Yankees Reduce Prices, Give Away Tickets to Season Ticket Holders

Mike Francesa announced on WFAN that the Yankees are giving away free tickets per game to all their premium season ticket holders. The value and number of tickets that each season ticket holder gets depends on how much they are paying for their seats. The Yankees choose to do it this away rather than give out refunds to current season ticket holders who have already paid the premium price.

ESPN/AP:

Those who bought $2,500 first-row season tickets in the 11 sections surrounding the plate that weren't reduced will receive an equal number of free first-row tickets for the rest of the season. Those who bought $1,250 first-row seats in the first two sections past each photo cage will receive free seats for 24 games.

Fans who bought $850 Legends Suite season tickets will get free seats in the same section for eight games and free seats in the $500 section for four games. Those who bought $600 Legends Suite season tickets will get free seats in the $500 section for 10 games, and those who bought $500 Legends Suite seats will get free seats in that section for eight games.

The reason the Yankees are giving away tickets is because they have had trouble selling out their premium seats around the home plate area.

CEO Derrick Hall gives D'Backs fans free season tickets

Derrick Hall runs the coolest fan program in all of pro sports. Since 2007, a select group of fans get free season tickets to the D'Backs games. Not only that, but they get food vouchers, free parking, + other perks.

Rick Reilly/ ESPN All told, the D-backs put 18 families on scholarship -- 41 season tickets worth nearly $100,000 -- and every one of their stories would make your knees give. There was the daughter whose softball-playing mom broke her leg sliding into second, couldn't work and is now losing her house. There was Beth Godfrey, who was fighting leukemia. She won tickets but died soon afterward. Now those tickets are being donated in her name to charity.

Business of Sports For the second year in a row, the Arizona Diamondbacks are running their “Season Ticket Scholarship Program.” I think this is one of the best initiatives that I’ve seen a professional franchise run. The basic premise is that any fans (usually previous season ticket holders) who are experiencing a financial hardship can apply for this “scholarship” by telling the club about their current situation and their love of the Diamondbacks. Then the team will go back and select a few winners who will received completely free lower-level season tickets for the upcoming season (winners may also receive parking passes and/or concessions vouchers). Fans can be nominated by a friend, or they can send self-nominations and include references.

Derrick Hall interview, by Ed Randall/ WFAN

Mark Malusis Late For His 1AM WFAN Show

WFAN overnight host Mark Malusis was stuck in traffic and missed his 1AM EDT Sunday morning opening monologue. Tony Paige is covering for him until Mark shows up to the station.

At 1:30AM EDT Mark called in to Tony Paige to explain his plight on air. Mark blamed it on being stuck on the Queens bound Tri-Boro Bridge, which has been renamed RFK Bridge. He mentioned that he was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for 2 straight hours and saw cars run out of gas, guys going to the bathroom, and women looking extremely distressed.

When will Mark actually show up? My bet is that he's going to get on air at 2:25AM EDT.

Dave Howard defends Citi Field

Dave Howard was on Mike Francesa's show today defending Citi Field and sounding like a crooked politician. He doesn't think Citi Field is an homage to the Dodgers. He ignores the serious obstruction issues in the Promenade Level. Just straight up disgusting.

Seinfeld comments on Citi Field

Jerry Seinfeld was talking about Citi Field on the Steve Summers show. I was disappointed to hear him say that he is tired to hear so many fan complaining about Citi Field. Understandably, Seinfeld has the best seats in the house so what does he care if thousands of fans have obstructed views? But he sounds like a pompous jackass when he rips the fans who have been voicing their complaints.

Heath Bell's interview after getting 1st save at Citi Field

WFAN's Ed Coleman did a quick interview w/ Heath Bell after recording the first save in Citi Field history.

Getting the save for Bell was something that he aimed for prior to this series so it must be pretty sweet for Bell to accomplish his goal.

David Wright on why he wears #5

David Wright explains to WFAN's Ed Coleman that he used to always wear #4 while coming up to the big leagues. When he got to the Mets, the 3rd base coach was wearing #4, so Charlie Samuels gave him #5 instead. [WFAN]

No Tailgating at Citi Field?

A caller told Mark Malusis that tailgating is not allowed at Citi Field. That kind of policy is not fan friendly, so I'm not too sure what the Mets' reasoning is behind the new ban.

Picture is from Flickr [Pipermoran]

Chris Russo banned from Citi Field and Yankee Stadium

Bob Raissman wrote a great article about Chris Russo's ban from doing radio shows at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. His ban even extends to Met and Yankee spring training sites in Florida.

"What (ticks) me off more than anything else is after I went on with Stern - where I was predictably put in a tough spot - Mike goes on his show and says, 'I don't view those (satellite) guys as competition,'" Russo said Thursday. "Hold it now. Time-out. If you don't view me as competition, then why can't I be at the freaking ballparks?"

The answer to that question, according to WFAN operations boss Mark Chernoff, whom Russo accused of acting in a "petty" manner, has nothing to do with emotions or rivalries - only money.

"We pay millions and millions of dollars for the rights to the teams. As part of the deals we get that exclusivity," Chernoff said Thursday. "That's what we are selling to our advertisers. If we allow another radio station in (the stadiums), what we're selling becomes saleable for someone else. That makes absolutely no business sense."

[NY Daily News]

Tony Paige w/ Bob Costas

Softball interview w/ Bob Costas. Costas talks about his wish for World Series games to start earlier and also to have Saturday afternoon WS games. Taking your family to games cost too much. Absolutely no relevations here. [WFAN]