Those seats weren’t going to stay empty forever.
The Yankees today announced they are lowering ticket prices for seats located in the Legends Suite and a few other of their more expensive locations in Yankee Stadium.
Those who already have purchased season tickets will have a choice between a refund or a credit to make up the difference.
The struggling economy and an outcry from outraged fans likely led to the decision.
“A few weeks ago I indicated that in light of the economy we would review the pricing of a small number of our premium locations at Yankee Stadium; specifically, our Suite Seats,” Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement.
“As a result, and for many of our fans who have already purchased full season suite seats in such premium locations, the Yankees are announcing today a program that adjusts certain prices and benefits.”
More than 40 percent of front-row seats were reduced by up to 50 percent and many of those who bought tickets closest to the field for $325-$1,250 will be eligible for additional free seats.
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky of Westchester, a frequent and vocal critic of the Yankees, told The Associated Press the reductions weren’t enough.
“It’s the public that built Yankee Stadium, and even at these prices, the public has been excluded from the very stadium they built,” Brodsky said. “It’s a continuing disaster.”
Steinbrenner said the Yankees had sold 85 percent of their premium seats and 37,000 full-season equivalents, more than 3.4 million tickets in all. But it was apparent most of the unsold seats were closest to the field, creating an unflattering picture during television broadcasts.
In response, the team cut the price of first-row Legends Suite seats in four sections on the outer half of the dugouts and photo cages from $2,500 to $1,250. According to a count by The Associated Press, 48 seats were affected.
In addition, seats in the first row in the final three sections down each foul line were slashed from $1,000 to $650. That affected 68 seats.
In all, the AP count had the Yankees cutting the price of 116 of 258 front-row seats. The team said the reductions will apply to this season only.
Fans who bought $2,500 first-row season tickets in the 11 sections surrounding the plate that weren’t reduced (there are 98 seats in that area) 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 (48 seats) will receive free seats for 24 games.
Fans who bought $850 Legends Suite season tickets (843 seats located in that category) 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 (324 seats) will get free seats in the $500 section for 10 games. Those who bought $500 Legends Suite seats (470 seats) will get free seats in that section for eight games.
Among the $325 non-premium seats between the bases, the Yankees said fans who bought two or three season tickets will receive two free tickets for every other game starting with Thursday or Friday. Those who bought four or five season tickets will get two free seats for every game, those who bought six or seven will get three free seats for every game and those who bought season tickets will get four free seats for every game.
Among the top non-premium seats, the Yankees announced a buy-three-get-one-free program for the $325-a-seat season tickets in the 15 sections between the bases.
With AP