The New York Mets have had their fair share of struggles these past few years with three seasons ending with losing records and financial issues off the field. So when MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, Mets owner Fred Wilpon, Mr. Met, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the Citi Field as host of the 2013 All-Star Game — scheduled for July 16, 2013 — of course it made Mayor Bloomberg and Mets fans a little bit giddy.
The 2013 All-Star Game will be the first time since 1964, the inaugral year Shea Stadium opened for the Mets, that the Queens burrough of New York City has hosted. However, New York City hasn’t been as far removed — the 2008 All-Star Game was hosted by the New York Yankees during the final season of the old stadium.
Major League Baseball selected the Mets’ Citi Field to host the 2013 All Star Game back in 2009 but delayed the announcement while waiting for negotiations with the city. When addressed by media reporters about the Mets’ recent financial struggles owner Fred Wilpon replied “I think we are headed in the right direction, I know Major League Baseball believes in the Wilpons and the Mets.”
The Mets have dealt with the financial issues linked to the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, and have since agreed to pay up to $162 million to the trustee recovering money for the victims. Selig said the Madoff issues didn’t cause a delay in the announcements. The team also just paid back a $25 million dollar loan from Major League Baseball that they received to back in November 2010.
Mets executives are hoping the announcement of 2013 All-Star Game reverses a three year slide in ticket sales for the Mets. According to Stats LLC, the Mets averaged 30,161 fans at Citi Field in 2011, nearly a 7 percent drop from 2010 and down 22.5 percent from 2009. So far this season the Mets are averaging an attendance base of 27,846 fans per game.
According to the New York Post, New York Mets executive vice president David Howard predicted that a jump in All-Star ticket prices is likely to levels comparable with those at Yankee Stadium. Prices were raised to $150-$725 for 2008, then cut to $100-$360 for the following year in St. Louis. Tickets cost $125-$450 for this year in Kansas City.
While the Mets organization won’t receive any of the profits from the All-Star Game they are hopeful that the exposure will draw more fans to the stadium in the future and reward current fans and sponsors. David Howard said full Mets season ticket holders and luxury suite owners at Citi Field will have chance to purchase one strip of tickets per seat for the three day All-Star event.
According to the official website of the New York Mets, there are three ways for fans to secure their access to purchase 2013 MLB All-Star events, but they must take advantage of the offer prior to July 10, 2012.
1.Become a Full Season Ticket Holder for the remainder of the 2012 season and for 2013 and secure the opportunity to purchase three times the number of tickets in your 2013 season ticket account for all 2013 MLB All-Star events.
2.Become a 40-Game Plan Holder for the remainder of the 2012 season and for 2013 and secure the opportunity to purchase two times the number of tickets in your 2013 40-Game Plan account for all 2013 MLB All-Star events.
3.Become a 15-Game Pack Holder for the remainder of the 2012 season and for 2013 and secure the opportunity to purchase the same number of tickets that are in your 2013 15-Game Pack account for all 2013 MLB All-Star events.
Mayor Bloomberg stated that the 2013 All Star Game will create a $191 million dollar economic increase boost to the city of New York. “The whole New York area, I think, will be very pleased,” said Selig, “This is really a five-day celebration of our great sport.”