Posts Tagged ‘mets tickets’

Do you have your baseball tickets yet?  There are 81 home games (not including playoffs) and this could be your team’s year!  We have scanned the internet and found thousands of available tickets for every game, but why wait?  You can get tickets for game #1, all the home openers right here!

Play ball!

Team FanSnap

Guest post by Ross Sheingold, The Yankee Stadium Insider

Budget-conscious Yankees fans worried about the ticket market heating up as the season progresses may not have anything to worry about at all. According to FanSnap’s ticket search engine, average ticket prices for both instances of the 2011 Subway Series are 42% lower than they were in 2010:

We’re also hearing anecdotes that back up the data.  Over a table full of wings on Thursday night, FanSnap Blog’s tennis expert Bobby Calise passed along his story of purchasing Yankees tickets for this weekend’s Subway Series.  Earlier this week, Bobby’s girlfriend recommended that they go to a Yankees game over the weekend.  From experience, we know that whenever a wife or a girlfriend recommends a sporting event as a weekend activity, immediate action is necessary, lest she changes her mind.

The View From The Right Field Bleachers At Yankee Stadium

Unfortunately for Bobby, he quickly remembered that the Mets were in town this weekend and ticket prices were likely to be inflated.  He looked up prices anyway and to his surprise, he found a pair of tickets in the Bleachers for around $82 after all fees.  Sure, the $82 was nearly triple the $30 face value for the pair of tickets, but this was for a Saturday “premium” game against a cross-town rival.He could have had significantly cheaper tickets in the Grandstand, but as any good “Stadium Insider” knows, you get way more bang for buck in the right field Bleachers with Bald Vinny. He was sold.

Bobby’s experience illustrates two points that we’ve made in the past on our blog, NYY Stadium Insider:

1) Yankees fans with season tickets in the bleachers would be wise to hold onto their plans unless the face value rises dramatically.  Even in what is considered a buyer’s market, resellers are making nearly triple face value for premium games, and not too far below face value for regular games.

2) The convenience afforded by the secondary ticket market far outweighs any benefits that non-bleacher season tickets can offer.  Sure, you might have to pay significantly over face value for premium and playoff games, but you also have the freedom to base your game attendance decisions on that day’s circumstances.  The Bergen Record’s John Brennan experienced this phenomenon earlier this week when he traveled from New Jersey to Queens for a Mets game, only to find out upon arrival that the game had been postponed.  His experience illustrates the value of the secondary ticket market and going forward he will think twice before making his ticket purchases so far in advance from the box office.

If you truly love spending your Spring and Summer evenings in New York City watching our national past time, now is the time to buy tickets. You can find Yankees tickets and Mets tickets using FanSnap’s Ticket Search Engine.

This weekend, you get to choose between the Final Four and MLB Opening Day /Home Openers. What a great weekend! In fact, we debated whether this weekend was the absolute best in sports. Is there a better one? Super Bowl weekend? NBA or MLB All-Star weekends? The start of March Madness? It’s a tough choice. Let us know what you think in the comments.

During Spring Training, we looked at MLB Opening Day ticket market prices so to channel our excitement on the eve of the 2011 MLB season, we thought it would interesting to compare MLB ticket prices this year versus the last year and 2009. We thought it would also be interesting to see which teams’ tickets are getting hotter and which fans were less excited about their teams prospects in 2011.

MLB Tickets Up in 2011… Sort of

We started with average ticket market prices across the league for every team for every home game. We compared tickets for the entire season as of today versus this time last year and this time in 2009. In aggregate, MLB ticket market prices are up in 2011 ($67) compared to 2010 ($64). But MLB ticket prices are still down compared to 2009 when baseball tickets averaged $74.

Phillies, Red Sox, Twins, Rays, Rangers, Mets and Yankees tickets are up pretty substantially over last year. The Rangers and Rays fan remain energized after last season’s deep post season runs. The defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants tickets are up slightly, but not like you might guess after winning the fall classic.

We can’t wait to see what the 2011 season holds.

See you at the ballpark.

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

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.

On the precipice of another showdown between the Mets and Yankees, its crazy to think that this is the 14th year of the mid-season, intra-city, interleague rivalry. There are some interesting on-field stories that make this an especially compelling series for fans of both teams. The Mets are the struggling last place team with fans calling for manager Jerry Manuel to be fired.  Meanwhile, the once red-hot Yankees have been decimated by injuries and are losing ground in the ultra-competitive AL East.

Since our recent post outlining the Yankees rash of injuries, there has been even more bad news for the pinstripes. Jorge Posada has a hairline fracture in his foot and will be out a month, Nick Johnson was forced to go under the knife for his ailing wrist and is on the disabled list for the next two months and Alfredo Aceves just has an epidural in his back. Nick Swisher has an injured biceps that is putting him into a constant state of “day to day” and Marcus Thames sprained his ankle after tripping over his bat.

On the positive side, both teams have impressive young players who have their fanbases extremely excited. Ike Davis has been a revelation for a struggling Mets franchise and has fans scrambling to buy No. 29 jerseys. In the Bronx, Phil Hughes has burst back onto the scene after spending a year in the bullpen and is one of the most exciting young pitchers in baseball.

When these two teams meet, the fans always step up their game. Plenty of Yankees fans will invade Citi Field and try to impose their will on Mets fans.  If you’re lucky enough to be at one of the games, you’ll surely hear “Let’s Go Yankees” chants followed by the obligatory “Let’s Go Mets” or “Yankees Suck.”  Its like a harmony. There will be girlfriends in Mets jerseys sitting next to boyfriends in Yankees hats and plenty of other friends turned rivals.

Thinking about picking up Mets tickets? be sure to hit up The Mets Police blog. The Mets Police “Guide To Citi Field” is a must read if you want to find out about the can’t miss Citi Field spots such as the brand new Mets Museum, the new site of the famous home run apple, and the new on-site bar, McFadden’s.  Those guys pretty much invented the term “fan advocate.”

Can’t make it to Citi this weekend? The Yankees and Mets meet again in June and there are plenty of great ticket values on Yankees tickets to be found.

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

Start spreading the news…

Lovers of the nation’s pastime, driven by the great choices and values to be had, have been all over FanSnap this summer searching for MLB tickets.  Vacationing fans are visiting ballparks.  Baseball fans are sitting in seats they never thought they could afford.

What teams are baseball fans searching for most?  And where are they playing on July 4th?

1.  New York Yankees tickets:  Jays @ Yankees, 8,000+ tickets from $16*

2.  Boston Red Sox tickets:  Mariners @ Red Sox, 2,000+ tickets from $16

3.  New York Mets tickets:  Mets @ Phillies, 4000+ tickets from $19

4.  LA Angels tickets:  Orioles @ Angels, 3,000+ tickets from $14

5.  Chicago Cubs tickets:  Brewers @ Cubs, 6000+ tickets from $20

6.  SF Giants tickets:  Astros @ Giants, 2,000 tickets from $11

7.  Chicago White Sox tickets:  White Sox @ Royals, 700+ tickets from $6

8.  LA Dodgers tickets:  Dodgers @ Padres, 1000+ tickets from $20

Most interesting as they are both in the Big Apple and have new ballparks, Yankees searches outnumber Mets searches two to one…

Me?  I am going to SF’s AT&T Park Saturday to see Cy Young winning phenom Timmy Lincecum blow away Astros!  Happy Fourth of July!

Mike

* ticket availability and price (ticket + commission) as of July 2, 2PM PT

The New York Times ran an interesting page 1 story by Ken Belson yesterday on the thousands of early season empty seats in the new baseball parks, the new Yankees Stadium and Citi Field. In contrast to the typical situation where unsold seats are up in the nosebleed sections, the twist in NY is that many of the unpurchased seats are among the best on the house.

The teams are being pointedly second-guessed due to the very high face values they set for these premium seats. Obviously, the general economic downturn, together with the collapse of the financial industry, has made the situation much worse. Teams (and concert promoters) have longed talked of using “yield management” pricing models similar to the airlines and hotels to maximize their revenues. Perhaps the Yankees and Mets example is a testament to just how difficult this is to pull off.

Two interesting points here.

The first is that some have suggested that perhaps the teams chose their price structures emboldened by the asking prices they have historically seen in the resale market for tickets, expecting to keep more of what they perceived the market would bear. If so, there are two problems with this thinking.

• the “asking prices” that one sees on ticket marketplace and broker sites are what is being offered at any given point in time, not where the actual transaction prices end up. As one can see by doing any ticket search on FanSnap, there is a large variation in the asking prices, and sellers change their prices constantly.  Not every one is an equally motivated seller.
• ticket resales have grown to a multi-billion dollar market due to meeting fans’ legitimate needs to buy and sell. If there was no demand, there would simply be no market. What are ticket market buyers paying for? Sure, they can get access to great tickets and what used to be called “sold out” events. What is not always appreciated is that fans also greatly value the convenience of being able to buy tickets when they want, not on the team’s sales schedule.

No surprise that if team prices were set based on asking vs. transaction prices, and expecting fans to pay a premium for tickets offered at the beginning of the year, there were few takers.  It’s a long season.

The second point is that market prices for tickets (just like any other commodity) are ultimately determined by the balance of buyers vs. sellers. As I told Ken, with economic circumstances motivating so many season ticketholders to sell, and with so many fewer buyers available, market prices have plummeted, in some cases even below the original face values.

Essentially all of the 250+ comments on the article were critical of the teams and lamenting that with the new higher face values, “regular” fans have been priced out of going to see their favorite teams. It is gratifying that the solution for these fans is actually the ticket resale market (which people often equate only with premium prices), which is producing market prices to see the Yankees and Mets in their awesome new stadiums for less than $10 a ticket.  Of course, one can actually find some pretty amazing tickets for great values as well.

Isn’t it ironic?

Mike

The Yankees and Mets have home openers coming this week. Both have new stadiums. Both are very hot tickets, but which is the hotter ticket?

Currently, based on market prices – the Mets. The least expensive seat for the Mets’ 4/13 home opener at Citi Field is $257, while tickets to see the Yankees in the new Yankee Stadium on 4/16 start at $219.

There are also many more tickets available (4300) for the Yankees.  This should put downward pressure on Yankees ticket prices and make them even cheaper in the coming days.  Mets tickets, on the other hand, are in limited supply with only 500 left, so it is more likely Mets ticket prices will stay firm or may even rise.

Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees Yankee Stadium, Apr 16

San Diego Padres @ New York Mets Citi Field, Apr 13

It’s not every day you get to see a major league ballpark opened!

Christian

The FanSnap team was excited to read “Tightwad Tod’s” column today in Consumer Reports.  He said,

“…when I checked FanSnap for tickets to a host of events there were plenty of bargains. They may not be the best seats or the hottest games, but I found tickets to see the Redsox in Boston for as little as $15, and seats at the new Yankee and Busch stadiums in New York and St. Louis for $8 and $3, respectively.

Reasonably priced tickets were available to other events as well, though you might have to travel to Fargo, N.D., Columbus, Ohio, or Charleston, West Va., to score the knockout deals, such as $20 to go country with Keith Urban, $22 to see Elton John and Billy Joel tickle the ivories, or $33 to get your scream on with the Jonas Brothers.”

Thanks, Tod.  We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

There is a wide choice of tickets available as season ticket holders skip more games than usual because of the economy.  Market prices of tickets are always influenced up or down by whether there are more buyers or sellers.  No matter what, among all those sellers, there are always a few who are particularly motivated to sell and drop their asking price.  You’ll notice their tickets right away – they are the lighter colored markers and the “best value” stars on the FanSnap Maps.

It may be a matter of getting a super deal on a ticket.  It may be a matter of splurging and sitting behind home plate, or next to the stage, for a much lower price than in past years.  Whether you are on a beer or champagne budget, our goal is to help you find great values!

Mike