I didn't think much of it when it was first announced that David Wright was going to miss the intrasquad games last week with rib soreness. It's early spring. A star will be kept out of the game if he didn't get a good night's sleep.
Then David missed a few more games. Okay.....
Now he's going back to New York and is going to miss the next week...
Do we have a problem, Houston?
And didn't we hear something similar with Ike last year?
Then again, we are talking about the Mets and their medical staff.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Mets Dynamic Pricing is Stupid
The Mets are going to shoot themselves in the foot with this dynamic pricing. Isn't the idea to GET people to the ballgames? Prices will fluctuate depending on market conditions, including the weather. Which means that they're going to gouge you if it's a nice summer weekend - aka the perfect day to get to the ballpark. if the weather sucks, ticket prices will drop.
You'll have fans that will pay in advance for a weekend game in the summer that will end up paying more now because they want to lock in that game and not try to "time" the market Then they'll get really pissed off if the weather is so-so, but not bad enough to call the game. That ticket they paid $40 for in advance (like the price you'll have to pay for now at banner day in the promenade reserved) you may be able to get for $12 in the promenade outfield (because you can get a full season ticket in that section for that amount) and just move to a different section.
This is not the time to alienate the fan base. Note to the Wilpons - you're not the Yankees. This is coming across like you're trying to squeeze every nickel you can get. Don't make buying tickets to your favorite team a hassle where you feel resentment that you're getting cheated. They'll stop coming. It's been happening the last few years at Citi. Let's not forget the past ghost towns at Shea. The airlines use dynamic pricing, but that's also a mode of transportation to GET from point A to point B when your only other option is to get there slower.
The Yankees keep their ticket prices steady. Unless it's one of their discount ticket nights (which frankly, they offer at lower prices than the Mets do for their "value" games), you're paying the same for games against the Sox as you will against the Mariners. So what happens? The fans will buy tickets to two or three games instead of just that one you're gouging them for. They'll buy Yankees hats. Their kids will grow up Yankees fans and where will your fan base go then? We've already lost a generation of young Mets fans in this what will be the 17th Full Year of the Jeter Era.
Set the ticket prices. Price them fairly. Take the guessing game out of it. Stop treating the ticket market like the stock market (leave that to the secondary market). Stop pissing off the fan base - because that's what you're doing.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
I've Discovered Jack Vale
Along with about a million other people, give or take.
Yeah, yeah... I'm a middle aged guy. But fart jokes still rock.
Check him out on youtube.
Yeah, yeah... I'm a middle aged guy. But fart jokes still rock.
Check him out on youtube.
Manny to the A's?
It looks like it's getting close - Manny may be signing with the A's for just over the MLB minimum.
How's that for Manny being Manny?
How's that for Manny being Manny?
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The New Mets Packs
I said it on here yesterday - the Mets just put on their site that new 6-packs go on sale tomorrow morning at 10am.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Mets Will be Offering 6-Packs
They haven't announced it on Mets.com yet, but the Mets will be offering 6 pack ticket plans. The plans will consist of 1 Marquee game and 5 other games of your choice.
The price range will depend on what games you pick. If you pick value games, it will cost less. If you want to go on weekends, it's going to cost you more.
You already know my feelings on that. The Mets need to do their pricing that is more on par with the Yankees.
The price range will depend on what games you pick. If you pick value games, it will cost less. If you want to go on weekends, it's going to cost you more.
You already know my feelings on that. The Mets need to do their pricing that is more on par with the Yankees.
The Problem with Mets Pricing - Perception is Reality
There's something that is majorly broken with the Mets pricing structure for tickets. It's called the Yankees.
Yes, Yankee Stadium has a greater seating capacity than Citifield - but when it comes to the public, perception is reality. If you were to get a 16 day weekend plan (consisting of 13 weekend dates + 3 other non-weekend dates), ticket prices start at $320/seat plus fees. That's $20/ticket. Advance purchase prices for tickets are $22. Game day tickets (if there are any left) start at $23 for non-obstructed view seats ($15 for obstructed view).
Let's compare that to the Mets, who have different price structures for their games. Yeah, yeah - they're doing the "dynamic pricing" where ticket prices either go up or down depending on demand (which tells you something right there). Starting game day prices range anywhere from $12 to $36, depending on the "category" - Marquee, Premium, Classic & Value.
So on the surface, you have some games that are less than what the Yankees would charge, some that are more.
But let's look at this further...
When are the highest in-demand games? The weekend.
How much do the Yankees charge for low end, non-obstructed view tickets on the weekends? $20-23. That includes the Red Sox, the Mets, Opening Day, and Old Timer's Day. Those are the Marquee games. How much are the Mets charging for their Marquee games? $36. All the other weekend games are either Premium or Classic games. That's $28/ticket for a Saturday or Sunday game except for the April and the first series in May when it's $20/ticket.
In other words, it's cheaper to see the Yankees (which frankly is the better product) than it is to see the Mets if you want to take your kids on the weekend.
Okay, Okay... so they Mets have those $12 value game tickets. When are they? Mid-week before schools get out and after schools are back in. That's less than the Yankees, right? Uh.... the Yankees also have ticket specials for games (they haven't announced those dates yet) for $5 for some mid-week games. So yet again, the Yankees give you the better value for the better product.
And if you want to get a weekend ticket plan to the Mets? It's going to cost you more than a weekend plan for the Yankees.
In other words, you have the Yankees, who have put a winning tradition on the field for nearly 20 straight seasons, lets you see their product live for a better value (which will in turn solidify your fan base for future revenues) than the Mets do. The Mets are struggling on the field, struggling on the balance sheet, and struggling to get fans into the ballpark.
With the product on the field, the Yankees could afford to do a pricing structure the way the Mets do, but they don't. The Mets can't afford but to do a pricing structure the way the Yankees do, but they don't.
If I weren't already a Mets fan, I'd be more apt to take my kid to a Yankee game.
Yes, Yankee Stadium has a greater seating capacity than Citifield - but when it comes to the public, perception is reality. If you were to get a 16 day weekend plan (consisting of 13 weekend dates + 3 other non-weekend dates), ticket prices start at $320/seat plus fees. That's $20/ticket. Advance purchase prices for tickets are $22. Game day tickets (if there are any left) start at $23 for non-obstructed view seats ($15 for obstructed view).
Let's compare that to the Mets, who have different price structures for their games. Yeah, yeah - they're doing the "dynamic pricing" where ticket prices either go up or down depending on demand (which tells you something right there). Starting game day prices range anywhere from $12 to $36, depending on the "category" - Marquee, Premium, Classic & Value.
So on the surface, you have some games that are less than what the Yankees would charge, some that are more.
But let's look at this further...
When are the highest in-demand games? The weekend.
How much do the Yankees charge for low end, non-obstructed view tickets on the weekends? $20-23. That includes the Red Sox, the Mets, Opening Day, and Old Timer's Day. Those are the Marquee games. How much are the Mets charging for their Marquee games? $36. All the other weekend games are either Premium or Classic games. That's $28/ticket for a Saturday or Sunday game except for the April and the first series in May when it's $20/ticket.
In other words, it's cheaper to see the Yankees (which frankly is the better product) than it is to see the Mets if you want to take your kids on the weekend.
Okay, Okay... so they Mets have those $12 value game tickets. When are they? Mid-week before schools get out and after schools are back in. That's less than the Yankees, right? Uh.... the Yankees also have ticket specials for games (they haven't announced those dates yet) for $5 for some mid-week games. So yet again, the Yankees give you the better value for the better product.
And if you want to get a weekend ticket plan to the Mets? It's going to cost you more than a weekend plan for the Yankees.
In other words, you have the Yankees, who have put a winning tradition on the field for nearly 20 straight seasons, lets you see their product live for a better value (which will in turn solidify your fan base for future revenues) than the Mets do. The Mets are struggling on the field, struggling on the balance sheet, and struggling to get fans into the ballpark.
With the product on the field, the Yankees could afford to do a pricing structure the way the Mets do, but they don't. The Mets can't afford but to do a pricing structure the way the Yankees do, but they don't.
If I weren't already a Mets fan, I'd be more apt to take my kid to a Yankee game.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Verlander wins the Super Sage Award
He picked the Super Bowl winner and the correct score. Now he has something in common with the San Diego Chicken and Penn and Teller.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Update on Banner Packs Flying Like Hotcakes...
Since yesterday, it looks like the Mets have sold 4 tickets in the Upper Deck for the Banner Day pack. When I checked a couple of times yesterday - you could purchase seats 8 & 9 in row 12 of section 531. Now you'd get seats 12 & 13. My math says that 8, 9, 10, & 11 aren't available - meaning they've sold 4 tickets in this grouping.
The Prices are Dropping Like Stones
As we're eight and a half hours to kickoff, prices have dropped to $1,373 on Stub Hub. People looking to sell them are going to have to sell them fast. Ticket holders are urged to arrive hours before kickoff - so the regular 2 hour cutoff of selling tickets on Stub Hub is almost moot. Time is running out. I wonder if you'll be able to get them near face value as we approach noon?
And they fall, and they fall, and they fall....
Super Bowl tickets are down to $1,440 on Stub Hub.
Batchagaloop Jones would be proud.
Batchagaloop Jones would be proud.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Sky is Falling!
In the last 20 minutes, Super Bowl tickets continue to drop - snatch 'em up for $1,592!!!
The fans of the Giants and Patriots have likely already traveled out there and have tickets in hand. If you're still selling tickets for the game, your market is likely the locals. If Indy was in the game, I'm sure the prices would be higher - but you're no longer going to get a major premium from the people who are in the market to be buying.
The fans of the Giants and Patriots have likely already traveled out there and have tickets in hand. If you're still selling tickets for the game, your market is likely the locals. If Indy was in the game, I'm sure the prices would be higher - but you're no longer going to get a major premium from the people who are in the market to be buying.
Manny fielding offers?
It's being reported online that the A's, Orioles and Blue Jays are interested in Manny...
Where should he go? At 40 and facing a ban for life if he tests positive again, why should anyone even take a chance?
First of all - he should come cheap. He'll have to go on the team's terms - if Manny doesn't like it, he can go away. Baseball survived last year without him.
He's going to be sitting out 50 games. The A's and the Orioles aren't going anywhere this year. By the time 50 games are over, they'll be out of the race. Why would they have any interest in him and why would Manny even consider either one? Because they'll be out of the race. Both teams will be looking to put some butts in the seats, so why not have Manny as an attraction. If Manny also wants to have any chance of playing on a contender, he'll need to put in his at-bats with one of those two teams and hope he gets traded at the deadline.
The Blue Jays will be the best team this year of the three. Which is reason to not sign with either one. They'll be just good enough where Manny man not get as many plate appearances as he wants. If a second wild card gets added, the Jays may think they'd have a very, very outside chance - hense the desire to sign him, but if they're in any kind of contention, he may be regulated to the bench at a hint of struggle where the Orioles and A's may let him play through.
My guess - he'll end up in Oakland or Baltimore and if he shows any signs of anything, he'll get traded to a contender such as the Yankees for a mid-level prospect at the deadline.
Or I may be entirely wrong.
Where should he go? At 40 and facing a ban for life if he tests positive again, why should anyone even take a chance?
First of all - he should come cheap. He'll have to go on the team's terms - if Manny doesn't like it, he can go away. Baseball survived last year without him.
He's going to be sitting out 50 games. The A's and the Orioles aren't going anywhere this year. By the time 50 games are over, they'll be out of the race. Why would they have any interest in him and why would Manny even consider either one? Because they'll be out of the race. Both teams will be looking to put some butts in the seats, so why not have Manny as an attraction. If Manny also wants to have any chance of playing on a contender, he'll need to put in his at-bats with one of those two teams and hope he gets traded at the deadline.
The Blue Jays will be the best team this year of the three. Which is reason to not sign with either one. They'll be just good enough where Manny man not get as many plate appearances as he wants. If a second wild card gets added, the Jays may think they'd have a very, very outside chance - hense the desire to sign him, but if they're in any kind of contention, he may be regulated to the bench at a hint of struggle where the Orioles and A's may let him play through.
My guess - he'll end up in Oakland or Baltimore and if he shows any signs of anything, he'll get traded to a contender such as the Yankees for a mid-level prospect at the deadline.
Or I may be entirely wrong.
Super Bowl Tickets Dropping More!
With the household being sick today, I'm cooped up, playing caretaker today and obviously have a lot of time on my hands today.
Super Bowl tickets on Stub Hub continue to plummet! A pair can now be had for $1,650!!!
Super Bowl tickets on Stub Hub continue to plummet! A pair can now be had for $1,650!!!
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