Jacked Up Ticket Prices

[tmwiese55]

I think the main thing to note from the complaints in this thread is there is no reason to buy tickets 3-4 months in advance.   Loge outfield for 3 days from now vs NY is $51.

Meanwhile, the Brewers just emailed offers for $5 tickets to games next week vs a perennial AL playoff team, ridiculous price gouging!!!

ETA: I went to the Seattle Sat game which had the Giannis jersey giveaway, which will likely be the most in demand giveaway of the year. MY friends got loge outfield for about $40 a few days before the game, I got like 20th row behind the dugout for like $70 a few hours before

[TURBO]

56 minutes ago, bigred said:

Agreed. Until maybe 3-4 years ago, I went to around 6-7 Brewer games a year, and 3-4 T-Rat games. I've only been to 1 Brewer game, and 3 T-Rat games since. Mainly because of the cost of going. Not in Appleton so much, but even they're starting to jack up the prices now. 

Yup, the T-Rats used to pride themselves on affordable family fun, but that just isn't the case anymore. 

If you buy the bleacher seats for a family of four,  pay for parking and get food and snacks for everyone ($10 each for food, but that is conservative), you are looking at a minimum of $105.  That doesn't include letting the kids do the kids stuff like the big new slide and blow up slides, etc.  Also wouldn't include any type of souvenirs.   

WAY cheaper than a Brewers game, but still, when you are talking over $100 (more like $125) to go to a game, a lot of families won't be doing that 5 or 6 times a summer.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

17 hours ago, SeaBass said:

So if fans want a bobblehead they pay a $20 to $30 premium? Honestly that seems like a fair deal. How much do bobbleheads typically go for on ebay? If it's more reasonable than $30 just buy them there and go to a game where the tickets are cheaper. If they're selling for more than $30 (which I suspect they do) the fan is getting good value.

That's exactly what I've started doing. As I said I just don't go anymore, but for now, I've still been buying the bobbles. The prices on them also completely collapse in the offseason. The Doyle one may lean toward the exception there, but the standard ones end up going for $5 within 2 years.

I can afford going to games, but do feel like the value prop has diminished. Lots of reasons why, but I think AmFam is lackluster on food, I'm probably getting old and grump about crowds and traffic, and to be honest the sustained success has just made me spoiled. I don't feel like I need to go anymore.

[liveforoctober]

With all due respect, what on earth are we talking about? If parking is too much, find a cheaper alternative. If tickets are too much, find a cheaper alternative. If food is too much, find a cheaper alternative. How are we this unresourceful?

When I go to games I park at Saz's and take their shuttle which costs you one drink ($5) and you get into and out of the game so much faster than the main parking lot. Eat before the game. Buy your ticket the day of from someone on Ticketmaster who can no longer go.

I haven't paid more than $25 in total to attend a Brewers game in years.

If you want to be sad you can't have a full game day experience of parking at the stadium, sitting in a premium seat, everyone getting a full meal, etc without paying a premium .... then fine. But if you "can't take a family of 4 to a game anymore for less than $300..." unfortunately you are just not great at playing the game. Sorry if that offends.

[rickh150]

41 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

I think the main thing to note from the complaints in this thread is there is no reason to buy tickets 3-4 months in advance.   Loge outfield for 3 days from now vs NY is $51.

Meanwhile, the Brewers just emailed offers for $5 tickets to games next week vs a perennial AL playoff team, ridiculous price gouging!!!

ETA: I went to the Seattle Sat game which had the Giannis jersey giveaway, which will likely be the most in demand giveaway of the year. MY friends got loge outfield for about $40 a few days before the game, I got like 20th row behind the dugout for like $70

Well..... you are twisting this a bit.  It used to be that demand drove ticket prices much more.  Yes, weekend games, Cubs, etc. were more.  And rightly so.  However, the difference is that some games are being moved up in price that do not have much demand.  Some Thursday games or Friday games are being yanked up since the offer is half price seats (First Fridayday and Kids/Senior Days).    They used to never do that.  It's hardly a deal now.  

Also, the Flash deals were mentioned before too... if the attendance is low, and it must be for early week April games against Tampa, the prices are slashed.   Now applauding goes to the Brewers for that, but maybe it is because the price point was too high in the first place.  

If you want to go deeper with this, take a look at Group Tickets.  No longer is there tiers for group dates (well, two groupings, I guess).  It is basically a flat 20% off rate for certain dates and the others you are paying premium prices.  I used to do a group or two every year.  Some seats in the Loge were $10-$15 on certain days without many fans (Super Saver).  Now, the 20% off just isn't worth it to organize and risk getting rid of them or simply getting paid.  Regardless of your view of this, the price is very DIFFERENT.  It's different with the website pricing, and it is different with the group tickets too.  That is fact.

And yes, many fans are learning that it doesn't pay to buy jacked up tickets in advance.  They are going less and scoffing at the prices being asked.   Throwing these flash deals will drive that point home to fans.  Just wait for the deal (or simply watch on tv).

[tmwiese55]

But if you're talking 3-4 months out you can't say it doesn't have demand yet.  If enough people are clicking and looking to buy this far out, to them that means it is in demand. And as it gets closer if that doesn't hold true or data changes then it would come down.  Its essentially how its supposed to work.

There's deals galore out there. Because someone refuses to use the deals because they want or demand something else instead, well that means there is a value on what their demanding.  In this case, wanting the comfort/knowledge or early choosing of where to sit by having your ticket 3-4 months in advance seems to have value to folks (since they're looking to do it). Well, to do that it is logical there is a premium on that or to charge more for people who value that, if not enough do then the price will come down.    Or many here pointed out how cheap the OF seats, non peak Sat/Sun games are and the response is well I don't want those I want better, well yea that means there is demand for those and makes sense as to why its more money.   

Essentially, tickets are ridiculous I want something affordable!! 

Response: OK here is $5 tickets vs a 95 win team. Here are $10-15 tickets to be in OF or upper deck for like any game.  Response: Well, not that.  

IDK, I get its all frustrating to have to pay for things but I just don't understand what people expect for Major League Baseball. 

[rickh150]

2 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

With all due respect, what on earth are we talking about? If parking is too much, find a cheaper alternative. If tickets are too much, find a cheaper alternative. If food is too much, find a cheaper alternative. How are we this unresourceful?

When I go to games I park at Saz's and take their shuttle which costs you one drink ($5) and you get into and out of the game so much faster than the main parking lot. Eat before the game. Buy your ticket the day of from someone on Ticketmaster who can no longer go.

I haven't paid more than $25 in total to attend a Brewers game in years.

If you want to be sad you can't have a full game day experience of parking at the stadium, sitting in a premium seat, everyone getting a full meal, etc without paying a premium .... then fine. But if you "can't take a family of 4 to a game anymore for less than $300..." unfortunately you are just not great at playing the game. Sorry if that offends.

The majority of fans still purchase through the website or box office.  The way that the Brewers are pricing tickets has changed.. and it is more than just slightly.  That is what I am talking about.  And the need for this to happen doesn't make sense to me.  If you really want people to continue habits of coming to a set number of games, and buying in advance (the Brewers want this you gotta believe), then ramping up prices on games that are not in demand does not make sense.  I will be going less like many others.  Our attendance numbers are not anywhere close to what they used to be (08-11) because of it.  Opening Day used to be an automatic sell out too.  Not anymore.  So many empties and people not willing to pay the price.  

And that is the heart of the matter.... squeeze every last dime out of the consumer to maximize profits or scale back a bit on everyday ticket prices to get more fans in the seats.  Right now, it is squeeze every last dime out.  And when attendance is so low, so late, then throw a flash deal out there to get more bodies in the seats.

And yes, we all could buy Uecker seats or Terrace Seats and sit in the Loge down the line for games.  We could all buy from StubHub/SeatGeek within an hour of the game, and we could eat at McDonald's or tailgate.  There is no argument of what fans COULD do.  The question is SHOULD we have to go to those lengths for it to be affordable or manageable.  It's obviously up the Brewers, but it just doesn't make much cents to me. 

[rickh150]

3 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

But if you're talking 3-4 months out you can't say it doesn't have demand yet.  If enough people are clicking and looking to buy this far out, to them that means it is in demand. And as it gets closer if that doesn't hold true or data changes then it would come down.  Its essentially how its supposed to work.

There's deals galore out there. Because someone refuses to use the deals because they want or demand something else instead, well that means there is a value on what their demanding.  In this case, wanting the comfort/knowledge or early choosing of where to sit by having your ticket 3-4 months in advance seems to have value to folks (since they're looking to do it). Well, to do that it is logical there is a premium on that or to charge more for people who value that, if not enough do then the price will come down.    Or many here pointed out how cheap the OF seats, non peak Sat/Sun games are and the response is well I don't want those I want better, well yea that means there is demand for those and makes sense as to why its more money.   

Essentially, tickets are ridiculous I want something affordable!! 

Response: OK here is $5 tickets vs a 95 win team. Here are $10-15 tickets to be in OF or upper deck for like any game.  Response: Well, not that.  

IDK, I get its all frustrating to have to pay for things but I just don't understand what people expect for Major League Baseball. 

Website prices do not go up and down.  This isn't StubHub.  If they went up and down, I wouldn't be typing.

[tmwiese55]

I also generally agree with Snappers above that the gameday environment has gotten a bit stale.   For a supposed eating state like WI the food is not great. We're supposed to be famous for Brats but miller park does a terrible job at it, whereas other stadiums highlight their local foods well.   The poor offense the last chunk of years has made games boring.    And as he said, the novelty has worn off since they've been for 15 years now. 

Imo all those things has led to the cost being better imo than it was say in the 2011/12 glory days, or even the 2018 great team.  I've been a regular since 2010ish and past 20 game holder. To me, the just buying a ticket a day or two before the last few years has had me thinking things are way more affordable now than back then.  I sat 2nd row behind home plate for $27 last year. The Sept game where Canha hit that late GW homer last year I was 2nd row road dugout for like $60. So to me this complaint came as a surprise.

The one thing that has stood out as different is parking pricing. They've jacked the F out of that. 

[Vgmastr]

6 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Website prices do not go up and down.  This isn't StubHub.  If they went up and down, I wouldn't be typing.

Yes they do.  I bought a pair of Field Outfield Box tickets to the 5/30 game against the Cubs for $48 when tickets went on sale in February.  Actually, only my ticket was $48, I'm bringing my dad who gets the half price senior discount for weekday games, so his ticket was $24.  Those same seats are now listed for $71 on the Brewers website.

[tmwiese55]

19 minutes ago, Vgmastr said:

Yes they do.  I bought a pair of Field Outfield Box tickets to the 5/30 game against the Cubs for $48 when tickets went on sale in February.  Actually, only my ticket was $48, I'm bringing my dad who gets the half price senior discount for weekday games, so his ticket was $24.  Those same seats are now listed for $71 on the Brewers website.

Yea I thought that's what this whole thread started about involving the market based pricing or whatever they call it.

And regardless, well just use stubhub then if its lower there.  I'd say post covid I'm 50% on buying from team or stubhub based on wherever I get the better deal for what I want.   In addition, the stubhub app and UI is drastically better than MLBs

[liveforoctober]

53 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

The majority of fans still purchase through the website or box office.  The way that the Brewers are pricing tickets has changed.. and it is more than just slightly.  That is what I am talking about.  And the need for this to happen doesn't make sense to me.  If you really want people to continue habits of coming to a set number of games, and buying in advance (the Brewers want this you gotta believe), then ramping up prices on games that are not in demand does not make sense.  I will be going less like many others.  Our attendance numbers are not anywhere close to what they used to be (08-11) because of it.  Opening Day used to be an automatic sell out too.  Not anymore.  So many empties and people not willing to pay the price.  

And that is the heart of the matter.... squeeze every last dime out of the consumer to maximize profits or scale back a bit on everyday ticket prices to get more fans in the seats.  Right now, it is squeeze every last dime out.  And when attendance is so low, so late, then throw a flash deal out there to get more bodies in the seats.

And yes, we all could buy Uecker seats or Terrace Seats and sit in the Loge down the line for games.  We could all buy from StubHub/SeatGeek within an hour of the game, and we could eat at McDonald's or tailgate.  There is no argument of what fans COULD do.  The question is SHOULD we have to go to those lengths for it to be affordable or manageable.  It's obviously up the Brewers, but it just doesn't make much cents to me. 

So in your opinion if alternate ticketing sites like Ticketmaster/Stubhub/SeatGeak eat away at 10-20% of your ticket sales because fans are buying from others rather than buying from you .... the Brewers shouldn't adjust how they operate and instead just eat those losses and take the bottom line hit because fans deserve it.

[MrTPlush]

The reaction to the $5 deal was exactly as you’d expect, just a big complaint fest. They also whined about the free Kwik Trip ticket dates. People just ain’t happy no matter what they do. 
 

Pretty much have to run a $5 ticket deal for diamond platinum seats on a weekend game. Might have to throw in free parking or they will say the ticket price doesn’t matter if parking it $30+.

[rickh150]

4 hours ago, Vgmastr said:

Yes they do.  I bought a pair of Field Outfield Box tickets to the 5/30 game against the Cubs for $48 when tickets went on sale in February.  Actually, only my ticket was $48, I'm bringing my dad who gets the half price senior discount for weekday games, so his ticket was $24.  Those same seats are now listed for $71 on the Brewers website.

I meant the prices just go up. If they went up and down, I would have no complaint.

[rickh150]

3 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

So in your opinion if alternate ticketing sites like Ticketmaster/Stubhub/SeatGeak eat away at 10-20% of your ticket sales because fans are buying from others rather than buying from you .... the Brewers shouldn't adjust how they operate and instead just eat those losses and take the bottom line hit because fans deserve it.

Brewers may do whatever they like…me too and you.

For not in demand games where you can expect the stadium half full, I do not see the wisdom of trying to jump up prices even higher…and that is what happened a few weeks ago. And so many great sections have open seats….specifically 216 thru 220. Priced way higher. So empty.

Also, I expect the Brewers place seats on StubHub too…. Back rows type seats in several similar sections priced within a few bucks of each other. Can’t imagine season ticket holders there.

[rickh150]

36 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

The reaction to the $5 deal was exactly as you’d expect, just a big complaint fest. They also whined about the free Kwik Trip ticket dates. People just ain’t happy no matter what they do. 
 

Pretty much have to run a $5 ticket deal for diamond platinum seats on a weekend game. Might have to throw in free parking or they will say the ticket price doesn’t matter if parking it $30+.

Not true…..at least not me or most here.  Way to take it to the extreme.

I have highlighted differences in how the Brewers have managed ticket prices THIS YEAR.  Website price hikes in early spring for bleh games on weekdays and nights when demand is not high (just look at each section of seats and see how empty park is)….also how group ticket deal specials were cut significantly.  

This is different than the way they have done tickets before, and it is affecting the way I buy tickets. Going less like others have mentioned. ….and ultimately sitting elsewhere while the better former seats have fewer people sitting there.

 

[MrTPlush]

15 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Not true…..at least not me or most here.  Way to take it to the extreme.

I have highlighted differences in how the Brewers have managed ticket prices THIS YEAR.  Website price hikes in early spring for bleh games on weekdays and nights when demand is not high (just look at each section of seats and see how empty park is)….also how group ticket deal specials were cut significantly.  

This is different than the way they have done tickets before, and it is affecting the way I buy tickets. Going less like others have mentioned. ….and ultimately sitting elsewhere while the better former seats have fewer people sitting there.

 

Yah, I thought the intentional ‘extreme’ to that was obvious. 
 

It doesn’t change the fact there are plenty of ways to go to a Brewers game dirt cheap…just as cheap as it really ever has been. Weekdays, weekends, holidays…there are 81 games. There are probably 5x as many games that work with your schedule and budget than you would go to anyway.

It’s a different way to sell tickets, sure, but is what it is. People will adjust and a few will throw up their hands and refuse to go. Just like when paper tickets went away etc.

[Outlander]

This doesn't really relate to jacked up prices but does anybody know if they still offer Uecker seats, can't find anything on ther official site? Would like to know what gate to go to and when they start selling them. Was going to go Saturday night when they are giving away the Tumbler.

[rickh150]

On 4/24/2024 at 9:34 AM, Outlander said:

This doesn't really relate to jacked up prices but does anybody know if they still offer Uecker seats, can't find anything on ther official site? Would like to know what gate to go to and when they start selling them. Was going to go Saturday night when they are giving away the Tumbler.

https://www.mlb.com/brewers/ballpark/information/guide#u-content

$5 now

Window 7

Cash only (almost unbelievably in a cashless stadium….ha!)

Enjoy!

[Guest]

Y'all go grocery shopping or pay H.O. insurance or have a collectible/hobby? Let's be real here and stop comparing prices to what they were 5-10 years ago. EVERYTHING has nearly doubled in price post pandemic.

The Brewers are one of the best - if not THE best - for providing valuable options for families attending games throughout the year.

I'm going tomorrow with my kids and wife ~ 4 tickets / 4 jr hot dogs / 4 jr sodas and parking for under $100 (cheap seats but it's fine since kids are younger) Brewers are also offering $5 tickets for the Rays series.... The Sunday family deal runs throughout the season too: https://www.mlb.com/brewers/tickets/specials/sunday-fun-day

Complaining about not being able to get cheap tickets for a specific section on games months in advance... comes off Karen'ish honestly... what's that expression about wanting the cake and eating it too?

[TURBO]

Call it what you want...

I went to two BOBBLEHEAD games last year, sat in section 215 and 217 and paid $50 per seat.  This season, one year later, those same seats are $82 for the games I wanted to go to.

That is just too big of an increase from one season to the next.

Someone above mentioned that the bobbles would be worth $30+.   A few years ago they had value, but Brewers bobblehead after market prices have taken a dive the past couple of years.  You can get most for $10 or less these days.  That is what I'll be doing, why pay $82 to get a bobble when in a month, I can get it for $10?  This year's Frelick will be $10 in a couple weeks after release, and the Uecker probably in the $20 range.

Again, I don't really care what the Brewers prices are in comparison to other teams.  Brewers games are my reality, and to me, the cost is prohibiting me from attending games like I used to.

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Call it what you want...

I went to two BOBBLEHEAD games last year, sat in section 215 and 217 and paid $50 per seat.  This season, one year later, those same seats are $82 for the games I wanted to go to.

That is just too big of an increase from one season to the next.

Someone above mentioned that the bobbles would be worth $30+.   A few years ago they had value, but Brewers bobblehead after market prices have taken a dive the past couple of years.  You can get most for $10 or less these days.  That is what I'll be doing, why pay $82 to get a bobble when in a month, I can get it for $10?  This year's Frelick will be $10 in a couple weeks after release, and the Uecker probably in the $20 range.

Again, I don't really care what the Brewers prices are in comparison to other teams.  Brewers games are my reality, and to me, the cost is prohibiting me from attending games like I used to.

Again, what hasn't gone up in price significantly in recent years?

Concert prices are up 300%-500% over past few years.... expecting the Brewers to maintain their prices when you can't even buy a loaf of bread without paying 2x what it cost 5 years ago is ridiculous. Brewers bumping ticket prices by 50-60% (in your example) is pretty minimal when you take a step back and look at how much prices have gone up on any event that generates attendance.

Not sure what boobleheads have to do with any of this.

[TURBO]

41 minutes ago, EddieTheCousin said:

 

Not sure what boobleheads have to do with any of this.

They shouldn't have anything to do with the cost increase in specific games, but it appears they do make the prices go up in the new era of fluctuating ticket prices.

Bobbles used to be promotions to get butts in seats.  Now it appears they jack the prices up when they give away bobbles as promotions.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, TURBO said:

They shouldn't have anything to do with the cost increase in specific games, but it appears they do make the prices go up in the new era of fluctuating ticket prices.

Bobbles used to be promotions to get butts in seats.  Now it appears they jack the prices up when they give away bobbles as promotions.

Haven't bobblehead games always been Sunday games and more expensive anyhow though?

Not trying to troll or argue but I'm struggling to follow the logic behind the complaints in this thread.... compared to every other form of entertainment I personally spend money on, I feel like brewer games have stayed the most affordable out of everything over the past 5-10 years.... and it's not even close.

[TURBO]

8 minutes ago, EddieTheCousin said:

Haven't bobblehead games always been Sunday games and more expensive anyhow though?

 

Yes, they used to be Sunday games, and NO, they were not more expensive.  That has never been the case until this season.