Angels the 13th-cheapest Spring Training tix in MLB; avg. $60.01

[Stradling]

Are people really surprised at the cost of a hot dog or a "fountain drink" at a stadium?  Here's a news-flash, stuff is expensive at stadiums, movie theaters and amusement parks.  

[Blarg]

11 hours ago, disarcina said:

This is exactly why I am not heading to Arizona/ Scottsdale/ Tempe this March -- I have headed to the Valley of the Sun every year for about the past 20, missing only one year during that time -- but now MLB and the greedy team owners are on track to kill the golden goose.........the prices and costs have simply gotten out of hand. Spring Training used to be a laid back, relatively low attendance, low cost affair -- it's anything but now -- the popular teams - and the highest attendance the past decade plus has been the Cubs and Giants who usually sell out all games ---will remain so even at the higher prices -- the other teams, including the Angels, White Sox, Brewers etc. will have weaker attendance numbers and at these new higher prices it will be very noticeable in mid-week games.  I think it's real unfortunate it's come to this,  Our annual Spring Training group is skipping the trip this year and we are seriously looking at attending a week of Arizona Fall League games this October/ November instead.  The price for season tickets to all AFL games on a first come first served basis is less than $100.

I'm a big fan of the AFL and getting in two games a day at about $8 a ticket. Other than the all star game the venues are general admission and sit wherever you want. The most crowded area is directly behind home plate where the scouts hang out. After that it's pretty wide open. 

Best venues are Talking Stick, Surprise and the new Cubs stadium in Mesa if they make it part of the rotation. I usually hang out in Scottsdale because there is always a game at either Talking Stick up Scottsdale highway or downtown Scottsdale that is the perfect before and after game location. 

Surprise is way the hell out Northwest of Phoenix and there really isn't a direct highway route so you have to plan way in advance. The Glendale stadium can be slow getting to as well during rush hour night games. 

 

[Blarg]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

Are people really surprised at the cost of a hot dog or a "fountain drink" at a stadium?  Here's a news-flash, stuff is expensive at stadiums, movie theaters and amusement parks.  

With the crowds that are showing up they have to employ a lot more people in service areas and basic janitorial supplies along with parking and security. I think it has become more of a cover costs rate hike more than cash grab. Back 10 years ago Diablo never sold out and the stadium was half empty. There wasn't any parking issues or walk up ticket purchasing from the one window open. 

[Chuck]

14 hours ago, Dollar Bill said:

I saw that press release too, Chuck. Not sure where they're getting the numbers - maybe the secondary market (Cubs and Giants fans) - but $60 is way above average for face value.

 

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ticketing/pricing.jsp?c_id=ana&layout=gameflow&view=spring

Damn, I've been fooled by fake news again.

[Jay]

14 hours ago, Dollar Bill said:

I saw that press release too, Chuck. Not sure where they're getting the numbers - maybe the secondary market (Cubs and Giants fans) - but $60 is way above average for face value.

 

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ticketing/pricing.jsp?c_id=ana&layout=gameflow&view=spring

That's more like it...

[disarcina]

BLARG -- thanks for the info on AFL -- sounds like fun.  Having been to and around the Phoenix area I know the location of various ballparks fairly well, I've seen games at all the parks with the exception of the Cubs newer park in Mesa (tickets way too expensive -- perhaps I can attend an AFL game there to see inside the place) and I have been to that park (on a non-game day) and saw the park from the team shop there (which had the most expensive MLB apparel and other stuff of all the parks -- they're really trying to recoup their investment there -- and it looks like a great ballpark with a lot of shade (contrast the Cubs park with the White Sox/ Dodgers park - Camelback Park - which has to be one of the worst, if not the worst ST venue -- you know, I could understand if it's the A's old park (the old Phoenix Muni Stadium, once home to the PCL Phoenix Firebirds) or even the A's 'new' park (the Cubs' old digs in Mesa -- I have not been there since it's been 'upgraded' - not sure what's been done to it -- for the A's. Attended Cubs' games there in the past).

The thing about ST - and it was very noticeable last year -- it's not just the ticket prices. The entire Valley is treating March as their "Holiday/ Christmas" like season trying to make all their money (or the bulk of it) in one month.  The prices on EVERYTHING are jacked up. Don't even get me started on rental cars. It's ridiculous.

Makes more sense these days to take a week off work, go some place nice with a convenient sports bar watch some ST games and a lot of March Madness and avoid the crowds and expense of Arizona.  For me, this year it's Sacramento, going to take in (what used to be, not sure what rounds they're calling it these days) Rounds 1 & 2 of the NCAAs at the new downtown arena which I have not seen yet.  Imagine that, NCAA tourney tickets are a better price/ deal than those for an ST baseball game. It makes no sense.

Sounds like AFL is the way to go. Thanks, BLARG.

[disarcina]

to add to the thought above - the old Mesa park or Phoenix Muni are 'old' parks -- so you expect them to have some issues -- but Camelback -- that's relatively newly built and yet it has less shade seats than any venue in the Phoenix area (memo to architect / team owners -- it gets hot in Arizona on game days !) and then home plate is situated so that the batter and most of the fans are staring directly into the sun??   They must have gotten the site guy who chose Candlestick Point in SF as a great place for a ballpark as the consultant on site selection and then doubled down with an architect who owns a sunglasses factory.

[Blarg]

One tip,  if you are looking to pick up an AFL shirt they are usually sold out after the first two weeks of the season. Team hats are kind of cheesy and I pass on those. So far no big commercialism going on so do it while it is still kind of unknown. 

Another thing is the snack bars are minimalistic, basic hot dogs and beer. 

[disarcina]

minimalistic works for me..........

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

20 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

What are lawn seats these days?

$15.00

[Chuck]

Response from the author of this content:

I read through the comments and wanted to clarify that these numbers are based on the inventory of tickets currently available on the secondary market. These are also the all-in secondary market ticket prices, as TickPick does not charge service fees. Prices listed on the Angels website are going to be higher than they list for after fees. While that base ticket price on the Angels website is static and won't change, the average listing price on the secondary market will fluctuate based on supply and demand, and in certain cases prices will drop below face value as the event nears. From a supply side, the secondary market will have better seating options than primary, which can help explain the higher average price as well.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

On 2/23/2017 at 8:17 AM, Glen said:

Even if I had the vacation time available, this is why I wouldn't be going to ST this year, or perhaps even ever again.  It's just too damn expensive for a spring training game and it's only gonna get more expensive.  It's ridiculous.

Especially early on, you are largely watching guys who will never appear in a major league game.

[Chuck]

59 minutes ago, hangin n wangin said:

He read some very insightful comments.

lol. Yep! 

If you're going to release content, you have to be prepared for criticism and hope for some praise. 

[Ohtaniland]

F'n Arte...