Posts Tagged ‘yankees 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

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!

If only we could put into words that sound you make when you loudly exhale into cupped hands to mimic the roar of the crowd. Yes, you can bet we’ve caught Jeter-3000-mania!

The ticket market is betting Derek Jeter hits #3000 this Friday or Saturday — as ticket market prices for those games are the highest of the series and rising. Ticket prices for the Yankees – Rays series continue to increase on the news of Jeter’s hit last night. Depending on how many hits the Captain gets tonight, the market will shift again. If Jeter gets a hit or two, expect prices for Friday’s game to go up and prices for Saturday’s game to stay about the same. If Jeter goes o-fer tonight, expect ticket demand to increase for the later games in the series.

• Ticket prices for tonight’s game are down from averaging $138 yesterday to $119 today.
• Ticket prices for Friday’s and Saturday’s games are both up.
  • Average ticket prices for Friday’s game went from $165 yesterday to $198 today.
  • Average ticket prices for Saturday’s game went from $165 yesterday to $201 today.
• Ticket prices for Sunday’s game are down slightly, $158 yesterday to $154 today.

To get a sense of Rays-Yankees ticket demand, we created looked at ticket prices and availability for all four games and then graphed ticket prices for the series over the last 10 days.

July 7  Rays @ Yankees average ticket market price on:

• June 30 – $75
• July 5 – $109
• July 6 – $138
• July 7 – $119

The lowest prices tickets were $49 yesterday, today they’re $22
There were 5k+ tickets listed yesterday, now 2k+

July 8 Rays @ Yankees average ticket market price on:

• June 30 – $70
• July 5 – $132
• July 6 – $165
• July 7 – $198

The lowest prices tickets were $43 yesterday, today they’re $80
There were 7k+ tickets listed yesterday, now 6k+

July 9 Rays @ Yankees average ticket market price on:

• June 30 – $77
• July 5 – $139
• July 6 – $165
• July 7 – $201

The lowest prices tickets were $30 yesterday, today they’re $65
There were 8k+ tickets listed yesterday, now 5k+

July 10 Rays @ Yankees average ticket market price on:

• June 30 – $75
• July 5 – $128
• July 6 – $158
• July 7 – $154

The lowest prices tickets were $23 yesterday, today they’re $45
There were 10k+ tickets listed yesterday, now 6k+

As with any hot event, there is tremendous ticket price variability — as much as hundreds of dollars for tickets in the same row so it pays to compare tickets.

Why all the fuss about Derek Jeter? Take a look back at some of the plays that made Derek Jeter the Captain in the hearts of Yankees fans. Can you guess the topper? It’s “The Flip” and it may just be the quintessential Derek Jeter moment.

video courtesy of the MLB network.

The 3000 hit club is possibly the most prestigious in all of baseball. With names like Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, and Cal Ripken, Jr., the 27 men who have recorded over 3,000 major league hits are members of a club that only the best in the game have had the chance to join. And this weekend, Derek Jeter, The Captain, the face of the New York Yankees for the past decade and a half, can get his 3,000th hit and make his mark on baseball history.

New York Yankees tickets are always in high demand, but this week, with Jeter only four hits away from 3,000, ticket prices have skyrocketed. Check out the ticket market prices for Yankees tickets.

Derek Jeter Chasing 3,000 Hits

Before going on the DL on June 14, Jeter was six hits away from 3,000. His first game back was on July 4th. Jeter got two hits in last night’s game against the Cleveland Indians (July 5), which put him 4 away from #3000. The market has reflected this double hit game, as ticket prices to both Friday and Saturday’s games jumped $30 each from yesterday to today.

• According to the ticket market, fans think Jeter will hit 3,000 on either Friday or Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Tickets to these games are averaging $165. That’s an 80% increase in average ticket price from July 1st: Yankees fans definitely want to see their short stop reach the 3,000 mark.
• Average ticket prices to this weekend’s series against the Rays have increased 85% in the last week.
• There are over 7,500 tickets available to Friday’s game, 8,000 tickets available for Saturday’s game, and 11,000 tickets available for Sunday’s game.

Best Value Yankees tickets

Even though tickets may be tough to come across, there are still some great values to be had. For Friday’s game, there are tickets listed in Terrace Infield 313 for  $75, which is 54% lower than the average price of comparable tickets in the area.

On Saturday, there are tickets listed in Field Outfield 134 for 60% off the average price for a total of $109.

The ticket market is very clearly projecting Yankees captain, Derek Jeter to get hit #3,000 on Thursday (7/16) — or at least they hope so. The Thursday Rangers – Yankees matchup is the last game in the Bronx before the Yankees hit the road for three games at Wrigley and another three in Cincinnati.

Yankees tickets for the Tuesday (6/14) and Wednesday (6/15) home games against the Rangers average $49 and ticket prices have been decreasing for those games. For the Thursday game, however, tickets average $110 — up $11 per ticket over night. Average ticket prices for this Thursday’s game have doubled in just the last few weeks as Yankees fans secure their tickets to see history.

This is a bit different from A-Rod’s #600 last year. For one thing, HRs are a lot less predictable so we didn’t see a game where ticket prices exploded like this one. Also, the fan interest was in catching the ball the so the increased ticket demand was directed toward the sections where fans had the best chance of catching the ball. This time around, fans want to be in Yankee Stadium to see history and celebrate with their Captain.

Guest post by Ross Sheingold, The Yankee Stadium Insider

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

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

The View From The Right Field Bleachers At Yankee Stadium

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

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

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

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

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

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.

It isn’t a secret that the ticket market is ripe with great deals on Yankees tickets for the 2011 season, especially if you’re using valuable tools such as Fansnap’s Ticket Search. Earlier this week the Royals visited Yankee Stadium and we took the opportunity to snag tickets in section 315 of the Terrace for $25 – over 70% off the game day face value of $85. Similar to the in-depth reviews we’ve shared of Yankee Stadium’s Batter’s Eye Seats, Jim Beam Suite, Bleachers, Mohegan Sun Sports Bar/Audi Yankees Club and Standing Room Only sections, we’re here to spread some knowledge about Yankee Stadium’s Terrace section and share our personal experience in section 315.

For those who still haven’t been to the new Yankee Stadium, the “Terrace” section is what was formerly known as the “Tier Box” at the old Yankee Stadium . Yankees tickets in the terrace section are numbered from 305 – 334 and are located in the uppermost deck of Yankee Stadium, offering closer views (and higher prices) than the nearby seats in the “Grandstand” If potentially catching a foul ball is important to you, sitting in the Terrace offers a much higher chance to do so than the sitting in the Grandstand.

While some baseball purists have complaints about the new Yankee Stadium, one aspect of the new stadium nobody complains about is the elevators. Instead of trekking up numerous ramps or escalators, Yankee Stadium’s spacious and efficient elevators conveniently transport guests from the “Great Hall” to the Terrace level. Once on the Terrace level, there are plenty of concession and facility options, so you won’t have to go back downstairs until the game is over.

The individual sections of the Terrace level dip down from the concourse where the elevator leaves you off, so those with accessibility concerns only need to worry about walking down a few steps – not up. Terrace sections vary between 7 and 10 rows and have between 19 and 25 seats per row. From sections 305 – 320A, the higher the seat number, the closer to home plate you are. From sections 334 – 320C, the lower seat numbers are closer to home plate. For many of the Terrace sections closer to section 320 (home plate), there are additional rows tacked on to the highest row number with the designation “WC” (wheelchair) or “S” standing room.

As is the case in all baseball stadiums, the sections closer to home plate offer the most complete view of the field. Because of that, sections 317, 318, 319, 320a, 320b, 320c, 321, 322, 323 have been designated the Terrace (or Jim Beam) Suite and carry a higher price tag. Since we detailed those seats in a previous post here on the FanSnap.com blog, we’ll focus on the experience from a “regular” Terrace section – section 315 row 1.

Section 315 at Yankee Stadium

Section 315 is conveniently located on the first base side of Yankee Stadium, directly across from the elevator bank. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised by a pop-up seasonal beer stand (cash only) on the concourse just outside of the section that hadn’t been there during previous seasons:

Two women’s bathrooms, one men’s room, an ATM and The Malibu Rum Terrace Deck are close by, as can be seen in the diagram below:

Note that the men’s room outside of section 317 had an extremely long line after the third inning, while the bathroom near section 305 (right-hand side of the diagram) was nearly empty. It is a bit of a walk, but if you don’t want to wait in line for the restroom, head toward the outfield sections.

We heard rumblings about obstructed views in row 1 of the terrace at Yankee Stadium due to the plexiglass shield the serves as a safety barrier for fans, but our ticket wasn’t labeled as such. This was definitely a concern going in, but from our experience, it was a bit overstated. You be the judge:

Yankee Stadium Section 315 Row 1 Seat 13

With the camera held at eye-level, you can see that the plexiglass clearly blocks the pitcher’s mound.

However, if you lean forward a few inches, the view is perfect:

Section 315, Row 1, Seat 13 When Leaning Forward

If you have a problem with leaning forward a bit during the game, you might want to avoid the first row of the Terrace. Otherwise, you can enjoy the benefits of slightly expanded leg room in front of your seat and not having to worry about a tall guy in front of you blocking your view.

Overall, the experience in section 315 at Yankee Stadium is a good one. Unlike the seats in the Grandstand, the Terrace seats make you feel like you’re a part of the action, and section 315 is just two sections removed from the expensive Jim Beam Suites. We can’t say we’d pay the game day face value of $85 unless it was a premium game, but anything less than $50 is a good value for these Yankees tickets, anything less than $40 is a great value and anything less than $30 is a no-brainer.

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.

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.

The Fall Classic is on its way. Just five more wins separate the Yanks, Phils, Rangers and Giants from the World Series. For the Yankees and Phillies, it would be a return to baseball’s biggest stage, but the Rangers and Giants may have something to say about that. Here’s a look at the road to the World Series in the American and National leagues.

NLCS Games Schedule, Times & Pitching Matchups

NLCS: Giants at Phillies Citizens Bank Park Tickets Seating Chart

NLCS Game 1: Giants at Phillies tickets to Home Game 1
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Lincecum (17-10, ERA 3.29) @ Halladay (22-10, ERA 2.36)

NLCS Game 2: Giants at Phillies tickets to Home Game 2
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Sanchez (13-9, ERA 3.00) @ Oswalt (13-13, ERA 2.82)

NLCS: Phillies @ Giants tickets AT&T Park Tickets Seating Chart

NLCS Game 3: Phillies @ Giants tickets to Home Game 1
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2010 at 1:19 PM
AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Hamels (13-11, ERA 2.94) @ Cain (13-11, ERA 3.05)

NLCS Game 4: Phillies @ Giants tickets to Home Game 2
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM
AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Blanton (9-6, ERA 4.82) @ Bumgarner (8-6, ERA 3.00)

NLCS Game 5: Phillies @ Giants tickets to Home Game 3
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2010 at 4:57 PM
AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA

NLCS Game 6: Giants @ Phillies tickets to Home Game 3 (If Necessary)
Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at 3:57PM
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

NLCS Game 7: Giants @ Phillies tickets to Home Game 4 (If Necessary)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2010 at 7:57PM
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

ALCS Games Schedule, Times & Pitching Matchups

ALCS: Yankees @ Rangers Tickets Seating Chart

ALCS Game 1: Yankees @ Rangers tickets to Home Game 1
Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 at 7:07PM
Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, TX
Sabathia (22-7, ERA 3.21) @ Wilson (16-8, ERA 3.25)

ALCS Game 2: Yankees @ Rangers tickets to Home Game 2
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 at 3:07PM
Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, TX
Hughes (19-8, ERA 4.03) @ Lewis (12-13, ERA 3.63)

ALCS: Rangers @ Yankees tickets Yankee Stadium Seating Chart

ALCS Game 3: Rangers @ Yankees tickets to Home Game 1
Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 at 7:07PM
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Lee (14-9, ERA 3.00) @ Pettitte (12-3, ERA 3.24)

ALCS Game 4: Rangers @ Yankees tickets to Home Game 2
Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 at 7:07PM
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Hunter (13-5, ERA 3.75) @ Burnett (10-15, ERA 5.26)

ALCS Game 5: Rangers @ Yankees tickets to Home Game 3
Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 at 4:07PM
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

ALCS Game 6: Yankees @ Rangers tickets to Home Game 3 (If Necessary)
Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 at 7:07PM
Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, TX

ALCS Game 7: Yankees @ Rangers tickets to Home Game 4 (If Necessary)
Friday, Oct. 23, 2010 at 7:07PM
Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, TX

In surprising news, reports have surfaced that Joe Torre and Don Mattingly of the Los Angeles Dodgers will be in attendance at Yankee Stadium on Monday, September 20 for a monument dedication to recently deceased Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.  After the 2007 season, Joe Torre and the Yankees had an ugly divorce, followed quickly by Yankees great Don Mattingly being passed over for the newly opened managerial job.  Neither has returned to Yankee Stadium since, so expect Yankees tickets for Monday’s clash with the division rival Tampa Bay Rays to quickly become a hot commodity.

Special ceremonies held in July to remember the life of Steinbrenner were an emotional and memorable experience, and the Yankees quickly planned an additional ceremony for his enshrinement into Yankee Stadium’s legendary monument park.  Monday’s monument dedication has received sparse coverage, leaving ticket prices extremely low.  Joe Torre and Don Mattingly’s presence at the new Yankee Stadium will likely increase demand, but FanSnap’s search is still finding some great deals on Yankees tickets for tomorrow night.  As a value added “bonus,” the Yankees and Rays are separated by less than a game in their race for the AL East crown and will be starting a crucial four game series.

Whether Torre and Mattingly will play a large role in the monument dedication or just be casual onlookers is unknown.  While this ceremony should clearly be about Steinbrenner, it would make sense for the Yankees to feature their return in some way.  The boss was always about giving the fans of New York what they wanted – the chance to show appreciation to Yankee greats during their first visit to “the house that George built” is just that.

Other Yankees greats rumored to be in attendance are Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, David Cone, David Wells, Graig Nettles, Goose Gossage, and Roy White, according to the NY Daily News.

There are currently 2,200+ tickets listed on FanSnap for the Rays – Yankees game on Monday night. Tickets start at $13 for Grandstand Outfield 429 from AllShows. Tickets to the game average $55.

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

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