Twitter, and even some of the more patient and good-natured Mets blogs, came alive on Monday when the team buried a bit of good news—their decision to make single-game and small ticket packs available months earlier than in previous seasons—beneath a massive jump in prices for Opening Day, Monday April 1 against the San Diego Padres.
Last season, $42 got you a ticket in Promenade Reserved on Opening Day, which is the fancy name for the cheap seats at Citi Field. This season, those seats are going for $63, an increase of 50 percent. Promenade Reserved Infield, $55 in 2012 for Opening Day, is $84 this season, a 53 percent jump. And even the more expensive seats increased in price, with Metropolitan Box, for instance, moving from $215 per ticket to $245.
It’s an odd decision, and one which seems to fly in the face of the basic rules of supply and demand.
For many years, Opening Day was an easy sellout for the New York Mets, the way it is for teams across Major League Baseball. Even the Marlins used to draw strong crowds on Opening Day in their old stadium.
But that was not the case in 2012, when the Mets struggled to sell out Opening Day last season at their old prices. Now, they’ll be asking fans to pay much more, but they’re doing so months earlier.
This reflects what seems to be a club policy heading into 2013, with season ticket prices going up, some plan prices increasing dramatically, and all of it tied to access to the 2013 All-Star Game. (They’re not included, of course: the perk is the right to purchase those tickets, for a lot of money.)
Repoz
Posted: November 20, 2012 at 05:04 PM |
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1. The District Attorney Posted: November 20, 2012 at 05:25 PM (#4307015)I don't know if it's going to work or not but I'll say this; I attended the 1999 All Star Game at Fenway and it was an amazing experience. There was a lot of star power in that game and the pregame stuff with the All Century team, particularly Williams, was a rarity but if any Met fans are debating taking a shot, I'd say go for it.
I don't know if it will be a big deal in NY, but in KC single tickets were going for $400-500 for the game. I went to the Futures Game/Celeb game (which is waaaaay cheaper), but passed up the ASG, and I really regret passing it up.
I hope this is held within walking distance of Cityfield.
Maybe the price of the All-star game is mandated by the league and/or the Mets have to share ticket revenue from the game. This would be a way for the Mets to grab a slice of the actual market value of the tickets which they otherwise might not receive.
Aren't ticket sales for baseball games pretty much purely about the demand? There's not a lot the Mets can do about their supply of seats at this point (either by building new seating or having more regular season games at home).
Citi Field All-Star Fan Fest will be within walking distance of Citi Field. It will feature a tour of auto body shops throughout the ages. Also, vendors selling auto parts (many of which will also be too small for your head).
"here's the tomato surprise"
"but, there's no tomatoes"
"that's the surprise"
Man, I am so sick of rooting for a team owned by morons.
Yep, that sounds about right. All so the 2013 season can be just as joyous for Mets fans as the 2012 season.
Reyes was a bit of a different case because he was a significant question mark going into his walk year, so the Mets really had to start the season with him. But in Wright and Dickey, the Mets have two guys whose past performance has been, let's say, variable. But they are coming off great years at the moment, and their value is high as it can be. If the Mets don't want to sign them because their value and price are high, they're also not going to want to sign them in July if their performance tanks and their value/price decreases. If they're playing great in July, their price will be higher but their value in trade will be lower as a rental. This is the time to fish or cut bait. I have to believe Alderson & Co. know this. I also believe that the Wilpons are so stupid that they think it is some sort of fantastical noble deed keeping them in a Mets uniform for an extra meaningless year.
Upon re-reading the article, I don't think the opening-day price increase is tied to the chance to buy ASG tickets, although I can see why the last paragraph might be construed as saying that it does.
I'm waiting for the day when I can buy an option to put down a non-refundable deposit for the chance to buy a Personal Seat License.
You almost made the Angel Moroni cry.
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