On Monday I write a weekly column for Flushing University. This was this week’s column.
I think the Mets have a big problem on their hands.No, not on the field. Off the field. In the stands.They recently announced that some tickets would be discounted through TheaterMania.comRight or wrong, the average fan perceives that Mets tickets are now 33% to 50% off. Perception is reality.In the short term maybe they sell some extra tickets. What happens in the long term?With the cutting of prices, prices on the secondary market have crashed even further. I can’t make it Thursday night. Should I sell my $19 tickets for the going rate of $7 on stubhub? Should I “eat” them? Give them away again?That’s not the Mets’ problem, but 2010 is.I looked ahead to September. As part of my “Saturday package” I have a Tuesday night game and a Thursday night game. At Shea Stadium it was quite cold at night in September. The sun sets in the 7’s not the 8’s and the wind would start whipping in, and so far at Citi Field I have seen strong winds in the Promenade (can we just call this ‘uppers’) even on the warmest of nights.Again, nobody made me buy the tickets. It’s my problem not the Mets’ problem. This year.What happens to the Mets in 2010 when they ask me to renew. Do I want to buy all those tickets at face value (really, $23 for the uppers against the Giants?) or should I just wait and buy tickets on Stubhub. Even if the Mets rebuild and win 115 games I can probably still do OK on stubhub. I just looked at the next home game for the Yankees (a team having a good season) and I can get in (2 tickets) for $24 each. So how much could Mets tickets cost me – again assuming the team is good.Maybe it will cost me an extra buck or five to see that one Mets game I really want to see.What about those “Saturday” games that are on Tuesday night in September. What about those Saturday games that aren’t part of the “Saturday” package anyway. (Why don’t the Mets just call these the “Stengel Plan” or something so as not to rub it in our faces?)It was nice to see the team finally listen to the fans and hang some “Mets stuff” around the park. It should never have taken so long.The ticket thing may have been short term smart but it’s going to backfire, as many things they try often do.
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well said. if the secondary market crashed this year, I think the primary market, to an extent, crashes next year.
a year ago, we were made to believe that the only way to get into Citi Field (which we all wanted to do a year ago) was to buy season tickets, with the idea being to get plan holders to upgrade out of fear. then, eventually, they released those mini plans, and i really believed that there wouldn't be much left for individual game tickets, and probably so did many others, because a lot of people bought those packages for the 15 game "Saturday" plan with 5 weeknights. deceptive? yes.
if ticket holders were part of a union, maybe we could have sued.
for 2010, my guess is a drop in EVERY ticket package out there. but remember that most of the StubHub market was made from those packages' leftovers and not from individual game ticket holders who bought and couldn't go. i think the Mets will end up with a lot of tickets in their hands on the primary market and not so much on the secondary market. it will probably be a buyers market, just not as much (hey, would you rather see the Mets get your service fee or StubHub? I'd rather go to the box office in person and avoid both).
one thing I forgot to mention that your next post brought to mind…
the "announced" attendance for the game, when we see it as half empty, does include all of the tickets that people had on Stub Hub and couldn't sell. it's a very deceptive number. if most of the tickets are sitting in the Mets box office next season like I predict, we'll see more realistic numbers.
I can say for sure that no way I re up for my seasons without a dramatic price decrease. Had 4 in 127, moved to 331 for the second half, after the Mets kept under cutting our stub offers with half price baseline boxes in "Flushing Flash" email blasts. These seats average face of about $87 per seat. I'd say I'm willing to pay $30 for these seats tops. I'd much rather commit my money to games I actually want to see then eat all those crappy weather and unappealing opponent tickets.
I am guessing most holders feel the same way. This in turn means a major revenue drop for the team. Consequently, I can't see them spending anything to upgrade in the off season. Making me even happier to bail!
I have 15-packs, and I can't even GIVE the tickets away – most of the Mets fans I know don't even want to go for free.
I declared a major victory the other night when I was able to sell my tickets for $10 each ($8 after fees) to the Thursday night Giants game.
I had a weekday upper level outfield plan, I managed to make a little money and see a few games for free, but these past few weeks I've had trouble giving the games away. Even with that being said though, there is no way I would have made money without selling opening day. Next season unless the prices are reduced by at least 50% and the perks are increased, I am out.
Well, I bought Friday and Saturday Plans despite the fact they were misrepresented by including five weekday games each, which is inconvenient for a 9-to-5 worker who lives 90 minutes from Wilpon's Folly. That was my choice. I figured I could easily sell or trade tickets I didn't want, but no one could forsee how jinxed 2009 would be. I'm stuck, like many others. And as my soap opera with the Mets Disorganization continues, by not refunding my $23 for a blocked solo I bought, they've lost $2,000 from me in 2010.
The Mets will be the new St. Louis Browns if they don't read the economy correctly for 2010. For example, Jets season tickets are on sale on this Web page; my company is offering decent Jets season tix and plans at a 20% discount. I've been a Football Giants fan since 1970, and I bought a ticket at face value from the Giants. All this would be UNTHINKABLE a year ago, before the economic collapse.
In 1970, the highest-priced ticket at Shea was $4.50 (about $30 in 2009 dollars, and yes, I know the players' salaries are higher ). However, a Cubs fan I know walked up to the box office at Wrigley on gameday and got a solo four rows behind home at the Cubs highest price—$80—and their payroll and fanbase ain't like them Buccos.
From the MLB field to the tragic minors to incompetent PR shills to the awful minor-league park the Mets imposed on us, the state of the Mets is morbid.
Maybe I'll hit a game or two in 2010 for comic relief.
I too, like the first poster bought a ticket pack with 2 of my friends thinking it was the only reasonable way for us to get into Citi Field. I bought "uppers" tickets in section 528. Not even factoring the obstructed view of left field (I couldn't see Murph miss all those flyballs) there's no way I'll buy a ticket pack next year unless the prices drop close to 50%
The Wilpons will either figure it out this Sept when all those seats are empty, or next March when they've sold a fraction of the ticket packs they sold this year.
"Wilpon's Folly". I like that one.
But I don't think the economy is totally to blame for the ticket problems. Some of it is that I think things just came to a head with PSLs, service charges, generally high prices, and new somewhat unwanted stadiums.
Shameless plug – if you haven't been to http://RememberingShea.blogspot.com/ to vote in my poll, go do it now. I ask how many more/less games you plan on going to next year at Citi Field.
I had season tix for several years, and I gave them up after last season from a combination of cost and the recession. Needless to say, i'm thrilled that I did. The going rate as of last month for Mets tix was at least 50% off. I'm sure its lower now, especially if you have primo seats where the mkt value runs as low as 20% of list price and lots of tix never get sold at any price.
I have zero intention of buying season tix next year. Even in 2006-2008, it was extremely difficult to sell games during the season that I couldn't go to, unless it was opening day or the Yankeees. This way, I can pretty much go to any game that I want (with a healthy discount off list). There is no way seats will sell above list unless the Mets decide to cut prices by 50% or more. Therefore, why buy seasons? I can't see any upside. I was recently offered seats in a suite with unlimited food to a weekend game at less than 100 bucks/seat! And if you are unlucky enough to try to sell seats in the 500 level, you will be lucky to get 10 bucks for each one.
The Mets are going to be facing some tough decisions next year, but their problems are our gains.