Interesting Dynamic In Ticket Sales

[Gotham Gator]

I was on the website looking at some possible single ticket orders for upcoming games. Sadly, the next several games, including this Thursday and Sunday, seem to have plenty of tickets available.

Then you get to the Derby on June 28, which has very few tickets left. This seems likely to sell out.

Interestingly, however, all of the games after the Derby also have limited availability as evidenced by the "Not Many Left" symbol on the Ticketmaster page. This covers games like Orlando, Montreal, Columbus, DC, two games against Toronto, straight through to the last game against New England. It's strange to see the next few games have plenty of tickets left, while games that are months away have sold more.

I thought maybe it was because some of the later games are earlier in the day - there isn't a pre-7PM game until the Derby and then several early games after that. But, even the 7pm games in this time frame are selling well. I also thought it might be because the algorithm that prompts the "Not Many Left" symbol might be time sensitive, with a lower threshold the farther away the game day is, but if you look on the ticket map, it's clear that these later games really have sold more tickets.

 

[MikeDatTiger]

I was on the website looking at some possible single ticket orders for upcoming games. Sadly, the next several games, including this Thursday and Sunday, seem to have plenty of tickets available.

Then you get to the Derby on June 28, which has very few tickets left. This seems likely to sell out.

Interestingly, however, all of the games after the Derby also have limited availability as evidenced by the "Not Many Left" symbol on the Ticketmaster page. This covers games like Orlando, Montreal, Columbus, DC, two games against Toronto, straight through to the last game against New England. It's strange to see the next few games have plenty of tickets left, while games that are months away have sold more.

I thought maybe it was because some of the later games are earlier in the day - there isn't a pre-7PM game until the Derby and then several early games after that. But, even the 7pm games in this time frame are selling well. I also thought it might be because the algorithm that prompts the "Not Many Left" symbol might be time sensitive, with a lower threshold the farther away the game day is, but if you look on the ticket map, it's clear that these later games really have sold more tickets.

There's an alternative explanation. The website includes resales, right? So I know for other sports, a lot of times it doesn't look like there's many available because people haven't put their tickets up for sale yet as they hope to either give them away to friends or sell them on their own. As the matches get closer, these people give up and sell the tickets not to mention other people have things come up which makes them unable to go to the game, hence the increase of resells right before the match.

Also, Geaux Tigers!

 

[Lasker]

As a fellow obsessive ticket watcher, I think a much more likely explanation is that tickets/sections are only released for sale gradually, and that the games that say "only a few left" have simply sold a high percentage of the tickets currently available.

 

[Gene]

All those "Not Many Left" icons must have recently popped up, because I'm constantly checking Ticketmaster to see how sales are going.

IMHO the Philly game was pretty much a given the crowd would be small, because traditionally MLS craps out on week night matches and Portland isn't really going to excite people. I'm surprised there's a lot of tickets available for Seattle. This was one of the games I expected the upper deck to be opened. We'll have to see how that shakes out over the next few weeks.

I think a lot of us felt the team was going to average between 20-25K this season and it looks like they're going to hit those numbers.

 

[beaucoup_movement]

I think the next two games both have the same issue - timing and opponent.

Sunday at 7pm isn't an awful time (I love it personally), but people might want to do other things on Sunday night. Realistically you're not getting home from that game until at least 9:45-10pm even if you live in the city. From LI/NJ/CT it could be like 10:30/11. That's tough for a lot of people. I know the Timbers have a passionate following in their city, but Portland is a small market that's ~3,000 miles away so you can basically wipe out away support. They're also not very good and don't have any marketable stars so the casual NYC area soccer fan isn't going to make a special effort.

Philly is close, but on a Thursday night it'll be tough for their fans to make the trip - especially to go see an opponent that was just in their building five days prior. For NYC area fans (non-STH) the timing isn't great - 7pm at Yankee Stadium is tough even if you work in Manhattan, people just have other things going on during the week. And like Portland, Philly has no marketable stars. The most interesting thing about the Timbers is their home support, and this game isn't being played at Jeld-Wen.

 

[mgarbowski]

I think the next two games both have the same issue - timing and opponent.

Sunday at 7pm isn't an awful time (I love it personally), but people might want to do other things on Sunday night. Realistically you're not getting home from that game until at least 9:45-10pm even if you live in the city. From LI/NJ/CT it could be like 10:30/11. That's tough for a lot of people. I know the Timbers have a passionate following in their city, but Portland is a small market that's ~3,000 miles away so you can basically wipe out away support. They're also not very good and don't have any marketable stars so the casual NYC area soccer fan isn't going to make a special effort.

Philly is close, but on a Thursday night it'll be tough for their fans to make the trip - especially to go see an opponent that was just in their building five days prior. For NYC area fans (non-STH) the timing isn't great - 7pm at Yankee Stadium is tough even if you work in Manhattan, people just have other things going on during the week. And like Portland, Philly has no marketable stars. The most interesting thing about the Timbers is their home support, and this game isn't being played at Jeld-Wen.

I think this is really spot on. Personally, the Sunday night games are a real turn-off. Both midweek games like Thursday and Sunday night are school nights, but at least Thursday I'll be out already and coming from work. On Sunday night the last thing I want to do is leave the house around 5pm knowing I'll get home late-ish. Plus any 7pm school night game means I'm not taking my kids and the next 3 home games all have this issue.

 

[thesauerchise]

I can't make the Philly game (school night) or the Portland game. But after that we are into warmer months and then summer break. That will make it far easier for families to go, and also more willing since it won't be colder than the surface of Hoth.

 

[jguab2]

^^^ Agreed. Also can't forget about the whole Lampard situation. He will without a doubt bring out a significant amount of Chelsea fans to Yankee stadium. Lots of tickets already being sold against Orlando in the middle of summer.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I do think the 7pm starts are a problem for some. That's too late for me to take my kid to games (we are making an exception for Seattle and his hero, Clint Dempsey). Earlier games are more family friendly.

And while we are at it, why are the afternoon games in the heat of summer, while the late games are in the cooler months?

 

[northernburbs]

I think this is really spot on. Personally, the Sunday night games are a real turn-off. Both midweek games like Thursday and Sunday night are school nights, but at least Thursday I'll be out already and coming from work. On Sunday night the last thing I want to do is leave the house around 5pm knowing I'll get home late-ish. Plus any 7pm school night game means I'm not taking my kids and the next 3 home games all have this issue.

Don't ever let school stand in the way of your kids education.My kids are older now but we did never hesitate to pull them out of school a few days to do a whole week off at thanksgiving or let them miss 1st period of class if we went to a concert the night before and got back home at 1am

 

[mgarbowski]

Don't ever let school stand in the way of your kids education.My kids are older now but we did never hesitate to pull them out of school a few days to do a whole week off at thanksgiving or let them miss 1st period of class if we went to a concert the night before and got back home at 1am

I agree, and if it were a more unique opportunity I'd do it, but there are games all summer.

 

[BxLio91]

If you can't make games and are unable to resell, give them out to friends who are willing to go.

 

[LionNYC]

Don't ever let school stand in the way of your kids education.My kids are older now but we did never hesitate to pull them out of school a few days to do a whole week off at thanksgiving or let them miss 1st period of class if we went to a concert the night before and got back home at 1am

I wish my parents did the same. I could have gone to Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals in New Jersey when the Lakers swept the Nets and won their third straight title. It would have been floor seats and I'm a big Laker fan (because of Kobe). Still upset that my parents wouldn't let me go because of school. It was like 3rd grade, what's the big deal.

 

[Drainyoo]

I think this is really spot on. Personally, the Sunday night games are a real turn-off. Both midweek games like Thursday and Sunday night are school nights, but at least Thursday I'll be out already and coming from work. On Sunday night the last thing I want to do is leave the house around 5pm knowing I'll get home late-ish. Plus any 7pm school night game means I'm not taking my kids and the next 3 home games all have this issue.

I have the same issue. Not sure I understand the late Sunday games. Why not have an early afternoon? Makes no sense.

 

[Shotofjmoh]

I wish my parents did the same. I could have gone to Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals in New Jersey when the Lakers swept the Nets and won their third straight title. It would have been floor seats and I'm a big Laker fan (because of Kobe). Still upset that my parents wouldn't let me go because of school. It was like 3rd grade, what's the big deal.

Was fortunate to have a dad in the late 90's/early 2000's who did not care about taking me out of school days after late night Yankee playoff games. Have several memories (98 WS Game 2, 99 WS Game 4 where they won, 2000 WS Game 1 and 2003 ALCS Game 7) that I wouldn't trade for the world. You're only a kid once where you really just love the game and look up to all the players and are naive to all of the other BS that goes along with professional sports -- definitely do not waste it for some meaningless school day.

That being said, a regular season MLS game is definitely tough to justify messing up your kid's schedule for unless it's a top opponent. 5pm starts on Sunday really aren't terrible though, I come in from LI and will be home by 10. Weeknight games are tough, but realistically they can't start any earlier than 7 to allow people to get to the stadium from work. Just glad most of their games fall on the weekends.

 

[Gene]

Sunday nights @ 7:00 PM = FOX Sports 1

 

[mgarbowski]

Agreed that 5pm Sunday is significantly better than 7pm. I'd prefer even earlier, like 2pm or 4, but can live with 5 and take kids without messing up school sleep schedules much.
And I also think that the league has more say over game times than individual clubs. Like @Gene said, that's the FS1 slot and while I'd love for those times to be filled consistently with West Coast games, I'm sure Fox wants it's share of East Coast teams. Game times are clearly arranged for TV rather than the live attendees in pretty much every sport.

 

[adam]

I'm annoyed at times too, but understand they want to highlight NYC on national coverage. Leaving kid at home to get sleep, but now paying for babysitter from like 5-11 so my wife and I can go together with a ride back and forth from LI. Maybe next season we're not a new item and not on national TV EVERY sunday. Also, MLS needs to follow NFL like schedule and do a heavy dose of 12pm/2pm/4pm afternoon slots. then the couple of night matches for national audience (and a monday night match!). We're not the only one's with this issue. If you look at this week it goes like this:

Thurs: 7pm
Fri: 7pm
Sat: 7pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm
Sun: 5pm, 7pm

Not one afternoon match anywhere!!!

 

[MikeDatTiger]

I'm annoyed at times too, but understand they want to highlight NYC on national coverage. Leaving kid at home to get sleep, but now paying for babysitter from like 5-11 so my wife and I can go together with a ride back and forth from LI. Maybe next season we're not a new item and not on national TV EVERY sunday. Also, MLS needs to follow NFL like schedule and do a heavy dose of 12pm/2pm/4pm afternoon slots. then the couple of night matches for national audience (and a monday night match!). We're not the only one's with this issue. If you look at this week it goes like this:

Thurs: 7pm
Fri: 7pm
Sat: 7pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm
Sun: 5pm, 7pm

Not one afternoon match anywhere!!!

There a few teams, such as Houston and FC Dallas, that aren't scheduling afternoon matches unless you point a gun at them because of the heat that hurts both attendance and quality of the game. I imagine Orlando, LA, and others in the southern half have similar feelings.

 

[FredMertz]

I have the same issue. Not sure I understand the late Sunday games. Why not have an early afternoon? Makes no sense.

Why on earth were the two home games so far late starts in freaking March? Both games could have been 3pm starts. Not a lot of thought going in to all of this.