Regular readers of Inside Cheez will recall that I did not purchase my usual Yankee Stadium ticket plan this season, which I chronicled in my post "Priced Out at the Stadium" on February 25th. It was my small way of protesting the ridiculous ticket prices at the new stadium, and the improper way (at least in my opinion) that I was treated by the Yankees. After more than 20 years of loyalty, I was told to "take it or leave it".
Now, with empty seats visible at Yankee Stadium for every single game, the Yankees have come crawling back to the very fans they spurned just 6 short months ago.
Out of nowhere, I received a phone call both at home and and work from a Yankees ticket agent. "Wow! This must be important", I sarcastically thought. So I immediately called back.
"How can we get you back in the Stadium", was the first question I was asked when I reached the agent who called me. I laughed, then proceeded to tell the agent (who was very polite, by the way) my whole story: how I had season tickets for years, in the same section of the Stadium, and how much I paid last season. I kindly told him I was insulted by the Yankees "take it or leave it" offer of obstructed view, $85 seats, and that I'd be happy to come back if they could offer me a plan similar to the one I had previously. I told him it was clear that the Yankees thought they could strong-arm me into buying more expensive seats, when they absolutely could have given me my usual seats.
The agent then made his pitch. He was prepared to offer me 4 pairs of weeknight games (against mediocre teams like Toronto and Kansas City) for $45 a ticket. A little better than $85, but $20 more than the seats I had originally ordered.
How does this make sense? In February, the "best available" tickets were $85, and now suddenly $45 seats are available? Also, in May I tried to exchange rain check from last season and was told the cheapest tickets available were $85 (in that case I would have received $27 dollars off, which was last year's ticket price, instead of paying the full $85 - gee, thanks!). What gives?
I'll tell you want gives. The Yankees still haven't learned their lesson. They're holding back the cheaper tickets for individual game buyers (the ones who are more likely to spend big since they only go to one game), and in turn screwing over the real fans, the ones who'd like to go to multiple games like me.
I refused to take the bait. I politely declined the agents offer, and then he hit me with another strong-arm tactic. "Unless you purchase these tickets, we cannot guarantee your seniority for season tickets in 2010". Unbelievable. I have to pay $360 for 4 games I have no interest in attending, in order to retain the right to get ripped off again next season?
"I'll take my chances", I said, and I hung up.
Somehow I don't think that's the last call I (or hundreds of other former season ticket holders) will get from the Yankees. I can't wait to see what pitch the Yankees have up their sleeves next.
574 Walter & Sligo
2 hours ago