Baseball Tickets - Advice Appreciated!

Offsring Number 1 is off to the US for the summer and wants to take in a Red Sox game in Boston on 5th June. Given that the MLB site is showing no availability, does anyone know of any other source for tickets ?

Thanks

Pul

[Nottingham Nick]

Hi Paul,

I am in a very similar position for the Braves game a couple of Saturdays later. Texas aren't the biggest attraction - it shouldn't be like a Yankees game where tickets REALLY are at a premium.

My own experience is that there are always some available at the ground on the day - we have even got play off tickets that way. You have to queue at the Box Office, and don't get a lot of choice where to be in the ground, but you get the tickets at face value.

Other options are stubhub.com, EBay or craigslist. None of these will be face value, unless you are very lucky. I have no personal experience of these so can't really comment.

The final option is the army of scalpers who patrol Comm. Ave. and the area around the ground before any game. Again. there is an element of pot luck. A ticket for today's game is worth as much as someone is prepared to pay. A ticket for yesterday's game is worth exactly Jack! [8D][;)]

Nick

Nick

Thanks for the first hand advice; I'll pass it on. I think their best bet is the box office on the day.

I tried StubHub for the Cubs season opener last Monday but, contrary to appearances, it won't accept UK addresses. We would have got pretty wet as it tipped down in Chicago that afternoon. Saw some of the game at the bar in the Billy Goat Tavern instead.

Paul

Had good experience using Craigslist to do this in the US, though it does help to be on the ground. Of course there is always a small chance of being scammed. Never known it happening to anyone, though.

EDIT - forgot to mention a friend of mine from Italy did link up with someone to get tickets for a Yankees game last summer, when they were at a premium due to last year of old stadium etc etc. He had good luck too with this approach.

Apart from having to phone Stubhub due to the non-acceptance of UK addresses, their service has been good. I have two tickets for the Dodgers V Mets at the new Citifield ground on 7 July and the additional costs over the face value of the tickets isn't unreasonable in my opinion (about $13 per ticket including handling and 'shipping'). The tickets came attached to an email to print at home.

Regards
RedVee

[Scrooge]

I would use stubhub before anyone else, we've used them a few times.

[Nottingham Nick]

As a postscript to this thread. Chris and I were successful in getting excellent face value tickets for the Red Sox / Yankees game.
We turned up two and a half hours before the game, and the place was bedlam. Scalpers everywhere asking silly money.

The Game Day sale gate (Gate E on Lansdowne Street) opens two hours before the game, and there was already a queue down to the Bleacher Bar, which turned back on itself. We joined the queue and, to cut a long story short, about an hour after the tickets went on sale, we reached the front of the queue and got the last two $50 tickets. [:D][:D]

So, with a bit of patience and a bit of luck, it is possible to be lucky.

Nick

I know it's not a substitute for attending a game but I'd suggest doing one of the tours of Fenway Park. I'm not a sports fan but I found the tour absolutly fascinating.

I did it last year and it was really good except for not being allowed near the playing surface as they were doing construction - when I went it was a week before the season started so they were still finishing off the off-season improvements.

The tours depart from a table inside the shop opposite the ground. Can't tell you how much it was as I had a Go Boston Card and it was included in that but would probbaly be about $15 max.

The tour lasted about an hour and was sold on a first come first served basis as they limit the size of the group and they stop 3 hrs prior to a game being played si I don't think its something you could do the same day as attending a game.

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
I know it's not a substitute for attending a game but I'd suggest doing one of the tours of Fenway Park. I'm not a sports fan but I found the tour absolutly fascinating.

I did it last year and it was really good except for not being allowed near the playing surface as they were doing construction - when I went it was a week before the season started so they were still finishing off the off-season improvements.

The tours depart from a table inside the shop opposite the ground. Can't tell you how much it was as I had a Go Boston Card and it was included in that but would probbaly be about $15 max.

The tour lasted about an hour and was sold on a first come first served basis as they limit the size of the group and they stop 3 hrs prior to a game being played si I don't think its something you could do the same day as attending a game.




I'll second the tour of Fenway Park as well! [y]

They may not be good, I have no idea - and I have no idea about the rules to the game, but does anyone have recommendations on how I could get my hands on two tickets to a Miami Dolphins game in the last week of May?

Or failing that/instead perhaps tickets to watch Miami Heat play a game, understand Basketball a bit better.

quote:Originally posted by MagicWok
They may not be good, I have no idea - and I have no idea about the rules to the game, but does anyone have recommendations on how I could get my hands on two tickets to a Miami Dolphins game in the last week of May?

Or failing that/instead perhaps tickets to watch Miami Heat play a game, understand Basketball a bit better.


The NFL (American) season is from Aug/Sept to the first week of February so you will not see the Dolphins. I assume you mean the Florida Marlins if you're talking about baseball. Marlin's tickets don't tend to sell out, so you should be able to tickets at face value from most places. In the last week of May they are playing the Philies (Philadelphia)or the Mets (NY).

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by MagicWok
.... how I could get my hands on two tickets to a Miami Dolphins game in the last week of May?


Err... the NFL pre-season doesn't start until August, and the regular season doesn't start until September.

The NBA is in its play-off stages, and the Heat were knocked out in the first round by Atlanta.

Nick

quote:Originally posted by DarkAuror
The NFL (American) season is from Aug/Sept to the first week of February so you will not see the Dolphins. I assume you mean the Florida Marlins if you're talking about baseball. Marlin's tickets don't tend to sell out, so you should be able to tickets at face value from most places. In the last week of May they are playing the Philies (Philadelphia)or the Mets (NY).


Yes, a true uk sports person - kinda got myself confused

I think perhaps we will go for a game at the Dolphin Stadium to experience a game by the Marlins. Though checking their website, the only match I can see coming up for our time in Miami is against the Tampa Bay Rays on the 24th? Couldn't see anything about the Mets, which I would love to see actually.

edit: Actually, I've just looked up the schedule. They do indeed play them, but Away. So the only home game we would get to see would be against Tampa. Are they any good? lol

2 tickets, each $85 in the Founder Club Home Plate section. Is this any good? I'd be open to cheaper seats just to get good atmosphere, we're not going for anything serious after all - just a bit of fun.

quote:Originally posted by MagicWok
quote:Originally posted by DarkAuror
The NFL (American) season is from Aug/Sept to the first week of February so you will not see the Dolphins. I assume you mean the Florida Marlins if you're talking about baseball. Marlin's tickets don't tend to sell out, so you should be able to tickets at face value from most places. In the last week of May they are playing the Philies (Philadelphia)or the Mets (NY).


Yes, a true uk sports person - kinda got myself confused

I think perhaps we will go for a game at the Dolphin Stadium to experience a game by the Marlins. Though checking their website, the only match I can see coming up for our time in Miami is against the Tampa Bay Rays on the 24th? Couldn't see anything about the Mets, which I would love to see actually.


Curses, I must be colour blind, I was looking at the wrong matches in the schedule for May.

Being behind homeplate is bit of status symbol as you'll get your face on tv. Personally, I would try to find a seat along the baselines, you'll see more of the action but still be close to it. For atomsphere, go higher up in the cheapseats or out in the bleachers (which is the outfield) where could have an opportunity to catch a homer ball. however for the cheapseats and bleachers you're away from the main action.

Thanks Mike!

I'll look for something along the baselines - we have no urge for any status symbol stuff My otherhalf won't notice the difference anyway... She just about gets football lol

Might go for the 'field box' seats, between $28 box 142, row 2 sounds pretty decent [y]

quote:Originally posted by MagicWok
Thanks Mike!

I'll look for something along the baselines - we have no urge for any status symbol stuff My otherhalf won't notice the difference anyway... She just about gets football lol

Might go for the 'field box' seats, between $28 box 142, row 2 sounds pretty decent [y]


Sounds like good seats, hope you enjoy the game!

Check for a restricted view location . We bought similar priced tickets for a Mets game a few years back, and there was a piller in the way !

If it's not full you can move around any obstruction.

Thanks for the tip

Nothing to indicate that there will be something in the way, will just have to wait and see.

[Nottingham Nick]

Having just seen the Reds at the Marlins on Baseball Tonight - there were thousands of empty seats in Joe Robbie stadium, so if your seats aren't good, there should be plenty to move into. [:D][;)]

Nick

Cheers Nick!! It's a good thing we got some of the cheapest tickets. Really just wanted to give my other half an experience of a game, as she's never been to one before.

Annoying that because we're overseas (UK) it wouldn't let me print out tickets at home and will have to pick them up, but also since it's Memorial Day Weekend over there, shouldn't be too crowded either. Especially with BBW going on in SoBe which we'll be staying well away from anyway.

Hi everyone we are travelling to NYC next month too and also wanted to go to a game but i know absolutely nothing about the two teams! who would be the better to make a one time visit too 'the mets' or 'the Yankees' also taking into account the stadia too just in case one is much rougher than the other.

Also on the 16th july the yankees play the washington nationals and also on the 17th & 18th - Why? and what day is the best day to go on of these three days?

thanks so much

alex

[Nottingham Nick]

Hi Alex

Quite a few questions, but basically there are two teams in New York - the Yankees (the Evil Empire [:w] ). They are the equivalent of Manchester United (except that Man Utd are still winning things. [:D][:D] ).- they are the best supported team in the US. They have a brand new stadium in the Bronx - we went yesterday and got tickets easily enough. Right up in the nose bleed seats for $25 - but there is nothing to stop you wandering round the ground and watching from various standing vantage points.

The other New York team is the Mets - they also have a brand new stadium in Queens- next to the Flushing Meadows tennis complex. Tickets for the Mets are easier to get hold of - we went last year and paid on the day - I think the tickets were about $10. Their stadium was the old Shea Stadium, but that has been knocked down now the new one is open next door.

Both grounds are very easy to get to by Subway, but if you don't want to get caught in a massive crush, it is best to leave before the end of the game.

The reason they are playing on three days isn't unusual - they play about 6 days a week - C.160 games in the regular season and they will have a home stand playing on 6 consecutive nights - they often have an afternoon game before the travel day to help with moving the entire squad and their equipment to the next city.

The best day to go will be the one that suits you best. You can book through the team's website at MLB.com and either print your tickets at home or use the 'will call' window on the day to pick them up.

I am not sure that all teams offer their cheapest seats through the website, it may be better to buy on the day, unless the game is likely to sell out.

The Nationals are currently one of the less successful teams, so I doubt they will sell out.

Hope this helps.

Nick

The only time you hear the 'Evil Empire' fans is when they're winning! [:w]

Nick's got the whole story, basically. Like he said, tickets aren't hard to come by these days. Baseball has the exertion factor of cricket, and they play about as frequently as a county side, over more or less the same season (baseball's a bit longer, 162 games + playoffs). Yankees-Nationals will be an interleague series (long story), which has some extra pull sometimes, but still the Nats aren't a great team as Nick says, and you should have no issues getting in. A friend of mine went to Yankee Stadium last year quite easily getting tickets on Craigslist, and it was the last year of the stadium and games were mostly sold out. Season ticket holders don't quite make 81 games, so there's always tickets to be had one way or another through resale, it's perfectly normal.

Personally, I prefer the National League game as a rule (MLB is divided into two leagues, which play different rules), which would mean the Mets. But if you don't know much about the game, it won't make a difference, really, chances are you'll be bored either way [;)]