2009 All-Star Game Tickets on Sale!
It’s really official now. The Cape Cod Baseball League has officially announced in an April 13th press release that the All-Star Game will be held at Fenway Park. Speculation about Fenway arose on CodBall on December 4th and we announced that it was official on March 7th.
Tickets are $10 and general admission. They are on sale beginning April 15th at 10am or noon. The Redsox.com page says noon, the CCBL press release says 10am. I tend to believe Redsox.com, but I’ll have my web browser ready at 10am too.
Post your ticket hunting experiences in the comments. But, make sure you’re done with your taxes first!
I’m torn…
I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for these kids to play in Fenway.
On the other hand, I’m going to miss the experience of watching the best the Cape has to offer, standing with my elbows resting on the fence right behind the bullpen and experiencing 90+ MPH fastballs zinging by my ears.
Agreed ay…there is something about this that doesn’t sit right with me — like they are biting off more than they can chew. Perhaps there is a big financial benefit to playing the game at Fenway and if that is the case than I support it 100%; especially in this down economy where ad revenues are down in the league as earlier reported.
The BIG question is “What if it rains?” I imagine that this is the only time that this can be played — thus the Thursday night time slot. Furthermore, I’m sure that even a wet field might be enough for the Sox to not allow the game to be played; fearing the resulting condition of the field. If a make up game is then played on the Cape — Where? When? How? Could be disastrous in terms of scout’s schedules, promotion of the game, the CCBL schedule shuffling, etc.
@Capeman I think those are valid concerns.
I’m a little confused about the promotion/marketing of this event. I hope they will kick it into high gear soon. I appreciate being a hardcore Cape League fan and getting a first shot at tickets (but they’re GA and it doesn’t matter). But, shouldn’t there be a little more hype? I don’t see any links on redsox.com to the CCBL page they have, except from the ticketing page, which I doubt anyone visits.
There needs to be more PR about this. It’s a great opportunity to see a game at Fenway, and the game is CHEAPER than a tour of the park ($12).
Wouldn’t worry about weather issues. You deal with that if necessary. As far as hype, nothing to hype about until the arriving players earn a spot. You can hype up a game, but you first need players to do that.
@Willie It’s the CCBL–you’re going to have good players no matter what. But, I agree it would be easier to market once you have rosters. But, I think the real seller is that these tickets are $10.
FYI: I’d count on the noon time for the tickets to go on sale. It’s way past 10am and nothing has changed.
http://www.redsox.com/capecod
Also, CodBallers, I noticed that we didn’t adjust for daylight savings yet. I just fixed this. We have to do this manually.
Will over at RightField Fog has some interesting points about the Fenway All-Star game…so check them out. I happen to agree with him.
Willie — I diagree about not worrying about weather. The league as always promoted this game as it’s showcase event and a rainout this year doesn’t mean a simply postponement; it is a relocation.
However, I do agree with you about the hype — while I don’t think you have to wait for the players, not doing a lot of hype now shouldn’t have too much impact on the ticket sales.
One other thought… At times here on Codball, there has been some discussion about other college summer leagues and their impact on the CCBL. Specifically, we’ve discussed how other leagues may be “catching up”. Whether intentional or not, playing their all-star game at Fenway Park gives the CCBL a marketing advantage when recruiting kids…perhaps not this year because rosters are set but perhaps in years ahead; this is just another “feather in the cap” for the Cape League and another reason to come to Cape Cod in the summer rather than other places.
There appears to be a subtle approach to moving the league forward from an exposure and marketing perspective. Again, this may or may not be intential but over the last couple of years, the league has ever slowly attempted to expand the CCBL brand. Games of the Week on WBZ, NPR radio and NESN for the All-Star Game, Big time sponsors (Under Armour) for the All-Star Game, games in New Bedford, MV & Brockton, more “internet media” cooperation — CC Times, Fox25 in Boston, live internet game broadcasts for all games, interaction with CodBall, etc, etc. To me, even though the league is still maintaining it’s “Cape Cod – Conservative – Small Town” image; there are ever subtle signs that they are interested in being a little more aggressive in marketing the league.
Got my tickets… they’re general admission, but they give you a Section/Row/Seat probably because the system is set up to do that.
Cape Cod League All-Star Game
Thursday, 7/23/09
at 7:05PM EDT
GENERAL ADMISSION
Section Row Seat Price Type
A01 2 3 $10.00 Web Sale
A01 2 4 $10.00 Web Sale
Convenience fee for 2 tickets is $2.00
———————————————————-
Subtotal: $22.00
Order Processing (including delivery): $2.50
Total: $24.50
http://redsox.com/capecod
This is funny because every game on the Cape has a statement somewhere about how NCAA regulations prohibit charging admission. Things that make you go…Hmphhhhhh.
I am still against this. People on Cape support, house, volunteer and do just about everything to make this league happen. Take one of the more celebrated events of the season and rip it out fom underneath those who made you.
As far as a rain date? I have to believe that even the money-grabbing dolts who made this a reality will have a contingency in place.
The good news is that the Sox have proven they can sell tickets while only soaking us for an additional $4.50 in S & H. Whenever I get my playoff tickets, these charges are at least $32 and sometimes more, for a single game.
You won’t find the NCAA prohibiting the charging of admission Fan of the Game…that is wrong. All of the other summer leagues — also NCAA sanctioned — charge admission so this is not a problem. I do agree with your assessment that this does take the premier CCBL event away from those that support it the most…that is a valid point. My sense, however, is that the majority of those volunteers, host families and fans think that this is a good thing.
You can’t accuse a league that relies soley on donations and sponsors of being money-grabbing –this is simply untrue. There is a difference between money grabbing and money “dependent”. If the league was money grabbing, they’d be charging admission to the games. Many of these franchises have issues coming up with the money to support their team each season — the budgets are very tight. Like I said earlier, if this game being played in Boston has is monetarily adventageous to the league in this economic environment then they should get what they can.
Capeman: How much money will they earn?
Aramark is highly unlikely to donate its profits from the concession stands for the day. A large part of the existing fan base will not travel to Boston for the game. Boston itself has proven for many years that it supports its PRO teams and ignores all others.
Now instead of having an event that has electricity in the air because of the biggest crowd of the season, kids and kids at heart battling for balls during the home run derby and a day out with the family (on a weekend), the players will play in an empty venue. You could double the attendance figures from the past few years and the park would still look empty.
MLB holds the Cape league’s feet to the fire and forces the name changes of several teams and the Board of Directors hands them the biggest event they have.
Do you honestly believe that the league will see an influx of new fans after this event? Do you believe that in this economy that has the league scrambling to find revenues that more people are going to drive from Boston for day-trips to games on Cape?
I think this is a mistake and hopefully, enough people let the league know their feelings and this is a one year aberration.
As far as charging for admission, I see the sign at every Commodores game and that is what I was basing my comments on. I have always been under the impression that is why we make donations.
I want the league to stay financially viable and if hosting the game at Fenway creates a needed influx of cash then the league is doing what it needs to survive. I think they are doing it because it is Fenway and the money will be negligible.
I still don’t have to like it.
I don’t know how this benefits them financially — if at all. But like I’ve said, it it does then this is a good idea. Perhaps sponsors are coming to the plate because this will be on live TV from Fenway…I don’t know. If there is no profit coming out of this game, I agree, keep it on the Cape.