New York Yankees Single Game Tickets, Prices Shock Waiting Fans

by Tina Kells | March 24, 2009 at 09:58 am

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When New York Yankees single game tickets went on sale March 24, 2009 fans expected the Ticketmaster and Yankees.com sites to be busy but they didn't expect to be gouged by their team.

In this depression era-like time of global economic crisis the New York Yankees saw fit to offer the "Best Available" seats at a whopping $2,684.70 each. This means that four seats to a single Yankees game in the 2009 season could set you back $10,738.80.

The median family income in the United States for the last census year (2004) was $43,389. Translation: for an average family of four to attend a single game in the "Best Available" seats it would cost nearly a quarter of a year's salary!

The median income divides households in the US evenly in the middle with half of all household earning more than the median income and half of all households earning less than the median household income. In 2004 the median household income in the United States was $43,389.[23] According to the US Census Bureau, the median is "considerably lower than the average, and provides a more accurate representation."

Fans were annoyed by long waits at the website just to find out if tickets were even available for the game of their choice, but they were shocked to learn that ticket prices for good seats were so high. They were further put out by the Yankees ticket selection system that only offered them the option of seeing the "Best Available" seats rather than searching by price range.

Blogs and websites were filled with complaints within hours of ticket sales opening.

As today is the first day for 2009 single game ticket sales at the New Yankee Stadium, I decided to try my luck in the virtual waiting room system by way of Ticketmaster and Yankees.com.

Lady luck is certainly not on my side today, as every time I do succeed in making it past the 10-15 minutes of waiting, there are no seats available in the seating area I chose.

Experience so far:

Waited six minutes to learn there were no two together for Opening Day.

Was told I'd wait 15 to learn whether there were single seats for Opening Day, so gave up.

Currently have been waiting nine minutes to learn whether there is anything for April 17.

Will keep you posted!

(Tickets can be purchased in person at the stadium starting Wednesday morning. Will there be any left for under $350?)

The New York Yankees announced that single game ticket sales would begin March 24, 2009 online but some lucky fans were able to buy tickets on March 23. Fans who had preregistered to buy tickets by March 17, 2009 (St. Patrick's Day no less) were entered into an early bird lottery.

A random lottery was conducted among registered ticket buyers to determine the order of sale. Large demand for tickets prompted the Yankees to opt for this lottery system.

Registered ticket buyers were notified on March 20, 2009 of their position in the lottery and sent a password that would allow them to buy tickets online, on March 23, one day before they went on sale to the general public.

The Yankees announced Saturday that individual-game tickets will go on sale online to the general public on March 24. The online registration process for the general public to apply to purchase individual-game tickets is under way at www.yankees.com and www.yankeesbeisbol.com.

The registration process will be open to fans through March 17 at 10 p.m. ET, the Yankees said. Because of the large demand for individual-game tickets, a random drawing will be held from the registrant pool.

When tickets went on sale to the general public on March 24 most of the affordable good seats were taken, leaving online buyers the option of the above mentioned very expensive seats or "cheap" seats at (cheap being defined as under $350 each).

On March 25, 2009 tickets will be available for purchase the old fashioned way... at the Yankees Stadium box office (if there are any left).

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