Secondary market prices for tonight’s MLB Home Run Derby and tomorrow’s All-Star Game in Minneapolis are the lowest since the ’11 event in Phoenix. According to N.Y.-based ticket aggregator TiqIQ, average listing prices for the Home Run Derby at Target Field are $324.83, down 14% from comparable figures last year and the lowest since a $216.14 average for the same event three years ago at Chase Field. Average listing prices for tomorrow’s All-Star Game are $537.42, down 39% from a year ago and also the lowest since ’11. While market size can account for the difference between this year and last, when the festivities were held at Citi Field, the Target Field numbers also trail those seen at Kauffman Stadium in K.C. two years ago.
THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT....: Yesterday’s MLB Futures Game, featuring minor-league all-stars, and Celebrity Softball Game at Target Field drew an announced, paid attendance of 39,553. The total is slightly more than the announced crowd of 39,175 for All-Star Sunday in N.Y. last year, and this year’s total featured far fewer no-shows. The Futures Game historically has been the weakest draw of the All-Star Game events, but it saw marked growth beginning three years ago in Phoenix. Unlike last year’s Futures Game at Citi Field, where roughly half of the seats remained empty, Target Field yesterday was more than two-thirds full. The host club Twins had three of their prospects in yesterday’s game.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A RUN: The MLB Color Run All-Star 5K at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds yesterday drew more than 28,000 participants, slightly above pre-race expectations and by far the largest crowd in the five-year history of ASG 5K participatory runs. Unlike prior timed races, this was an untimed event in which participants were doused with colored powder at various intervals in the race. The three-year-old Color Run has quickly grown into one of the largest participatory running outfits in the world, and yesterday’s run ranked as one of its most successful North American events in its short history. Participants in the run itself included T-Mobile President & CEO John Legere and comedian Rob Riggle. “This was an amazing event. The weather was absolutely perfect and everybody was really happy,” said Color Run co-Founder & CEO Travis Snyder. “We’ve set a high standard for ourselves, and the execution against this was really strong. This is one of those partnerships where it’s truly a win-win.” Negotiations between the Color Run and MLB are already underway regarding a potential repeat effort during next year’s All-Star Game events in Cincinnati. Yesterday’s run benefited several designated charities, including Stand Up 2 Cancer and Susan G. Komen For The Cure.
