East leading Braves this Tuesday through Thursday before heading to New York on Friday. If there was ever a crucial week of baseball pre-All Star break, this would be it.

If you are looking for reasonably priced New York Mets tickets to any of their home games this week, look no further than Fansnap. For fans looking to catch the rubbermatch of the Tigers-Mets series, find a Promenade reserved seat for only $20 bucks, almost half off from the average price of $37 dollars. This Saturday, see the Twins play the Mets in Excelsior Club 313 (one section up from behind home plate) for 51% percent less than the average price, $85 dollars.

The transition between weeknight to weekend games provides an understandable upward trend in average overall ticket prices, as more fans are willing to see these games when they are not in the middle of their work week. Wednesday the 23rd against Detroit, prices are averaging around $55 dollars, as opposed to Sunday’s games against Minnesota averaging $100 dollars.