Thanks to the Cardinals' "'dynamic pricing,' which allows ticket prices to fluctuate with demand, fans are paying double, triple or more for tickets to a ring giveaway game scheduled for July 6," according to Matthew Hathaway of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The club initially planned to "give out World Series replica rings to fans just once this season -- at a home game on April 14, when the real McCoys were presented to Cardinals players, coaches and Hall of Famers." But Cardinals Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Dan Farrell said that after that game, the team's front office "was flooded with requests to buy the promotional items, which are not for sale." Farrell said, "We thought if demand is strong enough, why not do a second night? And there's no doubt demand is strong enough." Close to 45,000 tickets "already have been sold for the game next month" against the Marlins. Every paying fan "gets a replica 2011 World Series ring, and ticket prices have skyrocketed." Yesterday, standing-room tickets "were selling on the Cardinals' website for $49.95." Seats in the outfield loge level "were available for $113.75, five times more than the same seats for a game" against the Rockies on July 5. On StubHub, the "cheapest seat for July 6 was listed at $70.49." The cheapest ticket to the July 5 game "is priced at $8.45." Many who attended the first giveaway game "have sold the items online." They are available on Craigslist and eBay now "for as much as $100, and both sites include presale listings for rings that will be given to ticket-holders at next month's game" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/21).
