I remember going to many games in 1978 to see Jim Rice for a $4.00 grandstand seat. Boy those good ol'days are long gone!
The kids of today are no longer interested in baseball because their parents can't afford to take them anymore. My dad and mom took their 4 kids at least 20 times a year. Parking was $10.00, 6 grandstand tickets were $24.00 and a Fenway Frank was 50 cents! and my parents were by no-means rich. They scraped to give us a good life on hardly nothing.

Baseball will be dead within the next 20 years!

Thanks Jim! Congrats on the HoF!!!!

Today this announcements about baseball are really making me hate the weather outside right now.

Thanks heaps for the article - I'm an Aussie planning a trip to the USA in June, and am praying that I can secure tickets to see my beloved Red Sox whilst in the country. I'll be sitting at the computer at 2am on Sunday 25th Jan Melbourne time to book my seats!!

Go Sox!!

i'll try and hopefully i can get something decent. i'm anticipating hours and hours (and hours) of virtual waiting room time.

oh...tickets have been on sale for months thanks to brokers and stubhub. thanks for not cracking down on this red sox front office. it really isn't all that hard to put two and two together and see who the season ticket holders are that are reselling for jacked up prices.

I'll do what I've been doing for the past 10 or so years, travel to Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Toronto to see the Sox. Available and affordable tickets, nicer stadiums and I get to see the Sox hit nine times.

I'll be sitting at my computer at 6:00 PM Baghdad time on the 24th hoping to get some tickets. I hope it's not the way it was the past 5 years with ticket companies blocking individuals from buying tickets. My time at home is limited so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Great. So all the scalpers can buy up the tickets and resell them to the real fans. Fortunately, with the economy tanking most of those tickets will be resold for alot less than the scalpers anticipate. And yet another bright spot for the flailing economy, many ticket brokers and scalpers will go out of business.

Get your tickets now!!!

it sux for us red sox fans who never get tickets cuz there are too many season ticket holders!! then when they go on sale they are4 times the price! baseball in New England is definitely a fav past time for alot of folks! the websites say tickets are available then when u clik on the ones u want it says they are not and try again! the waititng and cliking is crazy! why do they have to make it soo expensive!! i dont mind spending the extra money for the beer and "sausage guy" but the seats u can never get any! how bout coming down on the prices and limiting season ticket holders to fewer games so the rest of us can enjoy it too!

I remember going to the games with my older brother and I'm in my 70's. Those were the days you could afford to go

Type your comment here...

Hey Shaun - Even if you are not able to get tickets ahead of time, they usually release "extra" tickets each morning on the day of the game. So, if you are visiting Boston and don't mind waiting a little bit at the ticket office, it's worth a try! The amount of tickets they release (and the potential line at the ticket office) will vary depending on who is playing the Red Sox, day of the week, etc. Good luck!

Toronto is a nicer stadium? I've been to Baltimore and Philly and like their stadiums, but the experience isn't the same

I'm so excited! Even though it was 17 below zero outside when I got up this morning I am starting to see small signs of Spring and know that before we know it, Spring will be here!!!!

Hey Geezer... and the US median income according to the US Census was $15K a year in 1978.

Who cares? I am not a coporate sponsor, nor do I know anyone in the office.

I cant get a ticket, nor afford one, if I wanted, which I dont.

The sucker season is fast approaching. Line up for overpriced tickets, parking, food, souvenirs and everything else they can hose you for. Apparently sports teams are not feeling the downturn in the economy, handing out millions upon millions of $$$ to these dog breath athletes. The sad thing is the working schleps of the country can't wait to line up and put down their hard earned money to support these ego maniacal bozos. Line up suckers, they love you.

Sad that only the uber-rich or uber-connected can get tickets to the SOX now. When I lived in the Back Bay in my $150/month apartment in the very early '70's, my friend and I would wander over to Fenway if there was nothing better to do and we'd sit in the bleachers for, I think, $1.50. We saved up every year to buy box seats for Opening Day - $15, if memory serves. And my yearly salary was about $5k. Ah, the good old days. Congrats to Jim Ed on his well-deserved spot in the HofF.

Sorry, this year i'll take a pass - food and clothing are more important

In addition to Rocky's comments, the Pawsox are the best deal in town. You can take the family and feed them for under $50...and it's AAA ball, which is pretty darn good. I disagree with Geezer - true baseball fans will go wherever they can to catch ball games - including high shool games that are free. The quality isn't the greatest in many cases, but there is still a lot to be learned from someone else's mistakes or great plays. Don't use the Sox ticket prices as an excuse not to go to games.

ok - ticket prices are high at fenway because PEOPLE WILL PAY IT. if they weren't filling the seats, there would be give aways, and cheap ticket days, etc. if you go to an MLB park in any other city (that doesn't always sell out) - you will find these amenities.

as an added comment, I think the red sox owners need to be commended on the fact that they did not raise tix prices this year. it's common place for all teams to do so and the recognition by the owners that this year is a struggle for everyone - is a nice surprise.

It's bad enough that ticket vendors buy up the season tickets, but they also block individual customers from buying single-game tickets. And the Red Sox do nothing about it. The Red Sox ownership must be free-market conservatives who trust that the market will sort it out - and look where that philosophy has gotten us that last eight years.

Hey Mr. Geezer, stop the whining about how much it costs. Why not give them credit for bringing you not one but two WS Championships after an 86 year drought. Get a life.

@Rocky Bleier
I wouldn't plan on being able to get tickets in Philly this year either.

The on line purchasing system is a joke and until the Front Office addresses that as well as the issue of the secondary markets, who seem to have no problems securing the bulk of the tickets, the game of baseball is no longer a family event since most families cannot afford the prices. I have been in the virtual waiting room for hours on end, and still have never been able to purchase tickets.

I traveled to Philly to see the Phils and Dodgers...........Stayed in a Holiday Inn in the Historic part of Philly. I went Friday and came home Sunday.....the whole weekend for my wife and two kids cost less than going to 1 game at Fenway. I will never again pay to see a game at Fenway.

FYI

more hours in the virtual waiting room...

Geezer is right on with some of his thoughts. I would think that the sluggish economy will have a major impact on most forms of entertainment and baseball is no exception.
Overpriced everything-from $4.00 water to watered down warm beer.
There are more attractive options, especially for families, than overpriced major league baseball

It was cheaper to fly to LA last year and see them play the Angels for 3 games, then going to Fenway 3 times...and I could stretch my legs at Angel Stadium!

This is great. I can't wait to waste my entire day hoping to get tickets for my dad's birthday in the stupid virtual waiting room before ultimately getting shut out from any tickets by 8 p.m.

Yeah, I know complaining about the problem is stupid, but I really can't help it. This system for selling tickets is ridiculous, the fact that season ticket holders make a mint on reselling their tickets to brokers stinks.

Too bad the Sox can't get a better system into place.

I will root for the Sox but not spend a dime on baseball (or an sport) They take advantage of the fan. No tickets, clothing, banner, tv sports packages, ...This is as far as I go. Good luck Boston.

I wish Fenway was bigger and the tickets (and beer) was cheaper......

I haven't been able to get any sox tickets 3 of the last 4 years. I was lucky enough to win a chance to buy yankees tickets in the red sox rotten drawing 2 years ago, after 5 hours online i got 2 bleacher seats under the centerfield scoreboard in the next to last row. Worst seat I every had to any game. I was better off at home in front of the t.v. We all need our heads examined if we spend a couple hunded dollars to go see a game that is on t.v. I WILL NOT BE ATTENDING ANY RED SOX GAMES, I WILL SPEND MY SUMMER ATTENDING CAPE COD LEAGUE BASEBLL.great baseball for the whole family for about 20 bucks

The tickets you are seeing on StubHub and other Broker sites are from those people that have Season Tickets. They aren't getting any special pre-sale. They don't have their tickets yet, but they know their location and the game dates.

I agree with those who say that the prices are way too high. With the economy going down fast, it seems that the Red Sox's and other teams need or ability or whatever to pay exorbitant prices to the players have cinched the deal for those of us who can't afford to go. By the way, I no longer can afford to go see any show in Boston, etc. I guess the days of going to see anything live are over - although the suggestion of going to RI is a sensible and probably doable one. Too bad most of us do not get to see the best players, the best actors, etc. At least television gives us a good view.

Temper your excitement, folks. Prepare to sit in the virtual waiting room for 12 hours without getting in, just like every other time tix have gone on sale the past few years. It is a joke, and won't be any different. It suxks, Every time. If you do get through, it was be for standing rooms on a Tuesday in April, for a pair of 25 dollar seats that after handling and fees cost 34 each. Woohoo! No one will get ANY weekend games nor any ANY games in June-July-August. BUT, it could worse, we could live in Kansas City or Pittsburgh.

I've given up trying to purchase Fenway Park game tickets on line. I waited 3 hours last year and ended up with ZIP; NADA.

I've already purchased tickets for Red Sox games in Baltimore, 2 1/2 hours from my home in New Jersey and I can watch all of the Red Sox - Yankee games from the comfort of my den.

The last time we went to Fenway Park we fought traffic and had beer spilled on us.

There is definitely a better way to do this; and we've found it.

ususwe

I think it's crap that they do special drawings to purchase red Sox vs Yankees games. That is not the way it should be done. I love the Sox but their way of selling tickets is terrible!

No Yankees or opening day? I can' wait to get my Mariners tickets.

I got a friend who works in the red sox box office and he says they will be releasing verrrrry few seats this year. Apparently they have a secret deal with Ace tickets to sell a large portion of their available inventory on the Ace site, at "market" value.............

it is a great point about the resale of tickets. $300 or $400 a pop, 5 times the face value. Scalping laws should be enforced.

I'm a father of 3 and a big fan of the Sox along with my 3 teenagers. I've been unable to afford going at all the last 3 seasons. It is very disheartening, sad and wrong that I have to tell my kids that we can't attend even 1 game per year because of the exorbidant and shameful costs of the experience (tickets, parking, food and beverages). This is NOT a whine or even complaint, it is a fact that working families have been priced out of the market. It's really sad that season ticket holders and ticket resellers are profiteering BIG at kids and parents expense.
The redsox "brass" appear to be caring individuals, where is the "care" shown toward

It's unfortunate that it's so hard/expensive to get your hands on Red Sox tickets. However, it's not impossible you have to sacrifice 4-6 hours of waiting in an online waiting room and if your lucky you can get some decent seat, sometimes all you can get is obstructed view/standing room. But I'm willing to sacrifice to see such a great team. STOP WHINNING

Maybe I'll buy tickets again if they get a new stadium. I don't want to pay $100 to sit in a seat that makes Coach on US Air look comfortable.

I'll try again tomorrow. But i'm still going to buy a 12 game package for the yankees. It's the only way i can get tickets at face value for a game. Bought them last year. Got to see the Sox;s but at Yankee staduim. I live in vt. and been a sox's fan along time. My son and i would like to go to a Red Sox's game but it's impossible to get tickets at face value. To buy them for online scalpers is a joke. Only have one pc at home don;t stand a chance with some who has access to many. The Sox's should make tickets available to the region that supports them. Enough said.

Rob spewed: "But I'm willing to sacrifice to see such a great team. "

Sure, sacrifice for overpriced tickets and those "shipping and handling charges at are like $12/ticket. What a ripoff. I really hope the Sox go 75-87 to flush Fenway of the pink hats and the beautiful people.

Hey Geezer... and the US median income according to the US Census was $15K a year in 1978.

WVW, Geezer mentioned that Grandstand tickets were $4 (now $50) in 1978 so is the US median income in 2008 $187,000 a year...you do the math

Hey this is still America, complaining about ticket prices is everyone's right. On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with the red sox selling every ticket to the highest bidder. This is classic supply and demand, they have something people want. Baseball has no responsibility to their community, unless of course they want public funding or accommodation for something....mmmmmm at least they don't need a bailout.

Hey Rob maybe you should take your kids to see a Spinners or a PawSox game. You shouldn't expect steak on a Spam budget. Fact is that you are poor because your services are not in demand, your services are not in demand because you are not as smart as others, basically you are not as good as others. The Sox don't run a charity so why should they give stupid people like you cheap tickets when there are smart, worthy, people out there who can afford the tickets? You shouldn't expect any luxurious in life, you only get the good things in life if you are a good person. Your not, so quit whining.

I recall a couple months ago when the Red Sox announced they would keep the ticket prices the same as 2008. The media and most others hailed them as heroes for this move given the economy. But I'd like to remind everyone that the ownership has added about 500 more seats this year (admittedly a good move) as well as a new sports jersey logo for certain away games. That, in conjunction with a reduced payroll will make for a very profitable year for the Red Sox in 2009. I realize the Red Sox tried to spend more in payroll and they may yet add some, but in terms of keeping ticket sales equal to last year, they are no heroes for that move.

I'm guessing comment number 44 was written by a Stub Hub employee.

Virtual Baloney! The same as last year. These tickets get grabbed by people working for places like Ace Ticket etc. When I got on line the only tickets were single seats scattered all over. Looks like I'll be paying the scalpers again this year.

Baseball is a little boys sport. Overpaid and Overrated. You think I am going to pay $400 to take my 2 kids and wife to the game (tix, foam finger, shirt and food)? fuggetaboutit! Much rather go see the Bruins or Pats play for that kind of money.

Kind of scammish today -- every available game has only standing room only tickets for submissions from 2 seats to 8 seats. Looks like the poster who wrote about the tickets going to Ace has it right.

This old fart remembers in the 1950's bleacher seats cost kids 25c and then around the third inning we'd all rush the gate between the bleachers and grandstand and sit in BOX SEATS in the almost empty Fenway. It wasn't until Yaz in 67/68 that Fenway started to sell out. Also, I think that Grandstand seats were 75c, Reserved Grandstand (todays Box Seats) were $1.25 and Box Seats (front 4-5 rows of today's Box Seats) were $4.00. But I'm old so don't hold me to it. I go to 1-2 games a year but at today's prices cannot afford to take my grandkids. Look for the old guy in the bleachers.

I am serving the U.S. government overseas (in Russia now) and I rarely get back to the States. My last trip back was over a year ago and it was not during baseball season. For over 3 hours, since 10 am EST, my wife and I have had our computers logged in to the Red Sox Virtual Waiting Room waiting for a chance to purchase tickets. I like how it says that patrons are selected on a RANDOM BASIS and every 30 seconds it will refresh the browser and "if appropriate" give me an opportunity to purchase seats. We know we will be back in the Boston area on home leave in July and just want to get tickets to one game for our daughter to see her first major league game in Fenway. But this is not working out. There is already a updated posting in the Virtual Waiting Room saying that tickets to most of the dates in July have only scattered seats, obstructed views, and standing room. By the time I finally get through (if I get through) we'll see if we can get the 4 seats I need for me, my wife, daughter and father. My wife had a line ready from Fever Pitch. "You love the Sox but when have they ever loved you back". Waiting for some love Theo. Please let me get a few tickets, just this once.

ummm. this online system is ridic.
I am trying to give the Red Sox my money and I have been waiting "in line" for multiple hours to do so.

1:23 pm and still waiting ... As I wait, I see updates that more and more games have "limited availability," meaning single-seats only or obstructed view. There's got to be a better way. I've been wanting to take my family to Fenway for years but I can't see paying $500 for the privilege. I wonder where the next generation of fans is going to come from.

I waited in the virtual waiting room for 2 hours (I've waited longer in the past). I got the chance to buy tickets to the Blue Jays game on August 28th. Except when I went to submit my ticket order, I was told to retry due to the traffic volume on the sight. 20 minutes of repeatedly clicking "continue" (retry) later and I GOT KICKED BACK INTO THE VIRTUAL WAITING ROOM. F*#% you Red Sox. It takes a lot for a lifelong fan to say that, but after the way Henry complained about the economy and cut payroll after the Sox keep charging more and more for tickets, concessions, memberships to a fictional nation, alternate jerseys etc., I'm sick of this.

Every year I wait in the virtual queue--I have yet to get in. Today I've waited 4 hours already. I don't get it.

Shut down STUBHUB, ACE and all the rest of the resellers! These scalper companies are the ones who have priced working class familes out of America's pasttime. I don't mind paying the REDSOX PRICE, but I can't afford ACE or STUBHUB and I can't get tickets from the Sox. On-lne waiting room--what a joke!

It's disappointing about the availability of seats, but that's what happens when the team is so successful.

As for price, if people stopped buying new cell phones every year and learned to live on a budget and within their means, they could afford tickets. However, everyone wants the 2500 sq. ft. house when they have two kids. It's all about choices. Deal with it.

I've been in the virtual waiting room since 10 am and I just now got tickets.

Few will believe this but my school friend and I would head to Fenway park with a packed lunch after the 9:00 mass on Sunday, via the MTA (10 cents) and go to the bleacher line (50 cents) buy a coke and enjoy a double-header. The whole thing cost about $1.00. That was in the early 1940's (wartime). Bob Johnson played left field, instead of Teddy ballgame.
bill31

7 hours in the freaking waiting room and still WAITING!

Seven hours in the virtual waiting room and nothing. Ugh

Well, the experience of buying tickets went like this. I spent the first hour and a half in front of the computer folding paper airplanes with my son. At t=90 minutes, the web site kindly informed me that half the games I was interested in were sold out (I had made a wide selection, just in case). At t=120 minutes my son got really bored with paper airplanes. At t=150 minutes, the web site informed me that the other half of the games of interest were sold out. By t=180 minutes, I caught myself designing a computer program to ballot-stuff the MLB virtual waiting room with ticket requests, à la scalper bots. The opportunity to buy tickets eventually came through at t=210 minutes (that's three and a half hours), and I bought pricey seats far away from the field. But at least I got tickets.

The accepted wisdom is that the delays are due to scalpers flooding the MLB web site with ticket requests managed by software bots. I'm not sure what the hard evidence is of this, but if it's true (and it doesn't strike me as that hard a software engineering exercise), shame on MLB for not figuring out a better way to manage their Web ticket sales.

nice.. I got 3 games this year. Last year I got 7 games. There is certainly a strategy to it. I spent about 4-5 hours in front of my computer, but got 8 tix for 3 different games..all weekends..all summer.

The right strategy, and a lot of patience pays off in the end.

the wait, atleast for me was not 6 hours, but closer to 23 hours, and by the point, only standing room only, or obstructed seats were available. here's the kicker, out of curiosity, once past the virtual waiting area, I "bought" 3 tix for roughly 40 games, and the tix system allowed me to do this. in my opinion, this is the real problem. the 8 ticket per game limit is not enough to stop brokers from tying up the system. there must also be a transaction limit.

the wait, atleast for me was not 6 hours, but closer to 23 hours, and by the point, only standing room only, or obstructed seats were available. here's the kicker, out of curiosity, once past the virtual waiting area, I "bought" 3 tix for roughly 40 games, and the tix system allowed me to do this. in my opinion, this is the real problem. the 8 ticket per game limit is not enough to stop brokers from tying up the system. there must also be a transaction limit.

the wait, atleast for me was not 6 hours, but closer to 23 hours, and by the point, only standing room only, or obstructed seats were available. here's the kicker, out of curiosity, once past the virtual waiting area, I "bought" 3 tix for roughly 40 games, and the tix system allowed me to do this. in my opinion, this is the real problem. the 8 ticket per game limit is not enough to stop brokers from tying up the system. there must also be a transaction limit.