Secondary ticket prices the MLB All-Star Game tomorrow night "have begun to drop, but a bit slower than some expected," according to Sydney Murray of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. The median price for the game "was $812 on July 3 and was $723 on July 10." SeatGeek Content Analyst Chris Leyden said that the site "isn't seeing the same price drop it had seen" for last year's ASG at Target Field. The average price on StubHub for tonight's Home Run Derby was $316, and Leyden said that for sections where "fans have a better chance of catching a home run ball, prices are about a minimum of $300." The most expensive ASG seat on SeatGeek was for $4,700 for a seat "behind home plate." The cheapest tickets "have been in the bleachers in the outfield, where the average sale price was $433." Standing-room only tickets "are as low as $328" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 7/12). The AP's Dan Sewell cited TicketCity data as showing that median ticket prices for the ASG have been 30% higher than last year's game in Minnesota, and "nearly $100 higher" than the median price of $449 for the '13 game at Citi Field. TicketCity Marketing & Communications Dir Ashley Kubiszyn "credits Cincinnati's central location and attractive riverside Great American Ball Park, which is hosting the game for the first time." A ticket broker source said that demand "should remain high, because Cincinnati is within easy driving distance for millions of people who could still decide to come on late impulse" (AP, 7/11).
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD: Delaware North Sportservice (DNC) this week is introducing several new food and beverage concepts at GABP for ASG festivities. Among the new elements are a specialty station featuring banh mi sandwiches, bacon-on-a-stick, grilled lobster macaroni and cheese, a build-your-own ice cream bar station and specialty cocktail stations located around the facility’s main concourse. In the latter, each of three different high-end cocktails are encased in custom-carved ice sculptures that will be replaced each day of activities. DNC Exec Chef James Major said, “The basic idea is to bring the type of food and beverage you see up in the suites and clubs down for everybody else to access. Everybody this week is getting the same higher-end stuff.” On the merchandise side, DNC said pre-event sales of ASG merch at GABP tracked ahead of comparable figures last year at Target Field, also serviced by DNC, by 35%. Execs for the concessionaire credited the event logo, which features a 19th century mustached ballplayer. DNC District Manager Don Dierig said, “This logo has really resonated with fans" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
