Playoff games 1 and 2 sold out

UPDATE, 10:13: Tickets for the Rays' first two playoff games sold out during Tuesday's Internet pre-sale.

Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said he was not surprised at the brisk pace of sales.

"It's postseason baseball,'' he said. "Postseason is few and far between. So I never expected anything otherwise. We had a good sense there was going to be a lot of demand for the tickets. ... It's the nature of the Internet and things happen very quickly. ... I wouldn't be excited that it sold out quickly, I would have been ridiculously disappointed had it not. So this was very much our expectation. This is postseason baseball. I can't even think about running this business if it wouldn't have happened.''

Sternberg said the Rays would not reconsider removing the tarps covering the top portions of the upper deck for the first or second round.

He also reiterated that they are saving a "very limited number" of tickets for fans who make deposits on 2009 season tickets. "Good seats can still be had,'' he said.

If the Rays win the AL East, they will put on sale in a similar fashion tickets for a potential third home game in the first round (which would be Game 5 of the series).

- - - -  -

Team president Matt Silverman said sales during today's Internet pre-sale were so strong that only a very limited number of tickets to the first two division series games may be left wth the public Internet sale begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The Rays held the pre-sale on Tuesday for fans who registered on their web site, raysbaseball.com, and were selected in a random drawing. They are also holding back what Silverman said were "a limited number" of tickets for fans who make deposits on 2009 season tickets.

The dates, opponent and game times won't be known for several days. If the Rays win the AL East, they most likely will open at home against the Central Division champs, either the Twins or White Sox, with Game 1 at Tropicana Field either Oct. 1 or Oct 2, and Game 2 on Oct. 3. If they end up as the wild-card, they would open on the road and play Game 3 at home on Oct. 5 and a potential Game 4 on Oct. 6.

Comments

[Jeff]

Anybody willing to share what the password was for Game 1 and 2 opportunities?

[Luis Garcia]

3 Game 1 tickets $65 per... Sect 304 Row X

Email me at: luisgarcia813@gmail.com

[Joey]

I just wanna know im so confused when i bought my tickets it i clicked game 2 and the date said oct 2 but on here it says game to is oct 3 so im so confused if anyone can help it would be great

[Graham]

Wow. Just wow.

Capitalism. It's all Capitalism.

Sorry, Capitalism doesn't involve pissing on your customers. Some of you actually scare me with the way you think.....

[Brent]

Now the angels need to lose tonight!!!

[Brent]

The Majic is now 1!!!!!!!!! as of 10:50 pm GO RAYS!!!!!!!!

[Jim]

I'm a season ticket holder and rec'd the pre-sale password and got my tickets! Can't wait - GO RAYS!!!!

I'm a downtown St Pete resident and went to over 30 games this year. I love baseball in St Pete and hope the new stadium remains here. I'm tired of hearing about some folks complaining about the location. Sorry, but the folks that never went to games during the season don't deserve playoff tickets. Simply buy a partial plan and you'll get post-season tickets, otherwise go to eBay.

(This applies to the naysayers of the Trop) True Rays and baseball fans understand that to see Major League Baseball, you may have set aside time for driving and parking and yes, make an effort. Look at other cities!!! Some people here want things too easy for them.

I'm glad to see the Rays gaining local support and hope it continues to snowball. GO RAYS!!!

[Amanda]

Hey Boss-
Ding, fries are done!
(Welcome back, it was quiet here without you)

[Luis Garcia]

"Luis"
Don't be made because you can't afford to go to a game or don't have the ability to make a few dollars off what you are given.

[Amanda's Boss]

Get your butt back to work!!!
How many times do I have to write you up for neglecting the fries???

rememeber...
WE SHALL SERVE NO FRIES BEFORE THEIR TIME!

[Luis]

Your annoying. Go scalp your tickets elsewhere.

[Luis Garcia]

No offense but for all those that are bothered by having to pay $70 for a ticket only means that you are not ready for a BIG market team... and I would also say good luck next year in trying to find tickets for $16 like you did this year.

With success come a costs and the cost is upped ticket prices in order to better our team for a long run at the pennant chase.

[Luis Garcia]

Hey Gram
mine aren't $400 so you might be able to afford them.

[Luis Garcia]

I have these tickets available for sale:

- Game 1 Sect.304 Row X (3-4 avail.)
- Game 2 Sect.306 Row C (2-3 avail.)

Prices can be negotiated according to the general going rate.

Email: raulito@gmx.com

[Cheryl]

Hi KatinBos...No we had the option of buying up to 4 tickets for both games. I only wound up buying 3 to Game 2. I figured why buy what I couldn't use...let them go back into the drawing for someone else. But, now that I see so many tickets being scalped and sold on STUBHUB and other sites...if I get picked again...I'm buying as many as I can and then selling them for face value to friends/family who weren't as fortunate.

[bigbbfan]

I got mine for all 11 games and in the section I wanted. I feel no sympathy for you folks who didn't get season tickets. They even had 20 game pick a date plans. So quit your whining and watch it on TV.

[KatinBos]

Hey Cheryl, sorry for the inaccuracy. But, it would be a lucky SOB who through the all drawings. Winners got to buy tickets to Game 1 OR 2, not both, right? I wasn't sure from your post.

Graham, c'mon buddy. Give you something for taking the time to show up???

[Mike/ Orlando]

I think the Waiting list should have been determined by the people with the most used game stubs. Not the Yankmee fans who have nothing to root for anymore.. Ive been to nearly 20 games this year and live in Orlando..
DENIED thanks for playing..sux

[Chuck]

Graham,

Stop trying to convince everyone that you're Super Fan. So you went to a Royals game with 4500 other people in attendance.

BIG DEAL.

[Cheryl]

KatinBos...that information is incorrect.

This is taken right from the Rays website "Registrants (including winners of previous drawings) will be eligible for each drawing."

So even those individuals who were chosen and have tickets to Game 1 and 2...will be placed back into the drawing for all the other postseason games.

[Graham]

Chuck- pay attention. I said nothing about bandwagon fans.

Woody- my point exactly.

KatinBos- I'm pretty sure there aren't 9000 seats at Fenway covered by a tarp. Not only that, but have you seen the preliminary prices for ALCS and Series tickets? I'd love to think I could go to those, but I may have to simply settle for the ALDS. Does me no good if I can't afford those.

Jamie- That's nice, unless you simply CAN'T afford it. Myself, I'm going to make every effort to get there. If I don't and it's because there were 2250 opportunities to buy tickets that weren't given out because they don't want to remove a tarp, I'm going to be PO'd. Seriously PO'd.

Put simply.......why wouldn't they give an automatic voucher to those who attended one of those last season weeknight games. Give us something for actually taking the time to show up. Seriously......

[Jamie]

For all those complaing about White Sox fans buying tix in the lottery...you ca If the yare good enough fans to come to the visiting team's stadium, more power to them! I also didn't get tix from the lottery, but I'll make darn sure I'm at at least one of the games. Stub Hub may be more expensive, but how many times in your life do you get to see your home team in the playoffs. I would love to buy season tix, but the money tree in my back yard dies this summer, so its out of the question now!

[Amanda]

Hey, KatinBos! Hope you're right about the drawing. That would be awesome for those who didn't get picked for this round.
As much as it pains me to say it, congrats on the clinch last night. If nothing else, great to see the Yanks officially outta here!

[KatinBos]

Hey Ray fans! I'm a friendly Bosox fan here. The Sox also have the random drawing. Yeah it stinks that you didn't get tickets, but if it's the same type of random drawing the Sox use, if you didn't "win" in the first drawing, your name stays in the bucket for ACLS. If you don't get in that round, your name stays in for the World Series. So some of you who may be complaining may actually get a chance to go to the Series. I love my Sox, but I think it's the Rays year. Good luck! :)

[Woody]

There is one point that needs to be made: ALL SEATS SHOULD BE FOR SALE!!! 9000 seats should not be left with a tarp over them! There is no logical reason that has been comunicated to us.
If there is a reason that makes sense, let us know. WE WILL UNDERSTAND. Nobody cares about losing a fair lottery. We are ticked off that there are 9000 unused seats! And Tim, do you really think the bandwagon fans care about this stuff? Think before you write, Junior. I've been to 25 plus games a year since 98. If I have to pay $70 a ticket, I will. The one and ONLY point is: SELL ALL THE SEATS!!!

[Chuck]

Word. Don't tell Graham you paid over face value. He'll call you a bandwagon fan.

[Neal]

That was for all of them, Chuck. We got a few.

[Chuck]

Does your fiancee not know how to use stubhub? There are hundreds of lower deck tickets for way less than $300.

[Graham]

Not a bad idea Chuck Jr. IV

[Neal]

$300 on stubhub.com this morning for upper deck, section 309. God bless my fiancee.

[Brent]

Amanda,

Could you please contact me for the games you are not going to attend as I do not have any tickets and could not afford to pay more then the ticket master is charging. You say you will sell them to me face value for at least one game 2 tickets and that would be great. My daughter of 2 years of age and my wife would love to go. We are big Rays fans all of us have a Jersy. PENA, LONGORIA and my daughter wears a cherleader rays uniform. My email is brent.kuehl@yahoo.com. Thanks FYI get the tarps off Sturnberg..

[Chuck Jr. IV]

They could have had separate random drawings for each of the first two games, which would have given more people the opportunity to purchase tickets, but to only one of the games.

[dan]

I dont have a ticket, I'll be watching on TV. Just wanted to add my 2 cents =) Go Rays!

[Graham]

I was at the stadium Tim. I drive from NEW TAMPA to get there. I am very strategic about which games I go to with intent. I go to Royals games, I go to Twins games the day after a BoSox game. I've been here all along and you'll find varied posts from me all along the way.

More than likely, I will cave in and pay more than I can afford to go.

That doesn't make them holding out any less wrong....if they sold every seat in the house based on a random drawing I wouldn't be complaining. If I didn't know that White Sox/Twins fans weren't already getting tickets, i wouldn't be complaining. But they are and I am.

[Amanda]

Graham-
I don't blame you for reading my epically long post, but I did say that I understood that some folks couldn't afford the season tickets, and so that wasn't directed at them. But that comment was towards the bottom, and if I weren't me I would't have read that far.
I agree with you about the tarps. They need to go. I disagree with your "strongarming" comment. The Rays have been advertising that if you put a deposit down, you are guaranteed a ticket. They have to hold a few so they can make good on that offer for people who are still going to do that. From what I understand, they are not holding many tickets at all for them. But think how pissed you would be if you were to put your deposit down for your season tickets and didn't get the playoff tickets as promised? I also disagree that there will be any empty seats for these playoff games. They're already sold out, aren't they? Demand is high enough that they're going for outrageous prices online. Even if the scalpers have to reduce their asking prices as game one approaches, I'm sure they'll ALL sell.
Don't get me wrong, though, I understand why you're upset. I'd be disappointed, too. I just think it's a little misdirected, is all.

[Tim]

I have been a fan from the beginning, registered early and did not get picked. Am I complaning, NO. They did say it was a random drawing right? Funny how all of these "big Rays fans" are coming out of the woodwork and want to jump on the playoff bandwagon. Where were all of you all season? I bet the stadium is a great place to watch a playoff game but not a regular season game, right? I bet it is not too far of a drive now....hmmmmmm :)

[Graham]

fans over profits....agreed....

Amanda....you're assuming one can afford a Season Ticket package next year. Here's my point. I support ALL of our teams as much as my budget will allow.

If I miss this FIRST playoff game, as supportive as *I* am, NOT being able to afford season tickets AT THIS TIME, it's just wrong, PARTICULARLY when there are seats they plan on leaving tarped. ESPECIALLY when they are holding tickets for people to buy those tickets.

I've invested in this team this year. I've sat upper deck, lower deck, loge deck and outfield at various times throughout the year. I've bought these tickets straight from the box office on days I can go and can afford to go.

It's quite obvious that at this point, they are simply trying to strong-arm us into buying season tickets. What's going to be sad is when they have empty seats for a playoff game because of it.

If that's not understood, I don't know how much more clear I can make it.

[fans over profits]

I think the REAL fans like myself and neighbor who attended 25+ games this year and watched most games on tv as well as brought children of parents who couldn't afford to. I too am disappointed I didnt get chosen. But not to open up the extra seats sounds like a mistake..I thought home field advantage played a BIG part in our success..57 wins at home, best record in baseball. I am upset and disappointed to find out there have been alot of tickets bought by Whitesox fans for game 1 and 2.

[Amanda]

Holy crap. I didn't realize how long that last message was until I posted it. Sorry, guys. Killing time at work...

[Amanda]

I'm really starting to believe that some people on these boards are just going to be miserable no matter what. This ownership and management team has been amazing. They've turned the Rays from the embarrassment of the MLB to potential AL East champs. But now they're evil personified because you didn't get selected in a random drawing for tickets?!
I agree, the tarps need to be removed to open up more seats. And I know, it has to be horribly disappointing to not get selected by the lottery to buy tickets. But some of this is ridiculous:
"the fans get this slap in the face.." "putting a damper on a dream season..." "I am starting to wonder why I am a season ticket holder to a team that really does not care about the fans!..." "I might just become content to watch on TV next season if this is how they repay me..."
Are you guys serious? You've known for over a month now that you could *guarantee* a ticket just by putting a deposit on season tickets for next year. A deposit. That's it. Hell, then sell the season tickets if you don't want them! And the lottery isn't fair? Really? Then what WOULD be fair? First-come-first-served? Then people would be upset because either the time they went on sale wasn't convenient for them, or the huge crush of people trying to get the tickets would crash the servers (very likely, actually).
Just slow your rolls, guys. I'm sorry you weren't able to get tickets. Maybe you shouldn't be a bandwagon fan who doesn't want to support the team during the season but expects playoff tickets (I know there are people who couldn't afford the deposit for the season tickets, so that comment was not directed at you. I know times are tough and money is tight. Heck, I had to take out a student loan for my playoff tickets. If it truly was a financial burden for you, rest assured that I'm not talking to you right now).
Come on. This team has given us something we've only dared to dream about for years now. It's not THEIR fault you didn't get picked for tickets, though like I said, I think they should remove the tarps.
On another note, I had to buy tickets for the entire playoffs. There may be some games I can't attend. If so, I'll be selling them - to Rays fans only - at face value. I'll let you guys know if that happens.

[Graham]

I was on last night. And you're right. They were only $55.....your point?

If having to balance three teams over the course of a season and try to make a reasonable amount of games for each makes me a loser, you're right.

If having a voice makes me a loser, you're right.

If you think it makes me a loser, you're a douche.

[RaysFan]

Well, since I got on the website early this morning instead of wasting time on a newspaper blog like some loser ... I did NOT pay $70 per ticket. :)

[Graham]

9000 seats going unused seems to lend MORE credibility to the argument. "Holding" tickets for season ticket deposits even more.....

[Graham]

Well lucky for you that the now $70 per ticket price falls within your budget. Some of us aren't so fortunate. And I'm sure there will be plenty of White Sox/Twins fans in the stands.....hope it works out for the ownership group when they find that this maneuever has cost them fans in the stands next year, because I might just become content to watch on TV next season if this is how they repay me.

Plenty of Lightning and Bucs games to attend......

[RaysFan]

Wow, such negativity! Did you all not expect this to happen? I am a trueblood fan but do not live close enough to St. Pete to make as many games as I would like to. Trust me, I would be at every home game if I could, but I never miss a game on TV. I signed up for the lottery, didn't win, tried to by tickets online this morning, and was thrilled to find that I could still buy them through StubHub! I know where those tickets came from, and I know I paid more than the person that bought them, and I DON'T CARE ... I'm going to see the Rays play in the Playoffs! Can't wait!!!!!

[behind home plate]

I have 3 tickets first game 13 rows behind home plate. Anyone want to offer me Over $125? each? Stubhub is $200 or more plus fees?

[duh]

I get the feeling that teams are starting to sell directly to stub hub...because they have a huge number of tickets available.

[duh]

they really need to take the tarps off. i dont see why they are soo against it. If people are willing to pay for the seats why not.

I also got denied but will probably scalp some on game day. There are thousands of tickets on stubhub and ebay. so it should be a problem at all. Just waiting for the initial dust to clear

[Chris]

calm down you all, there are plenty of tickets available on stubhub.com or on many ticket broker. Though they may charge a bit more.

[Luis Garcia]

I have these tickets available for sale:

- Game 1 Sect.304 Row X (3-4 avail.)
- Game 2 Sect.306 Row C (2-3 avail.)

Prices can be negotiated according to the general going rate.

Email: raulito@gmx.com