MLB ASG Secondary Ticket Prices Down From '08 But Holding Steady

The average secondary ticket selling price for Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium is $694, according to StubHub, the league’s official online ticket reseller. The average price, while predictably down 26% from last year’s game at old Yankee Stadium, has held relatively steady in recent days, defying a typical trend for major sports events in which prices begin to slip as sellers look to unload remaining inventory. “This has really been surprising. It’s definitely a different trend we’re seeing this year,” said StubHub PR Dir Sean Pate. “As best we can tell, fans are coming from longer distances last minute and keeping up that demand.” The average resale price for Monday’s Home Run Derby on StubHub is currently $383. Meanwhile, StubHub will operate a will-call window for All-Star Game orders within the Busch Stadium box office, the first time the company has done that for the event. The company’s landmark deal with MLB Advanced Media was signed shortly after the '07 All-Star Game, and the full integration was not complete in time for last year’s game, leaving StubHub to set up a pick-up window outside old Yankee Stadium. “It’s another step forward for us in this partnership, and allows us to serve customers the way they’re typically accustomed," Pate said (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). StubHub's average sale prices for Tuesday's game range from $250 for a standing-room ticket to $5,700 for a seat behind home plate. RazorGator's average is $679, ranging from $432 to $3,694 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/10).

THAT'S THE TICKET: MLB VP/Business PR Matt Bourne said that no Cardinals season-ticket holder had to "unwillingly give up" his or her seat for the All-Star Game to "make way for a celebrity." Cardinals VP/Ticket Sales Joe Strohm said that the team "filled some of the league's request with seats reserved during the regular season for player families, visiting teams, umpires, scouts and others." The team then "turned to the fans for help, offering season ticket holders in those sections the option to move to another part of the ballpark in return for an extra seat." Strohm did not reveal how many of the Cardinals' "estimated 25,000 season-ticket holders purchased All-Star Game tickets or how many accepted the team's offer to move." Bourne noted that "some temporary seats will be added around the stadium to make up for those lost to media." Suites for Tuesday's game "go to regular-season occupants" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/10).