$2 Tickets For A First Place Team, And A Town Still Learning

As of today before games begin, the Washington Nationals have the best record in baseball.  Not just the NL East, not just in the National League, but in ALL OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. So why are the Nationals begging fans to attend games?

When I got an email from the Orioles (My A-Hole friend signed me up), a team only 1 game out of first place, offering $4 tickets I kind of laughed.  I mean that team hasn't had  meaningful baseball in years and they can't get people to go to September games?

Then it was brought to my attention that these tickets are actually MORE EXPENSIVE than tickets to the first place Nationals.  And I KNOW that the city of DC has NEVER known anything about September baseball.  CAPS!

Thanks to PM Natitude For Bringing to My Attention - Read Their Blog, It's Good & It's Nats!

For fans in DC, each year September is usually the point where the team "gives up", brings up young players, and lets them get a month of Major League experience under their belts.  The team is typically long gone from playoff contention and there isn't much to cheer about.

So why can I get a $2 ticket and 2 for 1 sodas in a September game this year?  Is it because it is Tuesday?  Is it because the Cubs stink?  Is it because the team is TOO FAR ahead in the division?  Or is it that this area just doesn't have as strong a baseball presence as New York, Philly, Boston, or Chicago?

I don't think you are getting $2 seats at Yankee Stadium (worse record than the Nationals).  Or how about last year in Philly.  You think you were getting anywhere near the stadium for 2 bucks?

In fairness to the city, baseball has only been "here" since 2005.  There are 2 teams within an hour of each other and populations theoretically split between 2 teams.  But come on people.  I've seen that stadium filled before.  (although that is more people wanting to brag about "I was there when..." instead of to be there to root on the team)

In the past week during some games against the Cardinals that should have had a playoff feel, Nats Park was relatively dead.  There were a lot more people than in the past but the people were pretty quiet.  They were doing the wave, they were chatting, and they were not doing anything during important 2 strike pitches.  Maybe the Cardinals fans can give Nats fans baseball lessons?

If you are reading this in your office thinking "no we dont, we show up!"  Take a look at the people in the cubes around you.  Will those people be watching the Nats tonight let alone attending a game?  In Philadelphia they would be (watching the Phillies).

People keep saying "Winning Cures All".  But that is not said in a context of time.  As you can see with $2 tickets, winning does not cure all.  However, hopefully for the city and the team, consistent winning will cure all.  Not just cure it, but turn this city into a baseball city. (see Washington Capitals history)

My hope is that in 10 years these $2 ticket promotions are looked back upon by a more distinguished baseball fan base and mocked.  "Can you believe people didn't used to go to important games?"  I'm hoping that 2 strikes in a game before the final batter becomes important.  I'm hoping that the Wave dies in a car fire.  I'm hoping that this city learns.

Opening Day Better Be Good, I Paid A 3,000% Price Increase

Usually, baseball season sneaks up on me.  I'm caught up in college basketball and the NBA and all of a sudden I missed my chance to get Nationals opening day tickets.  Last year was no different.  I wasn't paying attention, I never hit "purchase" when I brought up tickets online, and before I knew it the game was "sold out".  (Sold out for me means that there were no tickets available for $25 or under)

One of the reasons people picked up tickets is because there was an assumption that the president Barrack Obama would be throwing out the first pitch.  I once sold 2 Wizards tickets I had bought $30 for the pair for something like $80 each the last time Obama came to a DC sporting event.  Prez = profit.  This time I feared that my attempt to get secondary market tickets for a decent price would be destroyed.

Then some interesting things happened.  The rumor that the president would be throwing out the first pitch was crushed and the weather forecast started to show a dreary day.  Ticket prices on StubHub began to plummet.  I watched day by day as they got cheaper and cheaper, never pulling the trigger.  The night before the game the tickets were only $4 each...my roommate and I decided to hold out longer.

On the morning of opening day our hold out brought forth financial rewards.  Tickets had hit 75 cents.  Not only did we buy tickets for ourselves, but we bought a few more.  At 75 cents, why not.  We used the other tickets to get to the stadium early, go inside, pick up some free hats before they ran out, then left to go to the bar.  When we got back to the stadium for the game, we had 2 fresh tickets to use to get in.

While this is not the best story about getting a low priced ticket in DC (see this story about paying 30 cents for Wizards tickets) It was opening day for a Major League team and I paid 75 cents.  I will always be proud of this day.

I just spent $25 for opening day tickets for 2012...Stupid?  We will find out...