Monday, March 02, 2009
THE UNOFFICIAL CITI FIELD PREVIEW DAY.
TBF and I were in front of the computers this morning at 10am sharp to buy tickets to the St. John’s game on March 29.
Let’s make no bones about this: I have no intention of actually watching this game. I doubt that most people going to this game that aren’t related to members of the respective teams playing are going to either. This is just our way to get our own Citi Field preview.
We ended up with seats in 110, I pulled about two minutes later than TBF and ended up in the 300 level, but we opted for field level seats since it’s probably the only time this year we’ll get to sit down there.
Season ticket holders are still furious, but scalpers are delighted; TBF reads a message board where there are a lot of season ticket holders who primarily resell as well as ticket brokers, and some of the brokers are claiming to have bought as many as 12 tickets for this game.
I think this is disgraceful. I think there should be an open house for anyone who bought a ticket package of any size - hell, the stadium should be open to anyone who wants to go. Open the place up, let the vendors do soft openings and sell food, let people walk around and take pictures and see everything. I realize security guards aren’t free - charge $5 a ticket, do it one weekend, have 2 hour slots (like busy museum exhibits do) to keep people moving and so the load is manageable. Let kids under 12 be free with parent or guardian.
Would it really kill them? Would it really, really kill them to do this? Would it be that difficult logistically? I don’t think so. Think of all the goodwill they would generate by doing this. Think of how happy people would be, how excited they would be, all the word-of-mouth positive reviews they would get.
Of course they will never, ever do this. So instead, scalpers buy 12 tickets to the St. John’s game and are already reselling them on Craigslist for $20 (not going to link to them but you can check it yourself easily).
Posted by Caryn at 01:24 PM
I will be honest I bought 10 tickets. However they are all for family members. I ended up in the uppers but we bought merely to look at “Shea” field. My mother and I want to see where our seats are for the plan we bought and we want to look around at the place. That is the only reason any of us bought tickets and why some of my friends did too. We have no interest in a college game in March just the stadium.
When “new” Soldier Field opened they had “Meet Your Seat” day for season ticket holders the weekend before. Free parking, free soda and free popcorn. We spent 2-3 hours wandering around, taking pictures and checking out the view from every level.
I know the SF Giants did the same thing before opening PacBell as well. Plus they have an post-game on-field open/house picnic with free food/drinks every single year for their STH.
Yeah, there’s some sunken costs, but can you put a price on the goodwill something like that brings?
I totally forgot about the ticket sale until about 10:45 AM. Way too late. I wonder if they will have all the food vendors open? One of my biggest concerns - quality of the eats in the new park :-)
I did get a GKR note about a tour (if you were lucky to call early enough to get in on the fun). However, this was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Too much work going on to take the afternoon off.
Not even a Fan Fest?
(I don’t expect goodwill gestures from the Wilpons. I think they’ve made it more than plain that they aren’t really concerned with the fan base that isn’t plunging for luxury suites. I know you’re not going to boycott. I know why you’re not going to boycott. But I really wish people would get it together enough to go “Hi. Don’t empty seats look swell? Because you can’t see luxury suites on TV. Hint.”)
I’m fine with actual fans buying as many tickets as they can get their hands on - it makes me sick that these are going to be scalped.
One of the regular MG readers blogged on her non-baseball blog that she got a call from the MTO today since they haven’t bought a plan and have bought a plan in the past. If the ballpark is so sold out, why are they calling? I have serious doubts that the place is as sold out as they are making it sound.
The MFY’s have made it known, quietly, that the $2k seats, if they don’t sell, will be available at a discount on day of game (to which I say it would have to be a freakin substantial discount before I could even see them). I think the Wilpons would be too prideful to do such a thing, which is MORONIC.
(she says, getting on the banned list again)
I got four tickets myself. I’ll be going with some friends. I have to admit I couldn’t wait for the Mets regular season to see the new stadium!
I know that most Mets fans are dying to get into Citi, but for whatever reason, I’m not. While I think a Fan Fest of some sort would be great for everyone involved, I agree with Caryn on that the Wilpons would never do it.
On my first day at Citi for my Saturday package, I’m going to be there a couple hours early. If it’s crazy packed in the concourses, I’ll just go sit in my seat and gawk at everything. Don’t get me wrong: I’m hoping that I will be able to wander around and check some stuff out. But first and foremost, I’m going to see my seat!
What I’m really looking forward to in a month is seeing how the Mets themselves have changed, not necessarily what field they are at (even though I miss Shea dearly) or what kind of food is served. Judging by the spirit and attitude of our boys at Port St. Lucie, Mets fans may have something more than a new stadium to look forward to.
Just got 4 tickets to the game against boston on April 3rd, after a glitch (once I had selected my seats and entered payment info, when I clicked on “submit” it sent my to a search engine, I freaked out! but I was able to use my sons computer and got even better seats! this will be the only time we’ll get to seat @ the “Delta Club” what will be a $245 seat durin the regular season. Anyways I just can’t wait to get there and enjoy the new place, an yes, a fanfest would be much appreciated but as much sense as it makes, just like the Manny signing (I know about his character, but I am tired of chocking year after year), I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it won’t happen.
I am being realistic I bought a dozen uppers for the Saturday game. I wanted to get 20 because there is a group at my firehouse that wants to go and now we can’t sit together. oh well. I tried 122 times on the phone before i gave up and bought the dozen which is the mas online and I can understand that. I just checked out of curiosity based on metsgrrl past posting about scalpers and they went up for sale before 10 am for best offer only. I friggin hate scalpers. ( I dont lump fans with one or two extra tickets in with them) Now because of the limit I gotta find out who REALLY wants to go and pare down 8 people. God Damn Wilpons
That is a complete shame that you Mets fans do not get a “fan day” at the new ballyard. I remember when the Busch stadium was opeded for the 2006 season, that had a heck of a fan day at the new digs. I could not even imagine the Cardinal organization treating it’s fans like the Wilpons do to Mets fans. Well, the good thing is you do not have to cheer on the Wilpons, just the players on your team.
The Tickets came yesterday and lo and behold they have the “cap” seal on them to go with the domino’s pizza. Do you think someone pulled their collective head outta their bottom and realized the farce of a logo they had?
I will be honest I bought 10 tickets. However they are all for family members. I ended up in the uppers but we bought merely to look at “Shea” field. My mother and I want to see where our seats are for the plan we bought and we want to look around at the place. That is the only reason any of us bought tickets and why some of my friends did too. We have no interest in a college game in March just the stadium.