Of course, the article shot itself in the foot right off the bat. It says that the Sox have already sold 85% of this season’s tickets. In other words, there are still 15% of the tickets waiting to be purchased. So, already we should change the tone of the article from having no chance to get tickets, to having no chance of getting the really popular tickets. It goes on to say that 70% of the really popular games were sold months ago to season ticket holders and ticket resellers. So, again, the theme should be changed. Even really popular games had 30% of their tickets remaining until recently. But, the author of the article didn’t adjust the theme. He just went on with the same blabber I hear all the time this time of year. Sox tickets should be available to average people who are real fans, not the super rich or the corporations. I guess I really only have one question. Why?
Why do people seem to think they’re entitled to Red Sox tickets? Why do they assume that whomever sits in corporate seats doesn’t deserve it? Why can’t you have money AND be a Red Sox fan?
If I was to go see a play at the Boston Opera House, they don’t make me take a test. I don’t have to prove that I love musicals more than someone else. I don’t need to sing the main song from the play. I don’t need to point my face green before they let me in to see Wicked. It would be crazy to even suggest that musical tickets should only be available to real musical fans. They’re available to anyone who buys them first. They’re also, by the way, not cheap. Nobody is writing articles saying that the average fan is shut out of seeing the Lion King because only the rich can afford box seats.
This article, along with all the others like it, enjoys pointing out that the Sox have one of the highest average ticket prices in baseball. Of course they do. They have just about the smallest park, and people want to go there. Progressive field holds about 10,000 more people then Fenway does. And, those 10,000 extra seats are worse than the ones at Fenway. So, those 10,000 tickets are priced lower then the cheap seats at Fenway. So, if you have 30% more tickets than Fenway that are worse then Fenway, and therefore cheaper, the average goes down. So, the Red Sox should compensate their fans because they don’t have as many bad seats as other parks? Really?
I’ve never seen another industry that people expect so much from. I don’t expect Lexus to make a car that I can afford. I don’t expect Hooters to clean up their image so kids can go there too. I don’t expect the movie theaters to stop selling their tickets to just anyone who comes and gets them. I don’t expect McDonalds to ask me how much I like hamburgers before they’ll sell me one.
Why do people feel entitled to cheap good Red Sox tickets?
Well said.
ReplyDeleteIf they keep playing like they are now, there will be a lot of tickets available later in the year.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that can get annoying, and like you say there's no reason it should be stopped, is the number of people who just want 2 tickets, but buy 4 so that they can resell them. StubHub, Ace Ticket and eBay were flooded with tickets and according to scalpers, they were even having a hard time moving tickets on Opening Day.
ReplyDeleteNot being able to purchase tickets because other people, fans or not, are buying them to go to the game is fine. Missing out on tickets because a bunch of people are trying to cash in on the team's popularity is a little annoying. It's everyone's right to try and do this if they want to, but I wish it were a little less prevalent.