4
2012
Mets Slash Ticket Prices For Opening Day
An article by Hojo's Mojo
Mets are still trying to push ticket sales for Opening Day and are offering these new lower prices via email to some potential ticket buyers.
Metropolitan Box was $175. Now $169.
Field Box Silver was $175. Now $153.
Baseline Silver was $99. Now $95.
Caesars Box was $100. Now $90.
Baseline Box was $95. Now $77.
This is all part of their new dynamic pricing which is based on supply and demand.
Via ESPN
Original Post 4/3
Mets executive vice president of business operations, Dave Howard, told the New York Post that “several thousand tickets are still available” for Opening Day against the Braves.
Howard said the Mets will need solid sales Tuesday and Wednesday and is counting on about 2,000 to 4,000 walk-ups on Thursday in order to sell out.
If the Mets fail to sell out Opening Day, it would be the first time since 1997, a span of 14 years.
Currently the cheapest available tickets for the game start at $40 and go up to near $200 for field level. The Mets are using a dynamic pricing system this season in which tickets are priced based on supply and demand.
Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog rationalizes it as follows:
I hope the Mets aren’t surprised by this. I mean, they finished fourth place each of the last three years, not to mention two collapses before that, all of which included firings and bizarre injuries. This winter, Jose Reyes left to sign with the Marlins during in an off-season where fans grew more and more dejected by talk of bankruptcy, legal battles and deepening sense of hopelessness encouraged by local media.
Howard told ESPN that at this point last year they weren’t sold out either.
“We’re optimistic. The weather is beautiful, which is a big plus and Johan (Santana) is starting, which is an enormous positive and I think fans will want to be here and I’m confident they’ll be here.”
“The play of the team is always a factor in terms of ticket sales,” Howard said as the team unveiled the new seating above the left field wall, which has been moved in almost 12 feet. “Again we present the beautiful ballpark, the market place for your friends and your family and it’s a great day of entertainment. It’s affordable. Our pricing is comparable to a movie and the play of the team on the field will just make it that much more attractive.”
What do you think? Will the Mets keep their sold-out streak alive?
About the Author: Rob Johnson
45 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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$40 bucks to see the Mets play? And $19.00 bucks to park? No thanks. Its not worth it to see this team. I’ll spend my money on something entertaining. If I wanted to spend it on something that frustrates me, pisses me off constantly and leaves me unfulfilled, I’d take my wife out.
Sounds like a personal problem.
TR,
Sounds like a financial one more than personal. For my wife and I that would come up to (including those added on fees) to about $124 just to enter the park.
That’s not worth a baseball game – especially if the seats are those where one can’t see much of left field.
Just depends on your financial level, level of commitment and what your goal of going to the game to start with was. I hope to see a group of hard-nosed players looking to exceed expectations while making names for themselves and the future.
Also the personal problem was a comment in regards to the Mets being like his relationship. If baseball is ever as serious as your relationship with your wife you got a problem anyway.
Jason W – YOU ARE RIGHT ON SO MANY LEVELS!!!!!!! LOLing my a$#@ off!
Jason, that’s forty bucks WITHOUT the added on processing fees. When we bought two $19 tickets the total with shipping came out to $61 – more than the face value of three tickets ($12 for shipping – when overnight only costs indiiduals $6.95?). So my thought is two $40 tickets would come up to about $103 if the add on costs are the same for all – $12.50 more per ticket.
Totally not worth it!….Even if it was only $40.00 total for exerything!
Trust me I have watched this team for over 15 games this spring and I was wondering if they were worth the $8.00 Berm ticket and free parking two blocks away!
I’d be there if it were possible.
Wonder if the prices of those remaining tickets will fall due to the dynamic pricing system?
The past year or so opening day wasn’t available as a single game purchase – they forced fans to buy into a ticket package of some kind in order to go to the opener. Some fans might have long memories of being denied purchase of an opening day ticket.
Just saw some videos of Dave Howard discussing the new dimensions. He said going in the park was built to be pitcher friendly but that it became “too” pitcher friendly. He added Sandy and his staff decided that it should be fair to both hitters and pitchers.
Did making it pitcher friendly include having walls of different heights and even sloping levels spaced throughout the outfield? Did that include having portions of the wall angeled in order to get crazy bounces? Did it have nothing to do with Jeff Wilpon’s conception of creating more excitement for the fans for all the above along with having more triples hit into right field? No, I don’t think so.
Guess everybody from the batters to the fans hating it and the park being ridiculed so much for creating so many gimmicks had nothing to do with the decision at all.
Just another example of the Wilpons not thinking in the long-term, same as with a smaller ballpark with higher ticket prices meaning more money going into the cash register.
Lol, this article is funny, first of all, i am shocked they are actually even surprised by this. 2 offseason when STILL they have not acquire somebody worth seeing, they’ve lost 3 all stars and acquired a minor league pitcher who at best might be ready in 2 years, so who in their right mind will wanna go see the team? Unless they start crazy hot out of the gate i don’t think a lot of people will be attending CITI field, ohhh, and it’s funny how cerrone said this: “where fans grew more and more dejected by talk of bankruptcy, legal battles and deepening sense of hopelessness encouraged by local media”
But failed to point out the HORRENDOUS job done by the front office in back to back years, Real fans of baseball have started to see what this front office was all about and have grew tired of lies and bullsh**. But of course, he likes his little gig in SNY so things like that won’t be mentioned.. SMH..
It’s funny how you beat a dead horse, every day after day after day………..
“and it’s funny how cerrone said this: “where fans grew more and more dejected by talk of bankruptcy, legal battles and deepening sense of hopelessness encouraged by local media”
Sorry but this is definitely a variable for many fans, many fans know the position Alderson’s been in and are intelligent enough to realize there are MANY reason why the Mets are in the position they are in right now.
“so who in their right mind” would want to spend all day on a blog talking about them if they felt this way either?
Yeah, Kinda like you complaining about the fans on this site, the site itself and spend ALL DAY here while having your blog… Funny how you get to tell others what you want but don’t wanna hear your own reality…
Kay, Stop stalking me ok…
Get over yourself, learn what the word stalker actually means and fine a new argument ok…..
You are still ill-informed. At no point have I ever insulted this blog. I have just made fun of a few extremist that bring down the quality of the comment section. Luckily for most on here you guys have all run to the Fuming Pile Box to spread your crap.
Now back to the point you missed. We all love the Mets, I think. So it’s not hard to believe that someone who spends all day complaining about his team would also spend the money to watch his team. You mean to tell me you are going to spend 12 hours a day blogging about the Mets but not watch the games? Oh I am going to do it watching TV, that’s different…
Some of us? fuming pile??? Whenever i needed to say something about you, whether is good or bad, i have told you right in front of you, i don’t need to run, never have ran away or shied away, I think you’re a dBag, a hypocrite who think knows more than everyone else, if disagreeing with you then they don’t know baseball, i thought jesseP was bad, but i came to the realization that you and your little crew are the worst, again, insulting the blog just because you don’t like some people shows the type of person you are..
Again, YOU said once the season starts you’d get away from this blog and the loose cannons in here, so, finally the season is here.. let’s see you and your little buddies scram if this site is such garbage or fuming pile as you call it..
Again, never insulted this great blog. The only ones around here that disrespect this blog, that would be you and your super hero group. Now run back to the Fuming Pile Box and complain away. You might find a sympathetic ear there.
So if the blog have a shoutbox, where me, bayonne, maniac, metsie, Joe D, kay, jesseP, donal, matt, 224, hitman, etc go to exchange opinions is being called a FUMING PILE you’re not insulting the site? or the owner of the site who actually created the shoutbox or what you call the fuming pile? that is disrespecting this site, the creators and people who suggested the shoutbox to be put again.
“Real fans of baseball” also where do you get off determining who is a real fan or not? I have even defended your pessimistic butt when people have said you were not a fan. Now YOU of all people get to determine who a real fan is? Hypocrite.
Dude, Some people based on fantasy baseball etc have stopped being fans long time ago, now some people like what a GM does and bring to the table more than the team itself… Simple case when some people in this very blog have said winning is not important shows all you need to know about them..
Also, WHEN have you ever defended me? one of the biggest hypocrite of all time it’s you, so i am not sure nor seen any occassion in which you have stood out for me, nor i need to, i am a grown man and i can handle it, as i said before, you think because you coach a bunch of kids from a middle school gives you some sort of leadership role? you’re mistaken big time you troll, The season is almost here, time to see if you are an honest man about things and finally you get to troll your own little 5 people blog and leave this site that you have repeatately said it’s filled with less inteligent people than you and your little squad…
“Some people based on fantasy baseball etc have stopped being fans long time ago”
What? Seriously, what?
“now some people like what a GM does and bring to the table more than the team itself”
Or, maybe, we see that if the the current GM is successful, it means the team itself is being successful, seeing as to how his success would be defined by the team’s results.
” Simple case when some people in this very blog have said winning is not important shows all you need to know about them”
Quote someone. anyone at all who said winning isn’t important.
Alex, you know I have defended you plenty of times. I have defended you against those who call you a Marlins fan, even though you accuse others as being Braves fans. I have defended you as having potential to be rational even though you ally yourself with extremist like Bay. It does not matter if you want it or need it or deserve it. Doesn’t change the fact.
Now on to your attempt at points. Again, you are getting to determine what a fan is. If they are not angry at this GM they are not a fan. Yet if they act like a fool and bitch and complain everyday about the same thing, they are a fan (again not necessarily referring to you but your company.)
Next in line, I have coached various levels of amateur sports and have never said that they give me an advantage over any other fan. As a varsity high school head coach I am still learning each day and I am very humble to be in the position that I am in having a chance to build the program but most of all impact the kids I coach.
Finally, nice of you to advertise my blog again. I appreciate your efforts. However, as I mentioned the last time, I am having too much fun here to leave completely. So if changing my mind makes me a liar? So be it. However, I can blame that on you and your companies riveting conversations.
Now notice how I kept it civil while making you look like a fool?
Where is the line drawn between being frustrated as a fan, and bandwagon fans?
I’m pretty sure rooting for a division rival that is trying to buy a World Series before a fire sale crosses it, where ever it may lie.
Good question.
Winning solves everything most of the time. Start playing wining ball, folks come out to the park for the most part.
The overwhelming majority who advocate boycotting across Met fandom are citing the Wilpons as the reason, not the current or past FO. Those that are disgusted with what they’ve described as the ‘sorry state of affairs’ going back to the collapse of ’07, bad finish of ’08, injury riddled season of ’09, drama of ’10 both on and off the fielda nd a near last place finish of ’11 are pointing fingers at the Wilpons declaring they won’t be back until the family sells.
I’m willing to bet the majority of them won’t continue any such boycott if this team starts climbing back up sooner rather than later.
Fans need someone to blame. I am guessing that those guys that are “boycotting” would not have gone regardless of some phony boycott and yes all would be forgiven if they start winning.
I’m sure it doesn’t help that it is a Thursday afternoon and a lot of people are still feeling a financial crush.
That is definatly all true. I know I cant afford as many games this year as in years past?
Very true, this game is a made for TV game. Opening day, mid week afternoon, what do they expect?
Most OD are weekday day games though? Working in NYC i have the luxury of only needing to take 1/2 day from work.
OD has always been an event. Normally sold out even in poor years.
But, it wa also tradition that after OD with 50K on hand, day 2 would be another weekday with about 12K in the park!
and attendance has always ebbed and flowed with the record and perception of the team. Heck, back in the late 70s they drew waht, barely a million? And had some years where they did not even break 7 figures.
Yeah, for some reason I thought many of them were night games though.
OD was always traditionally a weekday day game.
I think many are missing the point.
It has nothing to do with being a Met fan or even the quality of the players on the field. It goes way beyond this.
It goes to the owners who screwed the fans in ways that has nothing to do with the product on the field It was the way we have been treated by that ownership and saying we’re not going to do business with you again. Those reasons?
- Built a smaller ballpark and charged outrageous ticket prices instead
- Not being able to walk through two of every three entrances into the ball park
- Having to walk up a flight of stairs because to get to the highest level because the elevator bank stops at the lower promenade.
- Sitting behind third base and not being able to see anything of left field to the left of the “Shea” baseball on the outfield wall.
- Only having two sets of restrooms (according to the seating chart) situated behind home plate on the upper promenade level.
That doesn’t mean we don’t support the team. It means we won’t give these owners who felt more concern for the high rollers who sit in a restaurant cutting off our view, who have special entrances making others have to walk much further to get in, that we have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to our seats and hope we do not have an accident while having a long trek to the restroom – that’s resentful.
And somebody called up this morning to the FAN complaining about having to pay $55 dollars for seats that are now going for $40 due to that “dynamic” seating plan. Even the paying customers are getting sore and the season hasn’t even started yet.
Wow, you have way fonder memories than that generic, concrete doughnut of a football stadium than I do.
“And somebody called up this morning to the FAN complaining about having to pay $55 dollars for seats that are now going for $40 due to that “dynamic” seating plan. Even the paying customers are getting sore and the season hasn’t even started yet.”
MLB in general is still trying to figure out how to handle the secondary ticket market (ie StubHub). The Mets are one of the teams doing a better job.
I think you way over estimate how many people are making decisions that have anything to do with the owners. And most people like the ballpark (maybe not the prices, but the place overall).
If people aren’t buying tickets, it is most likely because they have had a few down years, and aren’t expected by most to be competitive. And that is pretty much what has always happened (attendance follows the ebbs and flows of the record).
And man, you must have never had a seat in the upper reserve if you think it is hard to get to the top at Citi!
I have been to CBP in philly a number of times, and to nats park (2x I think). Very similar design overall, including the bathrooms in the upper deck.
If you don’t like the place, don’t go. But I don’t buy that it is some kind of big rebellion against the oppression of the wilpons that it dragging down ticket sales.
I just think with 4 dollar gas now and everything so expensive (have you gone food shopping lately) and doubling of tolls and on and on, I just think the average fan supporting a family doesn’t have the extra cash to go to a MLB park anymore. I think they’ll announce a sellout even if it isn’t. Who knows unless they have “sellout police” checking.
Improved TV coverage and a great broadcast team doesn’t help ticket sales either.
Hi Stick,
I don’t know how much or how little I am estimating the fan base resentment for the reasons I stated…., however, I do have a few friends who feel the same way and said it takes away from the enjoyment of going to a Met game. I have heard this complaint from many on FAN over the years as well. Others stay away because they feel the Wilpons have ruined the team. Even though that was the case with Grant, I didn’t stay away because going to a Met game was still fun, though lonely, during those times.
That is the bottom line. For me, ownership has indeed put taking away some of the fun of going to a Met game into the equation. Though I had to pay $63 for two $19 tickets ($25 more or the cost of three tickets with the $6.95 that UPS charges individuals for overnight delivery) I still had no preconceived expectations for such a reaction the first time we went to Citi Field. I understood that time marches on and the old always makes way for the new so whatever fond memories I had of the old ballpark should not prejudice me against the new one.
In fact, my first reaction upon entering and seeing the field was “wow” this retro is really nice. We got there early to walk around and enjoyed the food court, the bridge and the different vantage points of seeing the field that one couldn’t get at Shea. And when we got to our seats and able to look out at the entire field I loved the way the ballpark looked, recreating that old time flavor. I felt I was back in the 1920s. So my initial reaction was great.
But after the initial euthoria cooled down, reality took over. I suddenly noticed what I thought was the foul line was really the rope holding the protective netting behind home plate. I then saw that what I couldn’t see – just from section 525 which barely made it past the infield dirt.
Then everything else started to come back to me. At Shea, there were two excalator banks at each of the five entrances at the ball park that went straight up to the top and let us off within a few yards either way of our seat locations. We therefore could 1) park our car at the closest area and walk right in, 2) not have to walk up an additional flight of steps or a ramp after that, 3) not have to walk half way down the corridor to then get to our seat locations and 4) did not have to worry about not having a bathroom nearby, something that becomes a problem as many of us get older.
All this, with most of the entrances denied permission to enter and an exclusive restaurant cutting off our view so patrons could be more angled toward home plate started making us feel like second class citizens. Never felt like that at Shea sitting in the upper deck. And it doesn’t matter what other owners do – we’re Met fans and that’s all that matters.
Oh, and if anyone wants proof that I had sat in the upper deck, those who have “The Odd Couple” film from 1967 please zoom on your HD set and see me with two friends sitting behind home plate in the upper deck (this is just meant as a joke – just couldn’t resist it).
to each his own I guess. But I spent a whole lot of time walking around shea to get places. And however many bathrooms they had, it was never enough. or beer stands. So a little more walking for a lot less waiting on line?
and yes, the escalators went to the upper deck. But they get you there at citi also. But at shea, you still needed a rope to help keep from falling off the steep steps to the top of the upper deck!
I understand about the restaurants (depending on where it is you have tickets), but pretty sure some of that has eased up? But I never noticed a big problem with seeing the field.
I do know, however, the the last bunch of rows in the mezz and loge cut off a big chuck of the field (and the entire sky!).
Hi Stick,
The restaurant situation in left field cannot change unless major renovations are made – it is part of the concrete structure.
As mentioned, I could not see anything left of the SHEA commerative baseball sign. That meant all the other retired numbers to the foul line. In terms of the field of play, it was like a slice of pizza with one third cut off. If a ball was hit more than ten feet to Jason Bay’s right against a right handed hitter, I would lose sight of it. Same with an infielder going half way down the line to catch a popup.
If that is not a big problem with seeing the field, I do not know of one that is. We are not talking the corner warning track area LOL.
As far as the escalators, have you tried the one in left field? It stops on the lower promenade and my wife and I had to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the upper one. So they don’t all get on there at Citi Field.
Yes, it was nosebleed in the upper deck but still, we got there comfortably and saw all the field. But even at Citi, we were too high for any of those tee shirts being shot out of the bazookas to reach that level.
And though there might not ever be enough places to get a beer and unload it a few innings later, at least it was comforting to know that a rest stop was literally right around the corner.
Now try to find me co-starring with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. In fact, that is the only day that the Mets got me real angry. Everything was so set up for the filming that they even put a fake lineup on the scoreboard that was never even seen in the film. Of course, many of us penciled them into our scorecards with little space to place the right ones after they were suddenly removed. Might have made me mad but really must have freaked out Danny Murtagh as he team was penalized for batting out of turn which probably cost them the game.
Well said points about all the revenue grabs the Wilponzis made in lieu of making a fan friendly ballpark like the Phillies did in reference to ticket and parking prices.Imho opinion if the team was a contender,this being NYC most fans would still pay more to see a winner.What makes the Wilponzis utter failures is they cannot produce a fan friendly ballpark or a winning team.Than you let the NL batting champion walk and call it a “baseball decision”.Incompetence never generates a happy fan base.Unfortunately, incompetence is the one thing the Wilponzis excel at.
Might as well wait until June 1…by then, no ticket will be selling for over $35 to see this team play.
How is that “slashing” prices? Sure, they are reduced….but Slashed? Come on.