This article was written by Fire Brand’s ticket partner, TiqIQ, by Matt Feuerman.
Attempts to take out the garbage by Ben Cherington and Larry Lucchino may have improved the hopes of Red Sox fans, and in turn the price of tickets on the secondary market.
According to TiqIQ, Boston Red Sox Tickets are currently averaging $138 dollars on the secondary market. While this number is naturally expected to fall as the season approaches, it more closely resembles the $139 average cost at the start of the 2011, hyped by big spending. This offseason, the management brass has emphasized smart spending, and this year’s ticket price is up 42% over the 2012 mark.
The process of change can be traced back to the blockbuster deal orchestrated by Ben Cherington and the Magic Johnson-owned Dodgers. The Sox had a rare opportunity of shedding an inordinate amount of payroll in return for strong prospects in Allen Webster and Ruby De La Rosa. Add these guys to a strong farm with Xander Bogaerts, Matt Barnes and Jackie Bradley Jr., and there’s a sentiment mirroring the successful years backboned by homegrown talent.
Cherington continued payroll-conscious moves in the offseason, signing veterans Shane Victorino, Ryan Dempster, and Mike Napoli to low AAV deals for no more than three-year terms. He then added a few more pieces in Jonny Gomes, Stephen Drew, Koji Uehara and new closer Joel Hanrahan. This mix of veterans and ‘clubhouse friendly’ guys may not entice World Series aspirations, but at least gives Red Sox fans a team they can root for.
Finally, the process of cutting the fat was solidified by management changes. Ridding of a few headaches, the controversial Bobby Valentine was let go in favor of former Sox pitching coach John Farrell. With a no-nonsense attitude and respect from clubhouse leaders Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia, it seems order could be restored.
The five highest priced series of the season feature, with no surprise, the Yankees along with a couple interesting interleague matchups. The July 19th series against the Yankees averages $277 per ticket, with the cheapest ticket at $97. August 2nd-4th against the Arizona Diamondbacks and May 27th-28th against the Philadelphia Phillies come in at an average of $144 and $142 respectively.
If you’re looking to catch a Sox game at a bargain, you’ll likely see a familiar American League opponent like the Orioles, Blue Jays, Twins, Athletics and Tigers, who round out the top five cheapest series. Those series feature a ‘get-in’ price ranging from $17-$29 dollars per ticket.
TiqIQ has teamed up with SeatCrunch to bring you additional deals on Boston Red Sox Tickets. And remember, for all MLB tickets, check out TiqIQ.com.