Posts Tagged ‘mlb 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

The MLB League Championship Series match ups and schedule have been set.  Can the Rangers make it back to the World Series?  Hard core Tigers, Brewers, and Cardinals fans in Detroit, Milwaukee, and St Louis dare to think this might be THE year.

And the best news?  Asking prices dropped overnight.  Check out best values and the broadest selection of Brewers – Cards tickets and Rangers – Tigers tickets now on FanSnap.

With the Yankees 10-1 win on Detroit tonight, the ALDS returns to New York for a series-settling game 5 on Thursday night.

A scan of all the leading ticket marketplaces and broker sites shows more than 10,000 listings starting at $45 and averaging $138 a ticket.  Who will move on to battle the Texas Rangers?  Check out all the Tigers @ Yankees tickets on FanSnap and see for yourself, live!

FanSnap allows you to find, compare and get the best ALDS tickets values!

As is the case most years, any time the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees meet in August or September, there are playoff implications on the line. This year is no different, as the Sox hold a slender 1 game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.

Both teams are playing like playoff bound ball clubs. The Sox are 67-41 which gives them the second best record in the majors. Considering their 2-10 start, Boston’s turnaround is unprecedented in the history of baseball. Their record for July was the best month of the franchise has ever had (at 20-6). Their offense is first in the MLB in every major category (runs, batting average, OBS, and SPC). Slugger Adrian Gonzales and lead-off man Jacoby Ellsbury are both in line for a possible MVP nomination, and with the recent acquisition of pitcher Erik Edard from Seattle, the city of Boston is amped for the post-season.

As phenomenal as the Red Sox’ year has been, the Yankees are not far behind. At 66-42, they hold the third best record in the majors and have a commanding 7 game lead for the wildcard spot in the AL. They are second in the league in runs and on base percentage, and are 3rd overall in slugging percentage. The Yanks might have the slight edge over the Sox with their pitching staff. Ace CC Sabathia is in contention for a Cy Young award, already amassing 16 wins and a stellar earned run average.

It is almost a guarantee that the Red Sox and Yankees will be in the playoffs this year. But with the AL East pennant in such close contention, this weekend’s Sox-Yankees series is all the more important. Check out some general Sox-Yankees ticket data and Best Values Red Sox tickets below.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox tickets, August 5-7

• Boston Red Sox tickets are averaging $319 for Friday’s game, $387 for Saturday’s game, and $251 for Sunday’s game. These prices are massive compared to the last time the two teams met in the Bronx, when Yankees tickets for the series were averaging only $63.
• There are still upwards of 3,500 tickets for sale on the secondary market for the first two games, with over 5,000 still available for Sunday’s game. Sunday’s game is also where you can find the lowest priced ticket of the weekend at $79.
• Last year’s late season Yankees-Sox series in Boston had an average price of only $178, and this weekend tickets are averaging $319 overall. From 2010 to 2011, that’s a 70% increase in series average ticket price.

Best Value tickets

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox, Friday August 5th

• Grab tickets in Field Box 80 for $311, which is 47% off the average price of similar tickets in the area.

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox, Saturday August 6th

• Sit in Infield Grandstand 31 for 36% off the average ticket price, a total of $193 a ticket.
• Check out other Best Value tickets for Saturday’s game on the event chart below:

The last series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees was the turning point in the Sox’s 2011 season. As of May 11, the Sox were still under .500 at 17-20. After a weekend series in the Bronx, the Bosox would emerge 20-20, having swept the Yankees in three games.

Photo: Damian Strohmeyer: SI

From that point on, the Boston Red Sox have been the hottest team in baseball. It seems any given night, the team could put up ten or more runs. The Sox are second in the entire league in team slugging percentage, on base percentage, and batting average. And with a rebound year for ace Josh Beckett, the Boston Red Sox are in great position to take hold of the American League.

However hot the Sox are right now, the New York Yankees still hold a one game lead in the AL East. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and a few wins against the rival Red Sox this weekend would do wonders for the Yankees’ confidence. Add Derek Jeter’s chase for 3000 career hits (he now has 2,986) and Yankees Stadium will be electric all week long.

Both teams are in the top six of the ESPN Power Rankings: The Sox hold the #3 spot, while the Yankees are just a few back at #6. Without a doubt, Yankees tickets this week are going to be in high demand. Just as Red Sox tickets are traditionally some of the hottest in the league, anytime they visit Yankees Stadium, fans are willing to pay a bit more to see the historic rivalry. Check below for some ticket data and Best Value tickets.

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees tickets, June 7-9

• If there were ever a time to see the historic rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees, this week is it. Overall, tickets to this Red Sox- Yankees series are lower compared to past years.
• Yankees tickets are averaging $51 for Tuesday’s game, $60 for Wednesday’s game, and $80 for Thursday’s game. That is a $63 series average.
• The last series between the two teams in the Bronx had an average ticket price of $99. Compared to this week, the series average price has dropped 36%. Granted, it was a weekend series which does increase prices overall, but that is still a considerable fall in average price.
• Last year, the Sox and Yanks met in the Bronx for a weekday series where the average series price was $91. That’s a 30% drop from 2010 to 2011.
• There are over 12,000 tickets listed at FanSnap for each game of the series, with minimum prices of $18, $14, and $17 for each game.

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees, Tuesday June 7 @ 7:05 pm

• Looking for Best Value tickets? FanSnap has you covered. Sit in Terrace Infield 327 for only $23, which is 72% off the average price of comparable tickets.
• Find great tickets in Field Dugout 116 for only $99, which is a healthy 72% off the average price of comparable tickets.

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees, Thursday June 9 @ 7:05

• Get tickets in Terrace Infield 327 for $23: that is 67% off the average price of $106.

Check back at FanSnap all season long for MLB tickets, as we can help baseball fans find the best possible tickets at the best possible values.

credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/breebailey/2455660416/

This weekend marks the beginning of 2011 interleague play, or when the American and National Leagues face off in entertaining series that feature teams unfamiliar with one another. And even though the tradition has only been around since 1997, it still feels like a necessary part of every regular season.

As always, there are some entertaining match-ups to be had. Two of the most storied teams in all of sports meet in Boston, when the Cubs travel to Fenway to take on the Red Sox. Two powerhouse teams in the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers also meet in what some may call a preview of the 2011 World Series.

Which match-up is generating the most overall demand? We ranked each match-up according to the average ticket price of the series opener: check below for the Interleague Play FanDemand Rankings.

Interleague Play FanDemand: Series Openers, Friday May 20

1. Cubs @ Boston Red Sox tickets: avg. $96
2. Astros @ Toronto Blue Jays tickets: avg. $94
3. A’s @ San Francisco Giants tickets: avg. $91
4. Mets @ New York Yankees tickets: avg. $68
5. Rangers @ Philadelphia Phillies tickets: avg. $64
6. Nats @ Baltimore Orioles tickets: avg. $53
7. Dodgers @ Chicago White Sox tickets: avg. $53
8. Cards @ Kansas City Royals tickets: avg. $51
9. M’s @ San Diego Padres tickets: avg. $50
10. Reds @ Cleveland Indians tickets: avg. $36
11. Rockies @ Milwaukee Brewers tickets: avg. $36
12. Tigers @ Pittsburgh Pirates tickets: avg. $33
13. Twins @ Arizona Diamondbacks tickets: avg. $32
14. Rays @ Florida Marlins: avg. $28
15. Braves @ Los Angeles Angels tickets: avg. $25

Probably the most anticipated series of the weekend is also #1 in FanDemand: Boston Red Sox tickets are the hottest in the league this weekend when the host the Chicago Cubs.

Defending World Series champs, the San Francisco Giants, host their cross town rivals, the Oakland A’s, in a match-up that takes #3 in our FanDemand rankings.

As always, check back at FanSnap for the best possible MLB tickets at the best possible values.

There is little room for error in the American League East this year. Every team is within 4.5 games of first place in the division, as the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays have become more dangerous ball clubs as of late.

The titans of the AL East — The Red Sox and Yankees — meet this weekend. Not only is the Sox – Yanks rivalry heated, but the outcome of these hotly contested series usually determines playoff contention down the line.

The Yankees are off to a better start, at 20-14 and have been one of the best offensive teams in the league, scoring the fifth most runs and having the highest slugging percentage. The Boston Red Sox still have a sub .500 winning percentage, as they have yet to fully come together as the ball club everyone expected them to be.

As always when the BoSox come to town, Yankees ticket prices are up for this weekend’s matchup. Check out some of the ticket data below, as well as some Best Value tickets found at FanSnap that will get you into Yankees Stadium this weekend.

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees tickets, May 13-15

• In our initial Red Sox-Yankees ticket report, we analyzed data from opening weekend at Fenway Park against the Yanks back in April. We found the average ticket prices to those three games was $301 on Friday, $207 on Saturday, and $150 on Sunday. Keep in mind, this was the opening weekend for the Sox, so ticket prices are expected to be higher for those first three games of the rivalry.
• This weekend, tickets are averaging $94 on Friday, $119 on Saturday, and $90 on Sunday. In comparison to Fenway Park last April, Yankees tickets are lower on average, but remember, it isn’t entirely accurate to compare the two sets of ticket data.
• FanSnap is listing over 38,000 tickets in total for this weekend’s games, and the lowest priced ticket of the weekend can be found on Sunday for $24.

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees, Fri May 13 @ 7:05

• Sit in Main Outfield 233 for $46, which is 68% off the average price of comparable tickets in the area.
• Grab great Yankees tickets in Field Dugout 121B at a Best Value price of $130. That’s a solid 65% off the average ticket price of $381.

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees, Sat May 14 @ 7:10

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees, Sun May 15 @ 8:05

• Find one of the best values of the weekend in Terrace Suite 321, where tickets are going for 80% off the average price for a total of $39.
• Or find tickets in just behind the Yankees dugout for as low as $110.
• Check out the other areas inside Yankees Stadium where you can find Best Value tickets to this Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

credit: Cleveland.com

The first month of the 2011 MLB season has officially been played out, and thus fans have seen some great moments and some surprising struggles. No one could have guessed that the Boston Red Sox, after some serious off-season upgrades to their roster, would have a winning percentage below .500.

We’re not sure, even in Cleveland, you would have found anyone betting the Indians would have the best record in the American League as of May 5. The Tribe is flat out playing the best ball in the MLB right now. Can they stick out through the summer months and be a legitimate World Series contender?

There is still a ton of baseball to be played, no doubt. But through April, how has a team’s success or struggles effected their ticket prices? Check out our monthly MLB tickets update below.

MLB tickets update: May

Our pre-season ticket rankings found that Red Sox tickets, Yankees tickets, Blue Jays tickets, and Phillies tickets were among the hottest in the league. How do our pre-season rankings (according to each team’s overall average ticket price) match up to their average ticket prices now? Check out our Top Ten below.

1. Boston Red Sox tickets: $131
2. Toronto Blue Jays tickets: $107
3. Minnesota Twins tickets: $85
4. Chicago Cubs tickets: $85
5. Chicago White Sox tickets: $80
6. New York Yankees tickets: $78
7. New York Mets tickets: $67
8. Baltimore Orioles tickets: $65
9. Tampa Bay Rays tickets: $65
10. Houston Astros tickets: $63

Yankees tickets are always atop of the league in terms of their average ticket prices, so it is somewhat surprising to see them drop out of the top 5. Red Sox tickets are always in high demand though, as they keep their pre-season ranking of #1 .

Score MLB tickets with FanSnap

It’s now even easier to score those just-right baseball tickets. As we announced in April, we added StubHub eTickets to help fans find MLB eTickets they can print at home – even just hours prior to the event. StubHub baseball tickets along the with all the other major marketplaces and the largest brokers in every major city (including Ace Tickets who partners with the Red Sox as well as Gold Coast Tickets who partners with the White Sox) gives FanSnap the most complete and accurate selection of and data about MLB tickets.

This weekend, we get the rest of the 2011 MLB Home Openers. A week’s worth of action is in the books, and some of us still haven’t seen our team play a home game. That changes this weekend. As expected, Red Sox tickets are the hottest in the league this weekend. In close second is San Francisco Giants tickets, as they come home for the first time after winning last year World Series.

Who’s hot the hottest home opener this weekend? Check below for the average ticket prices of each game this Friday.

MLB Tickets: Home Openers, Friday April 8

Photo: Damian Strohmeyer / SI

1. Yankees @ Red Sox: $253
2. Cards @ Giants: $226
3. Royals @ Tigers: $127
4. Rangers @ Orioles: $100
5. Rays @ Sox: $93
6. Athletics @ Twins: $93
7. Phillies @ Braves: $92
8. Cubs @ Brewers: $92
9. Nationals @ Mets: $83
10. Marlins @ Astros: $64
11. Indians @ Mariners: $55
12. Rockies @ Pirates: $54
13. Blue Jays @ Angels: $54
14. Reds @ Diamondbacks: $43
15. Dodgers @ Padres: $33

The Cincinnati Reds are undefeated through 5 games, taking three off the Milwaukee Brewers and 2 more recently off of the Houston Astros. The Reds have had great run production, driving in 43 runs in those 5 wins. The Texas Rangers take the cake for the hottest team in the league, though. They have been killing it: 42 runs in 6 wins with a team batting average of .284. They beat up on the World Series favorite Red Sox, swept the Mariners, and now look to continue their win streak this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles. Look for Reds and Rangers ticket demand to ratchet up as the team have continued success on the field.

Remember to check out FanSnap all season long for the best deals on MLB tickets.

The 2011 MLB regular season has officially begun, and that means a Red Sox – Yankees matchup can only be days away.

The Boston Red Sox play their first home game of the season this Friday against the New York Yankees. There is plenty to be said about the historic rivalry, but baseball fans from around the country will be interested to see how the new, expensive lineup of the Sox matches up against the Yankees who made very few off-season moves.

Red Sox tickets are some of the most in demand in the country, and when the New York Yankees come to town, they are even harder to find. Check below for some of the best value Red Sox – Yankees tickets this weekend.

• The average ticket prices to this weekend’s Red Sox – Yankees games are $301 on Friday, $207 on Saturday, and $150 on Sunday.
• Last year’s home opener for the Sox, which was against the Yankees as well, had an average ticket price of $393. That’s a 23% drop of average price on the ticket market from 2010 to 2011. Last year’s initial match was also MLB Opening Day so demand was naturally a bit higher.
• This year, the overall average price for all 81 games at Fenway is $138. In 2010, the overall average price (as of April 5) was $133.

Best Deals for the Yankees @ Red Sox Series (4/8 – 4/10):

Yankees @ Red Sox, Friday April 8

• Grab tickets in the Infield Grandstand section 22 for only $149. That is 46% off the average price of similar tickets in this area.
• The Green Monster is one of the most iconic images in baseball: sit on top of it for only $295 this Friday. Green Monster tickets can be found for 67% off the average price right now at FanSnap.

Yankees @ Red Sox, Saturday April 9

• Sit in Field Box 72 for $138: these tickets are going for 69% below the average ticket price.
• The Green Monster is calling again: get one of the best seats in Fenway for only $169.

Yankees @ Red Sox, Sunday April 10

• The last of the series, this Sunday’s game could be the series decider. Find great tickets in Field Box 82 for 52% off the average price of $308. That’s right, a ticket in this section can be found for $145.
• Tickets in Dugout Box 14 will get you up and close to the action, and these tickets are going for $439 right now.

There are those times in a sports fans life where things are just right. This weekend has got to feel like one of those times. With the Final Four in Houston, Opening Day baseball around the country, and playoff basketball just weeks away, it’s a great time to be a fan. We’ve done a survey of all of the Best Value tickets from around the country. Whether it’s the NCAAs, baseball, or the NBA, you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy below.

Final Four tickets, Saturday, April 2: Butler vs. VCU and Kentucky vs. UConn

• Tickets to the Final Four have been in lower demand compared to years past. That doesn’t mean the action in Houston will be anything short of exciting.
• Grab tickets in 300 level 340 for $250: that’s 61% off the average price of similar tickets in the area.
• Or find tickets in 100 Level section 138, 65% off the average price for a total of $258.

MLB tickets: Boston Red Sox @ Texas Rangers, Friday April 1st

• This is one of the hottest games of the opening weekend. Tickets can still be found for some great values though: sit in Grandstand Reserved 344 for only $66. That’s 44% off the average ticket price.
• Sit behind home plate in Premium Infield 23 for $204. That’s half off the average price of $440.

MLB tickets: San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday April 1st

• Want to see the defending World Series Champs in action? Get into the ball park for a meer $18, which will get you into the outfield seats for 76% off the average price.

NBA Tickets: Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks, Sunday April 3rd

• Knicks tickets have been at an all time high since the Carmelo Anthony trade. As they make the push towards the Playoffs, check out some Best Value tickets to this weekend’s Cavs-Knicks game.
• Find tickets in 300 Section 307 2/3′s off the average price for a total of $74.

NBA Tickets: Detroit Pistons @ Boston Celtics, Sunday April 3rd

• The C’s have been struggling as of late, but don’t count them out yet. TD Garden will be packed this Sunday.
• Get in on the action: tickets in Club 141, close to the floor, can be found for $248, which is 39% off the price of similar tickets.

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.

Spring training is well underway, and for the next month, baseball fans can get a preview of what their teams may look like come the regular season. It’s the last chance to have those arm-chair debates about who might be better this season, or what teams may be “this year’s” San Francisco Giants, as come April, its time to play ball.

Opening Day is officially  March 31 this year, with the first two official games are scheduled as the Atlanta Braves at the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers at the New York Yankees. By the end of the day on April 1st, every team in the league will have played a regular season game (or two).

If our Spring Training Ticket Preview is any indication of what ticket prices may do on Opening Day, we would expect to see Philadelphia Phillies tickets, Boston Red Sox tickets, and New York Yankees tickets in the highest demand. Check out the Hottest Opening Day tickets, according to their average price, below.

MLB Opening Day Tickets: Thursday March 31st

1. San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers: $185
2. San Diego Padres @ St. Louis Cardinals: $175
3. Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees: $173
4. Milwaukee Brewers @ Cincinnati Reds: $171
5. Los Angeles Angles @ Kansas City Royals: $111
6. Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals: $60

It is a strange day indeed when New York Yankees tickets are not among the hottest in the league. Perhaps this is a product of the growing skepticism around the team and the holes in their pitching staff.

No surprise to see the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants at the top; tickets to their opening away game in LA are averaging $10 more than Padres-Cardinals tickets.

MLB Home Openers: Average Ticket Prices (more…)

The World Series is upon us, and there is no one more excited about the upcoming series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers than FanSnap.

Two of the most dominant pitchers of the last decade face off in what might be among one the most anticipated Game 1 pitching match-ups in World Series history: Cliff Lee vs. Tim Lincecum. And it only gets better from there, as these two ball clubs have proven that they have the strong pitching that is required to win in the post-season.

The Rangers may have a more potent offense, as potential MVP Josh Hamilton and third-baseman Michael Young are some of the best bats in the game right now. But the Giants can tough it out when it’s close, having won six of their post-season games by one run or less.

The World Series is one of the biggest sporting events of the year. World Series tickets are among the hottest of any event in the country. Check out FanSnap’s Best Value Tickets below:

Game 1: Rangers @ Giants, Wednesday October 27

• If you want to get close to the action, those seats in Field Club 122 are supreme. These tickets are going for $2250, which is a remarkable 54% off the average price of similar tickets in this section. Makes sense, considering these tickets will get you right up front, just behind and to the left of the catcher. See FanSnap’s map of AT&T Park below (Best Value highlighted by blue arrow):

Game 2: Rangers @ Giants, Thursday, October 28

• This game has a ton of Best Value tickets. Sit in View Box 302 for $625, 51% off the average ticket price of $1278.

• Or, get tickets in Lower Box 132 for only $734.
• There are also tickets for 44% off the average price in Premium Lower Box 109 for $1250.

Game 3: Giants @ Rangers, Saturday October 30

• Get VIP access with tickets into the VIP Infield Box 34 for $3650. That’s a solid 52% off the average price.
• Also, tickets in Lexus Club Terrace 210 are going for half off right now on FanSnap, for only $750.

Game 4: Giants @ Rangers, Sunday October 31

• Corner Box 41 tickets are going for $700, 44% off the average price of similar tickets in this area.
• Get tickets in Lower Box 14 for 800 bucks; check below to see how great these seats are in Arlington:

For all of your World Series tickets, remember to check out FanSnap for the greatest values on the best possible tickets.

The 2010 Major League Baseball Playoffs are finally here. The regular season ended with some tight races for playoff spots, and much of that excitement has carried over into what will prove to be a great month of October baseball. Baseball fans from coast to coast are gearing up to cheer on their respective teams. Check out some of the data we collected from the secondary ticket market on how fans are reacting to their team’s playoff bids.

2010 MLB Playoffs: Division Series FanDemand

• Cincinnati Reds tickets are bringing in the highest overall average price of $276 to their home NLDS games. When the Phillies traveled to Cincinnati in the regular season (June 28-30), tickets average $35. Thats a 600% increase in ticket prices. Think Reds fans are excited to see their team in the playoffs for the first time since 1995?
• One might think that New York Yankees playoff tickets are off the charts, as Yankees fans are flat out passionate, when actually, they aren’t all that different from regular season prices. Yankees tickets, at home, in the ALDS are averaging $140. When the Minnesota Twins came to the Bronx in May of this year, tickets averaging around $95. That’s still a 48% increase from regular to post-season, but is more expected out of die-hard New York Yankees fans?
• Minnesota is ready and waiting for their Twins to take on the Yankees. Check out Mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Ryback’s tweet below:

• It looks like the excitement of the regular season playoff race has left San Francisco Giants fans wanting more. Giants tickets are the second highest for their NLDS home games at $220.
• Tampa Bay Rays tickets are the lowest of the bunch at a meager $77, which only reaffirms the idea that there isn’t much of a market for professional sports in the state of Florida.

• The Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds series is generating the most excitement in the playoffs with an average series ticket price of $231.
• The Yankees and Twins are next, with Twins fans driving up this overall average price. Twins home games during this series are generating, on average, a $50 higher price than Yankees home games.

• Overall, the American League Division Series games are averaging a $150.5 ticket price, while both National League Division Series are $199.5 in average ticket price. This is a substantial and surprising difference, considering that during the regular season, the American League almost always brings in higher prices overall.

Price variation on comparable tickets, by home team during the Division Series

1. Comparable tickets in Cincinnati vary by as much as 84%.
2. Comparable tickets in Tampa Bay vary by as much as 83%.
3. Comparable tickets in Texas vary by as much as 81%.
4. Comparable tickets in San Francisco vary by as much as 69%.
5. Comparable tickets in Philadelphia vary by as much as 57%.
6. Comparable tickets in Minnesota vary by as much as 56%.
7. Comparable tickets in Atlanta vary by as much as 55%.
8. Comparable tickets in New York vary by as much as 25%.

For all of your MLB Playoff ticket needs, FanSnap can help fans find the best values on the best possible tickets.

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.

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