Yankee Stadium has become Stubhub central

Behind Soriano are some seats that didn't sell.

Doesn't seem like long ago that the Yankees were selling out every night of the old Yankee Stadium. Ticket prices were high, but fairly priced for a team that was making the playoffs each season and tickets on the secondary market were going for a premium.

Flash forward to 2011. The prices at the new Yankee Stadium are much higher then they were just four seasons ago, yet they have still sold 3.3 million tickets this season. But it seems as if nobody is going to these games early in the season. Opening Day had 48,000 plus fans, but plenty of seats were available but that could be easily blamed on weather. The next game was a Saturday, against the Tigers again, and the stadium was barley at 40,000 and it looked like much less. The crowds around 40,000 have become a mini trend here, with each of the Twins games along with the other Tigers games attendance all falling short of a sell out.

Even Opening Day could be had on Stubhub for less
then face value.

Ticket prices on the secondary market are now laughable. For all the Twins games tickets could be had for less then $1, yes you are reading that correct ONE DOLLAR! The all inclusive Legend seats that were once prices at $2,500 big ones were going for $200. Field Level seats that ran as much as $325 were going for $30, and majority of regular seats in the Main, Terrace, Grandstand and Bleachers could be had for less then $20.

So why suddenly did the secondary market crash? Some say its because the Yankees are the ones who are putting up tons of seats on Stubhub themselves. I don't understand that logic, but I could see where people begin to believe that when blocks of 20 seats are available together. But what is most likely is that supply and demand are simply down, and add that with a weak economy and over priced tickets. The new Yankee Stadium pricing was set before the economy really crashed, and at the time it looked like a great idea. But since the economy took a turn for the worse, fans can no longer afford to go to a ball game. That includes season ticket holders, how have to sell off a ton of games to break even or make a small profit. You look on Stubhub and majority of the seats that are listed are likely from season ticket holders and plan holder who can not make it to all the games they own and would like to make back some money on their seats.

But why is it that season ticket holders can no longer attend all the games? Well most season ticket holders don't attend every single game, but everything that goes with attending a ball game cost money. Transportation can cost alot especially if you are not taking the subway. The metro north, LIRR, PATH all can be expensive and a hassle at times. You must run on their schedule not your own. If you want to run on your own schedule then you try and drive, but gas prices are sky rocketing, tolls are very high and parking not costs a whopping $35! Add in some food and drinks for the trip and suddenly your spending a small fortune.

Stubhub has ruined the secondary market for season ticket holders and brokers, but for the average fan who attends just the occasional game its a great feature. For attendance at the stadium, well it might be too early to judge. 2007-2010 was unique since it was the final seasons of the original Yankee Stadium and then the opening of the new one, but prior to that the stadium didn't sell out each night. If the trend continues then the Yanks should worry.