The New York Yankee Season Ticket and Partial-Season Ticket Package FAQ

By Chris Uriarte (chrisjur@cju.com)

This FAQ was last updated in April 2003.

 

I have had a New York Yankee partial season ticket package 5 of the last 6 seasons and have enjoyed going to the Stadium every Saturday afternoon to see baseballs greatest team. I have also enjoyed many of the perks that go a lot with the ticket package most notably, guaranteed post-season tickets. My friends and colleagues often show interest in the benefits of purchasing a package, so I put together this FAQ.

 

The FAQ is divided into 4 Sections:

• General Information
• Seating Information
• Playoff Ticket Policies for Season Ticket holders
• Season Ticket Holder Perks and Optional Features
• Ticket Policies

 

Note that the term season ticket holder is used in this document to represent individuals who have either full season ticket packages or partial season ticket packages. If you have any questions about anything below, please dont hesitate to drop me a line.

 

Important note: I do not work for the New York Yankees. All the information below is based on the personal experiences of me and my colleagues/friends over the past six year. The information below may change, so it is always best to get the latest information from the source. Be sure to check out Yankees.com or call the New York Yankee Ticket Office at 718-293-6000.

 

General Information

1. What type of season ticket packages do the Yankees offer?

The Yankees offer a full-suite of full-season and partial-season ticket packages ranging from 11 pre-selected games per year to all 81 home games. There are generally two categories of ticket packages: larger premium accounts that include at least 40 games per season, and smaller accounts which range from 11 to 20-something games per season. Some packages contain pre-selected games, while others allow you to choose the games youd like to see (with some restrictions). The features and additional perks associated with each package will vary, depending on the package that you choose. The types of packages, their features and pricing will change from year to year. However, once you purchase your first season package, you are considered a Yankee ticket account holder, and the features associated with your package are generally grandfathered in, for the time you hold the account.

 

2. What are the seating options for the packages?

Seating options vary, depending on the package. Now, most ticket plans give you the options of purchasing Main Box or better seating. Several ticket plans only allow for the purchase of tier-reserved tickets. The Championship Seats that surround the infield are generally reserved for full season ticket holders.

 

3. How much do season ticket packages cost?

Again, this will vary depending on the plan you choose and the type of seating you choose for that plan. For the 2002 season, the least costly option is an 11-game bleacher-seat package at $88 per seat (In my opinion, not too bad if you enjoy sitting in the bleachers). On the flip-side, you can easily spend $3000 per seat for a full-season field-level box. Of course, there are more expensive luxury seats, but these sales are generally handled on a season or single-game basis by Yankee corporate sales. So, the Yankees do offer a number of packages for every budget even if it is expensive to bring a family to the ballpark these days.

 

4. How do I purchase a season ticket package?

Season ticket packages are sold directly through the Yankee ticket office. You can call the ticket office or go there in person (located at Yankee Stadium). Fair warning: I have never been able to get through to the Yankee ticket office via telephone without a long wait. I have gone to the Yankee ticket office during the off-season on two separate occasions and found the people to be very helpful and courteous. If you are going to the ticket office during the regular business day, you must enter the stadium through the Yankee executive offices entrance on the park-side of the stadium (3^rd base side). You must then sign in with a security guard and you will be escorted to the ticket office. (A one minute walk where you may see Mr. Steinbrenners car parked in the very-empty stadium walkway)

 

5. Will I automatically get the rights to my same seats for the following year?

Yes, you will automatically get rights to your tickets for the following season. The Yankees may decide, however, to slightly alter your ticket package during the off-season. For example, the first two seasons I had a Saturday ticket package, we received Old-Timers day tickets now we do not.

 

6. When are package renewals sent out by the Yankees? When must I pay for them?

Package renewals are generally sent out in November or December. You typically have until the first week of January to pay for the package in full. Timing is tight, especially if youve just purchased playoff tickets in September, so budget wisely!

 

7. When will my season tickets arrive at my home?

Im not sure if this is the case for all account holders, but I have never gotten my ticket earlier than three weeks before the start of the season. The last two years, the ticket have arrived within 14 days of opening day. The first few years, this made me a bit nervous, thinking that they may have forgotten about me but maybe it takes a while because my name is at the end of the alphabet???? Whatever the case, dont sweat it: your tickets will be there in time for your first game. One word caution: the tickets are sent via UPS and require a signature, so be sure someone is home to accept them. I do not recommend leaving a note for the UPS man to drop them on your doorstep because they are typically shipped with New York Yankees in the return address.

 

Seating Questions

1. Can I purchase championship-level field boxes on a partial-season basis?

Field Championship boxes, Loge Championship boxes and Legends Suites are not available for partial season purchases.

 

2. Can I request that my seating location be changed or upgraded at the end of the season?

Yes, the Yankees will allow you to make a formal request to change your seating location if you include an Upgrade Questionnaire with your package renewal form and full payment. They will consider your request and notify about the status of your request either by mail or telephone.

 

3. Will the Yankees notify me if seating upgrade opportunities are available even if I havent applied for an upgrade?

For at least the last two years, the Yankees have sent upgrade opportunities to select account holders via mail. These upgrade letters include details about the location and pricing of the seats that youre being offered. If you choose to accept the upgrade, you must return the upgrade notification to the Yankee Ticket Office, along with payment to cover the additional cost of your upgraded tickets.

 

 

 

Playoff Tickets Policies for Season Ticket Holders

1. If I buy a season ticket package, do I automatically have rights to purchase post-season tickets?

It depends. If you choose a premium ticket package (full season package, 40-something game package, etc.), then you do have rights to purchase post-season tickets. As of the 2002 season, account holders for lesser packages do not get playoff rights, with the exception of one 20+game package.

 

2. Why do some people with smaller ticket packages have the right to purchase post-season tickets?

The Yankees have been generous enough to grandfather the playoff ticket policies for individuals who are previous account holders. For example, although you do not receive playoff ticket options today when purchasing a Saturday ticket package (or todays equivalent), I have the opportunity to purchase the same amount of seats for at least one playoff game per series under my Saturday package because this was the original policy when I first became an accountholder.

 

3. If I am allowed to purchase post-season tickets, do I get the same seats I have during the regular season.

Under the premium ticket packages, you have the rights to purchase your same seats that you have during the regular season for all playoff games. If you dont have one of these packages and you do have playoff rights, you generally will not get the same seats that you have during the regular season. For example, my regular season Saturday package tickets are in a Main Box, but I have received playoff tickets all over the stadium: Tier Reserved, Field Box, Loge, etc (some seats great, some very bad).

 

4. When are the playoff ticket packages distributed to season ticket holders? When is payment due?

Playoff ticket package invoices are typically distributed in August and due by the fist week of September paid in full.

 

5. What post-season games will I have the rights to purchase?

This also depends on the regular season package that you hold. Season ticket holders with premium packages generally have the privilege of purchasing tickets for any post-season home game. People with lesser packages generally receive the option to purchase at least 1 game for each post-season series, for the same amount of seats that they own during the regular season. For example, since I have four regular season tickets, I was allowed to purchase four tickets for an AL Divisional game, four tickets to an ALCS game and four tickets to a World Series game.

 

6. What if the Yankees dont play a post-season game that I have tickets for?

You will be refunded the full value of the tickets. You can either have the amount refunded to your credit card, or credited to your Yankee Ticket account to be used for the following seasons tickets.

 

7. How much are post-season tickets? Why are they so expensive?

Post-season ticket prices are set by Major League Baseball and, yes, they are expensive. The price will vary from year to year (but never seems to go down). Last year, I received four tickets for an AL Divisional game (Tier Reserved at $35 each), four tickets to an ALCS game (Main Box at $70 each) and four tickets to a World Series game (Loge Box at $175 each). The total for these 3 games (12 tickets total), plus handling, was $1168.00. Incidentally, the price of my full season, 13-game Saturday package was $1584 only $400 more than what I paid for the 3 playoff games!

 

 

7. How much are post-season tickets? Why are they so expensive?

Easy answer: you dont know. When play tickets are sent to you, they are generally numbered like Home Game 1, American League Home Game 5, etc. The actual dates and times of these games will not be determined until the playoffs arrive. Most playoff games these days (at least on the east coast), start at around 8pm. Keep your schedule clear!

 

 

 

Season Ticket Holder Perks and Optional Features

1. Do the Yankees offer special ballpark access or events for season ticket holders?

No unlike some other ballparks, the Yankees do not allow special access to the stadium or early entry for season ticket holders. Accountholders do have the opportunity to purchase Yankee Stadium Club or Pinstripe Pub tickets, but, in my opinion, these two bar/dining facilities pale in comparison to some of the newer club features offered in todays newer ballparks.

 

2. Is parking included with a season ticket package?

No, but you do have the opportunity to purchase season parking passes along with your package. However, be warned that you must park in the lot assigned to youthe passes dont work in every lot. So, if you have a favorite or more convenient lot, think twice before purchasing.

 

3. Since Ill be purchasing tickets in bulk, are the per-ticket prices discounted?

Actually, yes: There is a small discount (~$4 per ticket) off the standard ticket price. In addition, as a Yankee ticket account holder, you get discounts on day-of-game tickets purchased from the Yankee ticket window. Also, since Yankee season packages come directly from the Yankees and NOT from Ticketmaster you are not subject to the Ticketmaster handling fee (Ticketmaster tax) that they put on every ticket they sell. All in all, the Yankee discount and the lack of a Ticketmaster fee saved my about $350 last year, compared to purchasing the same tickets separately from Ticketmaster.

 

4. Do the Yankees provide lost ticket replacement services for season ticket holders?

Yes. Each account holder is provided with an ID card for each seat in their package. If you lose, forget or misplace a package ticket, you can go to the Yankee ticket office the day of game, present your ID card and a photo ID, and they will give you a replacement ticket for the game. You can do this two times per year at no cost to you. Any additional losses will cost you $5 per ticket.

 

5. Do the Yankees provide will-call or ticket pick-up services for season ticket holders?

Yes. After you enter the stadium, you can leave tickets for other members of your party at the Yankee Ticket Office customer service window at Section 9 inside the stadium. When the rest of your party arrives, they must go to the Ticket Office customer service window outside the stadium, present photo ID and they will be given the tickets you left them.

 

 

Ticket Policies

1. Can I re-sell my season tickets?

No. The guidelines are VERY strict about this. You may not resell or scalp your tickets. The Yankees say that they continuously monitor eBay, Yahoo! and other Internet sites to track down unauthorized sales. If you try to sell them, you will not be offered post-season tickets and your account will be closed at the end of the season. In addition, the Yankees say that YOU are ultimately responsible for your tickets, so if you do sell or give them to someone who then sells them to a scalper, you will also have your account cancelled. Your Yankee ticket account number is printed on EVERY ticket that is provided to you, so they can easily be tracked back to their source.

 

2. Can I sell or transfer the account to a friend if I dont want my tickets anymore? Does the friend get the same perks that were grandfathered to me when I originally purchased the tickets?

No. They only way an account can be transferred is if the account holder dies in which case, the tickets can only be left to a son, daughter or spouse.

 

3. My company has a season ticket package under its name, but doesnt want it anymore. Can they transfer it to me so I can get the same perks that may have been grandfathered to them whey they originally purchased the tickets?

Nope. Youll have to buy your own package.