A Fascinating Look at New Yankee Stadium

ESPN.com's Wright Thompson pulls the curtains back on Yankee Stadium's "Legends Suite."

over 2 years ago Bill Potter 9 comments 2 recs |

Comments

Here's something that should be a sobering thought...

… to the millionaire players and billionaire owners:

I think of all the people who will never go inside the stadium as kids — 75 percent of families can never afford to attend a live pro sporting event — and wonder how many of them might grow up to become wealthy and totally uninterested in baseball tickets. Think about it. If you were born before 1984, when you were a first-grader, the best seat in Yankee Stadium cost less than $12. You and your dad could sit by the field for $25. People pay fortunes chasing that feeling.

What happens when no one can afford to buy tickets?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 9, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions

Brooklyn Cyclones

The novelty of the Cyclones has worn off. Even with a drop in attendance the past two seasons, a team in the NY-Penn League can sell over 7000 tickets per home game. The Cyclones are much more affordable than the Mets and Yankees.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Oct 9, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

That and...

Ten years ago, it was cheaper to go to a baseball game than to a movie in half of the big league markets (take away parking at the game, and it was cheaper in every market). Today, there isn’t a single city in America where it costs less to go to a major league game than to a movie. Everywhere we turn, we see examples of the collapsing middle class.

this is going to make it hard for the league to raise the next generation of fans.

by CubFan81 on Oct 9, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Memphis Redbirds Bluff Tickets

Even if you get the $2 day of game charge or $2 convenience charge online added to the price of your $5 bluff ticket at AutoZone Park for the AAA Redbirds, $7 bluff tickets are a great value and cheaper than seeing an evening movie. You can park at certain places within 3 blocks of the stadium for $4 or less. AutoZone Park is more “baseball heaven” than the new Busch Stadium.

You can park at Pringles Park for free and pay just $6 to get into the game in Jackson, TN, for the Diamond Jaxx.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Oct 9, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions

After the game...

You can walk right over to Beale Street! Man that place is awesome!!

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Oct 9, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Question for Out of Market MLB Fans

For those of us who live more than 100 miles away from the nearest MLB team, how many MLB games would we attend if we lived within 100 miles of the nearest MLB team. My answer would be 20. I absolutely love baseball, but 20 is less than 25% of 81, the full compliment of home games. Going to just 20 games a season would strain my budget. The ticket prices are out of hand.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Oct 9, 2009 1:49 PM CDT reply actions

I live about 8 miles from Wrigley Field. Used to live a lot closer.

Each year of the 10 years I have lived in Chicago, I attended on average about 3-4 games per year.

This year, I went to exactly 0 games for the first time. I never thought twice of it. Weekends sell out too fast, and I can’t justify taking weekdays off for baseball anymore. Not when so many people are looking hard for work, and not with the amount of work I’m responsible for.

In part, I just didn’t have the motivation once it became clear this would likely not be the year. I still love the Cubs as much as I did last year or any of the years prior, but I will rely on the kindness of strangers from here on out to attend games. The prices are just too high for me to justify the expense.

HDTV has revolutionized the viewing experience for me and many others, in much the same way that Blu-Ray and DVD and home cinema has impacted the sale of movie tickets. I’m already paying for cable, so I’ll just enjoy the game at home, unless I’m offered a ticket. My choice as a consumer is to give a pittance to MLB through their deals with the cable company, rather than pay them directly at the gate. They’ve made their position clear.

I choose to abstain.

"Was you ever punched in the face five hundred times a night? It stings after a while." ~Rocky Balboa

by Goodie1969 on Oct 10, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow, what an article.

This is why the NFL is in trouble. It’s more enjoyable and MUCH cheaper to watch games either at home or at the bar. Bud Selig better not get any more greedy, this is ridiculous.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 9, 2009 3:08 PM CDT reply actions