Posts Tagged ‘yankees tickets’

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

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.

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

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

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

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%

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

Yankee Stadium Bat Day 2007 (courtesy of @rebeccapbp on Twitter)

During Wednesday night’s game, the YES Network aired a promo for 2010 Bat Day at Yankee stadium on Sunday May 16. While reading the official promo, the beloved insufferable Yankees announcer, Michael Kay launched into an ad-libbed diatribe about the giveaway, going as far as calling it “the granddaddy of them all.”  Yankees tickets are always a hot commodity, so as fans of the team we don’t expect very many good promotional days.  Bat day, however, is a long-standing tradition and one that transcends generations.

We’re not too shy about sharing our distaste with Michael Kay’s broadcast work, but he did tell a story during the broadcast that many fans can relate to.  As a child, Kay was a huge Yankees fan and his favorite player was the late, great Bobby Ray Murcer.  One year, he went to the stadium on bat day with hopes of getting a Bobby Murcer bat (in those days, there were multiple different bats given away, “signed” by different players).  Unfortunately, Kay ended up with a Tom Tresh bat – something he lamented for years.  Then, six or seven years ago with Bobby Murcer as his Yankees broadcast partner on the YES Network, he was presented with the ultimate gift – a signed Bobby Murcer bat.

These types of stories are not uncommon in the Yankee fan community.  We took to Twitter to hear some of the best Yankee Stadium bat day tales:

It seems that for a while there, Willie Randolph was the most sought-after bat!

And Here’s someone’s bat from 1984:

As @PaulKatcher pointed out, bat day has always been a huge draw at Yankee Stadium.  Check out these attendance numbers from 1980 surrounding bat day:

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/12/2010.

The 2010 attendance isn’t likely to be as high as it was 30 years ago (the Yankees have yet to hit the 50,000 mark at their new stadium, according to the NYY Stadium Insider Yankee Stadium attendance trackers from last year and this year), but the day remains a big draw for those young and old.

In the past, we never understood the allure of this giveaway, but after listening to the stories from people’s childhood, we get it.  Everyone who goes to a ballgame wants to go home with a souvenir – whether it is store bought, or from the game such as a foul ball.  On bat day, every child entering the gates goes home with a souvenir, and a big, heavy one at that.

If you’re heading out to the stadium on Sunday, May 16 vs. The Minnesota Twins, the bat day promotion is for the first 10,000 fans to enter, ages 14 and under.  Be sure to head out early – Yankee Stadium gates open two hours before game time and most giveaways are gone after the first hour of gate openings.  If you don’t have tickets yet, FanSnap.com should be your next stop.  Using the best value tool, we were able to find Yankees tickets for $20 in the bleachers:

Find Yankees Tickets With FanSnap

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

In a seven game stretch from May 1 – May 8, the Yankees had eight different players forced out of action due to various injuries:

May 1 – Curtis Granderson – Groin strain
May 2 – Alex Rodriguez – Sore knee
May 3 – Jorge Posada – Sprained calf
May 4 – Mariano Rivera – Sore side
May 5 – Andy Pettitte – Inflamed elbow
May 7 – Nick Johnson – Inflamed wrist
May 7 – Robinson Cano – Bruised knee
May 8 – Alfredo Aceves – Tightness in back

Although the Yankees own the second best record in baseball, this is definitely cause for concern for Yankees fans.  Through the end of May, the Yankees play one of the toughest schedules in baseball.  Many of these games will be some of the hottest Yankees tickets of the 2010 season (both home and on the road) and almost all of them are against teams that are over .500.

From May 10-14, the Yankees make their only trip to Detroit of 2010 to face off against the Tigers.  The Tigers currently sit in second place in the AL Central and feature former Yankee hero Johnny Damon and former Yankee prospect Austin Jackson.  Both players are pacing an improved offense to go along with a stellar pitching staff.

May 10 - New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers
May 11 - New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers
May 12 - New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers
May 13 - New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

On May 14, the Yankees start a seven game home stand featuring three of the top contenders in the American League. The buzz saw known as the Minnesota Twins (owners of the third-best record in Major League Baseball) come to Yankee Stadium for a three game set with revenge on their minds after last year’s ALDS sweep.  Sunday, May 16th is bat day at Yankee Stadium, which is always one of the most sought after Yankees tickets of the season.

Without a day off, the Red Sox and Rays come to town for the first time in 2010 for some good old fashioned AL East slugfests.  Although the Red Sox are struggling to play .500 baseball, it is always easier for Red Sox fans to get Yankees tickets at Yankee Stadium, so expect a playoff-type atmosphere.  Meanwhile, the Rays are the hottest team in baseball and just don’t seem to lose. The Yankees took two out of three the first time the teams met in Tampa, so they’ll be looking to pull ahead in the season series – something that might come into play should the teams finish the season tied for a playoff spot.

May 14 –  Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees
May 15 - Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees
May 16 - Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees
May 17 - Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees
May 18 - Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees
May 19 - Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees
May 20 - Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees

This might as well be referred to as “rivalry week” for the Yankees, as they quickly head across town to kick off the first Subway Series of 2010 with a weekend set against the Mets.  The Mets have been hot lately and sit in second place in the NL East, within striking distance of the first place Phillies.  David Wright has begun to mash the ball and upstart rookie Ike Davis has Mets fans rushing to their local merchandise outlet to buy jerseys. Subway Series 2010 tickets are sure to be some of the most popular Mets tickets of the season, so your best bet is to use FanSnap to find the best values.  After an off day, the Yankees head to Minnesota to get their first look at the brand new Target Field.  The Yankees always used to play great at the Metrodome, so we’ll have to see if that carries over to the beautiful open-air ballpark in downtown Minneapolis.

May 21 - New York Yankees @ New York Mets
May 22 - New York Yankees @ New York Mets
May 23 - New York Yankees @ New York Mets
May 25 - New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins
May 26 - New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins
May 27 - New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins

The Yankees close out the month of May with a four game Memorial Day weekend series with the Cleveland Indians.  The Indians have struggled out of the gate, but after such an intense schedule for the rest of the month, the Yankees won’t be able to afford to let their guard down.  Holiday weekends always bring a lot of out-of-towners to Yankee Stadium, so you might want to get your tickets now.

May 28 - Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees
May 29 - Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees
May 30 - Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees
May 31 - Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees

The Yankees schedule in June looks to be a lot softer, so this slate of early-season games could play a pivotal role in the battle for the AL East championship.  All is good in Yankee-land right now, but with top-notch competition on the horizon, things could change in a hurry.

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

Despite a reputation that says otherwise, Yankees fans are inherently friendly when out-of-towners visit “our” stadium. Yankees tickets are some of the hottest in sports, so we’re accustomed to International tourists, disinterested gawkers and opposing team’s fans filling the seats around us. Everyone goes to baseball games for different reasons, so for the most part, we understand if those around us aren’t as invested in the game as we are. As self-proclaimed “Stadium Insiders,” we even created a website to help these out-of-towners get the most out of their Yankees tickets.

Of course, there are exceptions, most notably in the right field bleachers – home of the world famous Bleacher Creatures. In sections 202 and 203, being a diehard Yankee fan is expected, and anything else is unacceptable.

Its quite the experience out there, but if you don’t participate, the creatures will let you hear it. If you’re a fan of an opposing team, you will be ribbed, and sometimes it won’t be friendly ribbing.

Unless you’re willing to take the heat, here’s our recommendations for best places to sit (based on your budget):

$ — Left Field Bleachers (sections 235, 236, 237, 238)
In a previous post here on FanSnap, we discussed the value of Yankees tickets in the bleachers and called them, “some of the best value tickets in all of sports.” If you’re scared off by the diehard-nature of the right field bleachers, you’ll get a similar view from left but you’ll fit in better. These are the types of seats you sneak your own snacks into. No seatbacks, no frills.

$$ — Grandstand dugout (behind home plate)
You’ll be up close to the sky here, but your perspective will be straight on, so you’ll get a decent view of all the action. If you stray from directly behind home plate to the right field side (toward section 417), you’ll be close to the elevators down to the “Great Hall,” which is good for a quick exit from the stadium. One thing to be careful of is buying tickets in row 14. Row 14 is the last row, and there is a wind tunnel that exists because of the design of the stadium. This obviously makes for a very cold experience during early spring and late fall games, but the wind can be annoying even in the dead of summer if you don’t like you’re hair being blown around while eating.

$$$ — Anywhere on the Main Level
Yankees tickets on the Main Level truly are the midway point. The tickets aren’t cheap, but they definitely aren’t expensive. You’re not close enough to the field to smell the grass, but you’re not up in the nosebleeds either. The seats behind home plate are the best (and usually priced accordingly), but you’ll get some great views from all over the 200′s level. You’ll also be protected from the rain, and in most sections, the sun due to the overhang from the suite level.

$$$$ — Field Outfield (Sections 103, 104, 105, 134, 135, 136)
We discussed this in a recent post about catching A-Rod’s 600th home run ball, but what can be better than having the chance to catch a home run ball at a Major League Baseball game? Your perspective of the game will be a bit skewed from these seats since you’ll be so close to the field in the outfield. However, you’ll have the chance to smell the grass, see the players’ facial expressions and the opportunity to bring home a souvenir! If your budget is a little lower, check for tickets in sections in the 100′s level that are right around the foul pole, in foul territory. You won’t be able to catch a home run ball there, but you’ll still be close to the field and a foul ball might come your way!

$$$$$ — Field Dugout (behind home plate)
The official Yankee Stadium name for the seats in the 100′s level behind home plate is a bit confusing. They’re called “Field Dugout,” but you’re not going to sniff the dugout from these seats. They’re on the field level, but there is a “moat” between your seats and the super-special Legends Suite which is practically on the field. Here in the 100′s, you’ll have in-seat waiter service, cushioned seats and great views of the game. Be aware that these seats are directly in the sun in the summer, so if you’re heading to the game with someone really old or really young, these might not be the seats for you.

$$$$$$ — The Legends Suite
The aforementioned Legends Suite was the topic of much controversy in 2009, when the Yankees had trouble selling them due to their high prices. The best of these seats “beyond the moat” can sell for thousands of dollars, so when we say no budget splurge, we mean it. Of course, you’ll have the best Yankee Stadium experience that anyone can ever have. You’ll literally have unlimited food – a top notch restaurant lounge with buffet-style eating, and free “stadium fare” in your seats such as hot dogs, popcorn, candy, ice cream and soda. Not to mention that you’ll be able to smell Jeter’s breath. If you buy Yankee tickets in the Legends Suite you’re allowed to arrive four hours before the game, and you probably should if you want to squeeze every last bit of value out of the experience. If you’re looking to splurge but not spend thousands, take a look at the “Champions Suite.” These seats are down the foul lines, but are still entrenched within the protective moat. You get a lot of free food here, but it isn’t as unlimited as in the Legends Suite. We wrote extensively about these seats over at NYY Stadium Insider recently, so be sure to check that out.

If you have Yankees tickets in a section other than the ones mentioned above, don’t be alarmed. Yankee Stadium was designed with the fan experience in mind, and most sections offer good views of the field.

If you have great pictures of Yankee Stadium you’d like to see on FanSnap, go to the Yankee Stadium photos page and click “upload photo” in the upper right. You can add your own reviews of your favorite sections in Yankee Stadium here.

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

Fans watch batting practice from section 104 at Yankee Stadium

Welcome to a new 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 break down the best time and place to get close to the field and watch some Major League Baseball batting practice at Yankee Stadium.

In 2009, gates opened 3 hours before each game, allowing fans plenty of time to mill around the park and check out their new surroundings.  Last month, we discovered that the Yankees had rolled back gate opening times for 2010 to be more in line with the rest of baseball. So this year, Yankee Stadium gates only open 2 hours before each game, allowing for less batting practice viewing time.

Regardless of how you get to the game (car, subway, boat, foot, horseback, pedicab…) or where your seats are, we recommend that you enter at the Gate 6 entrance.  This will save time once you get into the stadium, as our preferred batting practice viewing location is beyond the right field wall, in front of the bleachers, in sections 103, 104, 105 or 106.  If for some reason you enter by Gate 2, you can quickly head to the same spot in left field (sections 133, 134, 135, 136).  If getting autographs is more your thing, sections 110 and 111 are your best bets in right field, while sections 129 and 130 are the place to be in left field.  These sections are down each foul line where players often sign.

If you’re a fan of another Major League Baseball team and go to a lot of baseball games in other stadiums, you might be wondering why its such a rush to get into the ballpark, and why there are specific sections for catching balls and getting autographs.  Unfortunately, the Yankees only allow fans to congregate in sections other than their own for the 45 minutes after gates open.  Therefore, any ballhawking or autograph-seeking must be done in that small window (unless you have seats that are in close proximity to the field).  Further, the Yankees don’t allow ANYONE in the Legends Suite or the Champions Suite unless you have tickets there, and those seats take up most of the prime real estate near the field.

Because of these policies, it is unlikely that you’ll get to watch much of the visiting team’s batting practice from whichever spot you have chosen.  The Yankees always take batting practice first, and by the time they’re done, the security guards will be sweeping the section for those who aren’t ticketed to be there.

All of this sounds like a bit of a drag, but if you have a plan of action before heading to Yankee Stadium, you’ll have a decent amount of time to enjoy the pre-game festivities of batting practice.  One of the great joys of attending a live baseball game is getting down close to the field and smelling the freshly cut grass.  Due to the popularity of Yankees tickets, the price of the prime field seats is often high and not everyone gets to enjoy this simple pleasure.  We hope with the tips outlined above, everyone using FanSnap to find great values on Yankees tickets gets to enjoy batting practice at least once in 2010.

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

The Yankees have won six of the first seven series and boast the league’s hottest hitter in Robinson Cano, but the storyline during the home stand starting on Friday will likely be Javier Vazquez and the age-old fan question of “to boo or not to boo?” Whichever side of the debate you’re on, you’ll have the opportunity to make your voice heard – Vazquez is the scheduled starter for Saturday’s game, Yankee Stadium weather is predicted to be beautiful and fans are finding great values on Yankees tickets using FanSnap.

find Yankees tickets with FanSnap

From the day the Yankees packaged fan-favorite Melky Cabrera along with stud prospect Arodys Vizcaino for the much-maligned Javy Vazquez, this was destined to be an explosive situation.  An overwhelming number of Yankees fans still harbor ill-will toward Vazquez due to his 2004 meltdown while in Pinstripes, helping the rival Red Sox to their first World Series in 86 years.

Everyone from the players to the fans knew that if Javier Vazquez got off to a slow start in 2010, he was going to be the successor to Alex Rodriguez’ whipping boy throne.  Unfortunately, this narrative played itself out predictably and fans let Javier hear their frustrations about his sub-par start at the stadium a couple of weeks ago.  Even worse, Vazquez exacerbated the problem by calling the fans out for remembering 2004 – a major mistake when dealing with our admittedly blood-thirsty fellow Yankees fans.

And now, as the Yankees come home for the first time in a week and a half, things have gone from bad to worse for Vazquez.  After a somewhat encouraging start in Oakland, he was bombed in Anaheim, leading to season to date numbers closer to those of Chien Ming Wang’s through a similar number of starts in 2009 than Yankees fans would like to see.  Finally, Curt Schilling chimed in and fed the flames, supporting many Yankees fans’ claims that Vazquez is another example of a National League pitcher who can’t cut it in the American League, let alone the powerhouse AL East.

In all likelihood, Javier Vazquez is going to be introduced before the game on Saturday against the White Sox and he is going to be booed.  When he gives up a hit, he is going to be booed louder. When he gives up a run, he is going to be booed loudest.  In the past, we’d allow the boo-birds to bother us.  After all, we have a strict “no boo” clause in our Yankees fan contract.  We’ve never understood the value in bringing down a player on the team we root for.  Baseball players are human beings, and a negative reaction from home fans who are supposed to be supporters simply can’t help their performance on the field.

That being said, we’ve recently backed off our usual criticism for Yankees fans who boo Yankees players. Although we wouldn’t do it, we realize that going to a sporting event is all about unbridled passion for sport.  People pay good money for their Yankees tickets and they deserve to boo as much as they want, no matter how silly they look.

This all seems obvious, but with the onslaught of cutting-edge baseball statistics and analysis thanks to great sites such as FanGraphs and River Ave Blues there is a growing divide between well-reasoned and extremely dedicated fans, versed in statistical analysis and wildly enthusiastic and passionate fans who just want their voice to be heard.

Instead of getting pulled into the middle of this debate, we’ve taken a hands off approach.  Of course, we’ll still silently mock the guy wearing a shirt with A-Rod’s number that says “greedy” on the back.  However, we also realize that his Yankees tickets entitle him to voice his opinions and no amount of reasoned statistical analysis can ever take away that right.

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

How Many Seats Are In Your Row At Yankee Stadium?

Recently, Ticketmaster.com launched interactive seat maps for select sports venues.  The idea is a great one – imagine being able to select an exact seat, in an exact row for a sporting event – just like you can when purchasing airline tickets.

Unfortunately, detailed information like that isn’t readily available when searching the secondary ticket market.  It’s likely that in time, secondary ticket sources will recognize the value of this type of feature and introduce it.  Until then, we’ll have to do it ourselves.  With that in mind, an enterprising fan has decided to crowd-source a Google Doc, asking those with Yankees tickets to report the number of seats in their row after their trip to the stadium.

Using and contributing to the “How Many Seats Are In My Row At Yankee Stadium” Google Doc is simple:

1) Open up the document and have a look at the latest list of seat numbers.

2) Next time you’re at Yankee Stadium, jot down the first and last seat number for the rows closest to you.

3) Fill in the seat numbers for the rows in your section in the Spreadsheet

How could this document help you?  The next time you’re searching for Yankees tickets using FanSnap, you can pull up this handy tool and check how close your seats are to the aisle. If you’re like us and don’t like being too close to the aisle, you can determine which seats are in the middle of the row.  We’re not crazy, we just hate having people constantly climb over us to go to the bathroom or the concession stands.

This tool’s existence becomes especially brilliant when you realize the variance in row size – even within one section of Yankee Stadium.  For example, here is the “seats per row” data for section 409 in the outfield Grandstand:

Section/ Row/ 1st Seat / Last Seat

According to the above chart, if you’re in row 14, seat No. 26 is the seat closest to the aisle. If you’re in row 7, you’re on the aisle with seat No. 22.  For some, knowing this information might be the difference between buying a pair of Yankees tickets and continuing the search.

There are potential stumbling blocks before we have completely granular seat and row data using the crowd-sourced method, or even a more official one. A Google doc can easily be filled with false information, rendering the tool useless.  It will also take a long time for the document to fill up with information about every section.

Further, some secondary ticket sources don’t require sellers to list specific seat information.  If the specific seat number isn’t listed, we’re out of luck.

Whether or not this particular crowd-sourcing experiment ends up successful, it proves that FanSnap’s mission of  ”providing the most comprehensive, accurate, fast and easy-to-use resource for fans to find the tickets they desire to sports, concerts, and theater events” is right on point.  Fans are hungry for information when buying tickets and will continue to seek it out in creative and resourceful ways to get what they need.

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

The Bleacher Entrance At The Old Yankee Stadium (photo courtesy of Marie at http://ACardboardProblem.com

What a difference a couple of years makes.  When the Yankees resided in the “old” Yankee Stadium, the bleachers were the quirky, alcohol-free section with a separate entrance and no access to the rest of the park. They were home to the famous “Bleacher Creatures,” but in terms of fan friendliness and value, they left much to be desired – especially in the “auxiliary” left field bleachers which seemed to be miles away.  Fast-forward to the current stadium and Yankees tickets in the bleachers – left field or right field – are widely accepted as some of the best value tickets in all of sports.

Upon the opening of the new stadium in April 2009, much was made about the obstructed views in the bleachers – specifically sections 201 and 239.  At the time, we were some of the Yankees’ harshest critics regarding these obstructions.  As reflected in a quote that we provided to the NY Times, we couldn’t understand how the planners were able to justify building a membership-only structure (The Mohegan Sun Sports Bar) that would prevent hundreds of fans from seeing an entire half of the outfield.

We’ll never understand the thought process behind the obstructions, but after spending a year exploring the new Yankee Stadium, the non-obstructed bleacher sections have become our favorite places to sit.  The views from inside and even directly behind these sections (202, 203, 204, 235, 236, 237, 238) are breathtaking.

The view from behind section 203 in the bleachers

The view from section 238 in the bleachers

With a face value of $12, the prices can’t be beat.  Comparatively, our season tickets are in the Grandstand (upper deck) and have a face value of $20.  During the 2009 playoffs, we happily traded our higher priced Grandstand tickets with someone who had seats in the back rows of the left field bleachers.  If you can deal with not having a seat back, the bleachers are the place to be.  The atmosphere is festive and if the wind blows in the right direction, you can actually smell the outfield grass – something you can’t dream of doing from the the upper deck.It is important to note that the bleachers still aren’t for everyone.  Beer vendors aren’t allowed to sell their product within the confines of these sections, but unlike the last few years at the old stadium, fans are allowed to bring beer back in.  This leads to a rowdy atmosphere, and one that isn’t necessarily family friendly.  The bleacher cafe area features various food and drink options, but gets packed with fans thoroughly enjoying their adult beverages.

The aforementioned bleacher creatures reside in the right field bleachers, in sections 202 and 203.  This is undoubtedly the best atmosphere in the stadium, but it isn’t for the faint of heart. If you are offended by some foul language and even the occasional brawl, this might not be the section for you.

The great thing about the new Yankee Stadium is that you once you’re through the gates, you can walk around the entire structure and get a feel for the energy and atmosphere in each section. The next time you’re there, take a walk out behind the bleacher sections and experience the atmosphere.  If you were scared off by the bleachers in the old stadium, now might be the time to give them another chance.

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

As Alex Rodriguez continues to climb the all-time home run list (on Tuesday night, he hit home run number 585 of his career), it got us thinking – what would we do if we caught one of his milestone home runs? It is an interesting debate.

In recent years, catching these milestone home runs has become quite the business.  Mark McGwire’s record-breaking ball from 1998 sold for $3 million before the steroids scandal broke, Barry Bonds’ 756th home run sold for $752,467 and Alex Rodriguez’ 500th home run ball recently sold for $103,579.  That’s why it was a bit refreshing to see the fan who caught Gary Sheffield’s 500th home run ball give it back to him out of the kindness of his heart.

If we catch A-Rod’s 600th home run (projected to happen some time in June by our best estimates), we’re asking for a season’s worth of Yankees Tickets in The Legends Suite.

We know we’re not the only ones out there thinking these wild thoughts.  If you’re considering piling into Yankee Stadium to try to catch A-Rod’s 600th home run, you might as well head over to the always-useful HitTrackerOnline.com and check out where A-Rod’s Yankee Stadium home runs landed in 2009.

Looking at FanSnap’s Yankee Stadium map, it is clear that most of A-Rod’s home runs landed in sections 103, 104, 134, 135 or 136.  We’re obviously not making any promises, but if you’re looking for Yankees tickets in June with the idea of catching a milestone home run, we’d recommend snatching up tickets in those hot spots.

If you caught Alex Rodriguez’ 600th Home Run Ball, what would you do?

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

The Jim Beam Suite Lounge at Yankee Stadium

We’ve already given you the inside scoop on standing room only Yankees tickets as well as The Audi Yankees Club and The Mohegan Sun Sports Bar. Next up on our list is another Yankees ticket option largely shrouded in mystery – The Jim Beam Suite. The Jim Beam Suite (also known as the “Terrace Suite” or sections 317, 318, 319, 320a, 320b, 320c, 321, 322, 323) at Yankee Stadium is advertised by the Yankees as one of their “premium seating options.”

When we think of premium seating options at a stadium, the first thing that comes to mind is amenities. We’re strong believers in the “a la carte” method of amenities for event tickets, but we recognize that with a modern stadium, there will be batches of Yankees tickets that cater to those who like to be spoiled.

Aside from a birds eye view directly above home plate, here are the main amenities that come along with a ticket in The Jim Beam Suite:

• A separate entrance to the stadium
• Padded seats
• Access to a special lounge with exclusive food options and a “private restroom.”

Unlike in The Champions Suite and The Legends Suite, unlimited food does not come with Yankees tickets in the Jim Beam Suite.

The face values of these seats directly from the Yankees are $100 for rows 5-10, $115 for 2-5 and $135 for the first row. Plenty of great deals can be found right here with FanSnap — often times for lower than face value.

Obviously, all of the amenities listed above are nice to have, but whether they are worth the premium is up for debate. The separate entrance definitely cuts down on lines to get into the game, the padded seats feel nice under your backside and the idea of an exclusive indoor lounge and restroom are great – especially during the colder months in the beginning and the end of the season.

For some fans, the amenities didn’t live up to expectations. Below is the story of one NYY Stadium Insider reader who had season tickets in the Jim Beam Suite and has since canceled:

“The “Jim Beam Lounge” was about what I expected – a full service bar. At the old Yankee Stadium, this would have been a great oasis in the cramped upper deck. Now, there is so much room and quick access to good beer and food around the terrace level, the value of having a full inside bar isn’t as great. The “private” restroom was disappointing – way too small and can’t accommodate the rush of fans at peak times. It offers no additional value. The Suite entrance and private elevator also didn’t offer any additional value to me, since it only takes a few minutes to enter the stadium via most entrances and there are elevators nearby in the Great Hall. The high end food wasn’t particularly special to me. Again, there was plenty of other “good” food around the stadium that was easily accessible. The specialty pizza, however, was very good and that was what I usually had.”

Another fan who still owns season tickets in The Jim Beam Suite chimed in with the following:

“Its a terrible experience knowing that the people behind me pay $25 [referring to the face value of Grandstand dugout seats in the 400's level]. The only thing the Jim Beam Lounge gets me is the option to buy more expensive food.”

Keep in mind, the fans quoted above purchased multiple season “leases” for these seats, so their opinions are based on a much larger investment. Many people reading this post are likely considering splurging on a couple of games in this section – not an entire season (or multiple seasons) of games.

At the end of the day, whether you find value in the Jim Beam Suite won’t depend on the amenities, but how much a great view from the upper deck is worth to you (and whether you can get it for a lower price in another section of the stadium).

It should be noted that in 2009, there were concerns about obstructed view seats around Yankee Stadium and the Jim Beam Suites weren’t immune to those issues. Rest assured, the Yankees have remedied those problems with minor tweaks in the off season. With those issues resolved, there is no denying that the views from these seats are the best that you can find in the upper tier of Yankee Stadium. Our issue is how close The Jim Beam Suite is to seats in the Grandstand Dugout section (400′s level) that are 4-5 times cheaper.

Over at NYY Stadium Insider, we tout ourselves as a fan advocacy blog. We’re trying to bring that same attitude here. Our goal isn’t to tell you which Yankees tickets to buy, but to help you make a more educated decision before buying them. Hopefully this information about the Jim Beam Suite will serve that purpose.

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