$3.33 Admissions to Twins' April and May games

[Teflon]

For less than you'd pay for a latte at your local barista, you can now watch actual Major League Baseball at Target Field. The Twins announced they're selling a $99 Spring Ballpark Pass that allows standing room admission to every Twins home game in April and May, excluding the opener.

 

Wow. As a consumer, I should be happy at the prospect of such a bargain, but it actually saddened me to read this. I felt like I caught a glimpse of the girl who was prom queen back in high school now hustling drinks from patrons in a bar downtown. You felt sad for her and embarrassed for her and didn't want to make eye contact. The Twins are essentially at the same place, giving it away for free hoping you'll buy a couple of drinks.

 

This is where I want to insert the happy ending. I hope that the weather in April and May is amazing. I hope that Joe Mauer hits .300 again. I hope the Twins sell a ton of walk-up tickets and $99 Spring Ballpark passes and beers and Byron Buxton t-shirts. I'm pulling for the prom queen.

[ashbury]

They're not selling the best seats in the house under this plan, so I don't find the sadness in it. They are fiddling around at the margins, looking for ways to move the needle a little. As you imply, a significant part of the revenue comes from concession stand sales (food, jerseys, etc) and the thinking is no doubt that $3.33 won't be the last penny that comes from each visit - they just want to keep the turnstiles turning.

[zenser]

I thought I read that they were SRO tickets which wouldn't be that bad of a deal.

[nicksaviking]

Sounds like every game might look like they're playing through a rainstorm. The seats will be empty and everyone will be milling around the concourse.

[Willihammer]

Yeah how anal are the usher about letting you grab a seat when the entire section is empty. Anyone know? I haven't bough an SRO ticket since 2010.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm not sure this is all that good of a deal.  Limiting it to April and May and excluding the opener just doesn't give the buyer a whole lot of value, unless you accept the Twins inflated weekend prices at face value.  Just eyeballing, but a fair number of weekday games are already $6.  The secondary market will probably produce tickets at that level for just about every game too, with the possible exception of the Red Sox series.

 

To make this a good deal, I think you would have to cover the whole season.  Twins had a general admission season ticket for the Metrodome for $200 as recently as 2006.  Maybe a $300 standing room ticket for Target Field?  Although if it meant ushers being more strict about preventing seat upgrades, I certainly would not be in favor.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Yeah how anal are the usher about letting you grab a seat when the entire section is empty. Anyone know? I haven't bough an SRO ticket since 2010.

In my experience, you can always find a seat somewhere, although the lower level ushers will generally check your tickets.  I tend to sit somewhere cheap and move down later in the game.

[Willihammer]

 

I'm not sure this is all that good of a deal.  Limiting it to April and May and excluding the opener just doesn't give the buyer a whole lot of value, unless you accept the Twins inflated weekend prices at face value.  Just eyeballing, but a fair number of weekday games are already $6.  The secondary market will probably produce tickets at that level for just about every game too, with the possible exception of the Red Sox series.

 

To make this a good deal, I think you would have to cover the whole season.  Twins had a general admission season ticket for the Metrodome for $200 as recently as 2006.  Maybe a $300 standing room ticket for Target Field?  Although if it meant ushers being more strict about preventing seat upgrades, I certainly would not be in favor.

Yeah by my math you would need to go to 17+ games to make it worthwhile, and that's assuming the ushers play ball. There's no way I'm going to that many games in two months.

[Respy]

 

I'm not sure this is all that good of a deal.  Limiting it to April and May and excluding the opener just doesn't give the buyer a whole lot of value, unless you accept the Twins inflated weekend prices at face value.  Just eyeballing, but a fair number of weekday games are already $6.  The secondary market will probably produce tickets at that level for just about every game too, with the possible exception of the Red Sox series.

 

To make this a good deal, I think you would have to cover the whole season.  Twins had a general admission season ticket for the Metrodome for $200 as recently as 2006.  Maybe a $300 standing room ticket for Target Field?  Although if it meant ushers being more strict about preventing seat upgrades, I certainly would not be in favor.

 

Regarding your second comment, the Twins were selling standing-room-only tickets during their second season (2011) when the attendance numbers began to drop a bit.  This stuck around for a few years (though the tickets weren't advertised) and they eventually dropped the sale of those.  I found this out because I took my infant to a game in 2013 and bought regular tickets, and he wouldn't be quiet for more than 5 minutes at a time.  Customer service recommended that we buy standing-room tickets next time.  Come 2015, when we brought our next infant, we walked up to the gate expecting to buy standing-room tickets, and they didn't sell those anymore.  Bought seats in the nosebleeds and still only spent about 30 total minutes in our seats.

 

Overall, I agree with others that this is a good idea, if nothing else to boost attendance numbers and vending sales following a horrendous season.  If the Twins find themselves in playoff contention half way through the season, then they might be back to normal ticket sales and probably prefer not to sell the standing-room tickets at that point.

[woolywoolhouse]

 

Yeah how anal are the usher about letting you grab a seat when the entire section is empty. Anyone know? I haven't bough an SRO ticket since 2010.

I had one usher up in the right field grandstand check our tickets, and would not let us sit there. We had tickets for much more expensive seats, but my 4-year-old son likes to wander, and likes ice cream, and wanted to sit to eat his Dippin' Dots. The usher made us move out of his section.

 

But that is only one bad experience. Most every other game, we've sat EVERYWHERE (outside of obviously-restricted seats, like directly behind home or Budweiser Roof Deck or the Club Seats) with no problems.

[Mr. Brooks]

Regarding your second comment, the Twins were selling standing-room-only tickets during their second season (2011) when the attendance numbers began to drop a bit. This stuck around for a few years (though the tickets weren't advertised) and they eventually dropped the sale of those. I found this out because I took my infant to a game in 2013 and bought regular tickets, and he wouldn't be quiet for more than 5 minutes at a time. Customer service recommended that we buy standing-room tickets next time. Come 2015, when we brought our next infant, we walked up to the gate expecting to buy standing-room tickets, and they didn't sell those anymore. Bought seats in the nosebleeds and still only spent about 30 total minutes in our seats.

 

Overall, I agree with others that this is a good idea, if nothing else to boost attendance numbers and vending sales following a horrendous season. If the Twins find themselves in playoff contention half way through the season, then they might be back to normal ticket sales and probably prefer not to sell the standing-room tickets at that point.

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what is the point of bringing an infant to a mlb game? They are not going to have any memory of it.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what is the point of bringing an infant to a mlb game? They are not going to have any memory of it.

Speaking personally, I didn't have much of a choice if I wanted to go.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Sorry, I hate to be that guy, but what is the point of bringing an infant to a mlb game? They are not going to have any memory of it.

 

Uh, cheaper than a sitter? Can't find a sitter? Is that like a real question?

[SheboyganBrats]

My understanding, if I heard the advertisement right, is the only way these tickets can be purchased is off the app.  I'm not sure which app they're talking about, but it means I'd have to buy a smartphone first.  Not a good deal for a guy like me, still living in a cave, wearing bearskins.

[Mr. Brooks]

Uh, cheaper than a sitter? Can't find a sitter? Is that like a real question?

Yeah it's a real question. Just doesn't sound enjoyable to anyone involved- the infant, the parent trying to care for an infant at a baseball game, or the fans in close proximity.

I was genuinely curious, as it never even occurred to me to bring either of my kids to a pro sporting event when they were infants.

I'm not trying to rip anyone, it's a free country, I was mostly curious of the motivation.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yeah it's a real question. Just doesn't sound enjoyable to anyone involved- the infant, the parent trying to care for an infant at a baseball game, or the fans in close proximity.
I was genuinely curious, as it never even occurred to me to bring either of my kids to a pro sporting event when they were infants.
I'm not trying to rip anyone, it's a free country, I was mostly curious of the motivation.

 

Fair. I'd think infant would be better than 2-4 year old. But I'm 15-20 years removed from those years....

[Rosterman]

The assumption is that they get $99 from you. How many games you go is up to you. If you want a seat, certain games DON'T have an usher at the entrance to every upper level, and unless they really become anal and you don't look like you belong, you should be able to sit...unless the Twins come out of the gate without a loss for two weeks or more.

 

I'm not sure how this goes into the books when figuring out the cost going back to MLB and the visiting team, but you do want bodies there for the sake of concessions. That's a given. Concessions take a hit with season ticket no-shows,

 

But still not sure how the Twins will deal with less butts in the seats in this 2017 season...unless, of course, they make baseball exciting and if they can find a brand player. Not sure if Dozier is the guy, yet, still. Mauer sure ain't anymore. 

 

Still waiting for that Twins commercial that I'm in in which Bung-Ho Park hits a homer. That was a bad advertising investment by the Twins!

[Mike Sixel]

Attendance is largely driven by the previous year's record. The team is going to be hurting this year.

[Mr. Brooks]

Fair. I'd think infant would be better than 2-4 year old. But I'm 15-20 years removed from those years....

You might be right, but on the flip side is that at least the 3 year old might enjoy baseball and have a lasting memory of the experience.

[ashbury]

Turns out there was a TD article in the works. Continue the discussion here.