Mariners home playoff tickets facing steep prices

The Mariners are not only the hottest story in town, but they are also the hottest ticket as well. Postseason baseball is finally happening in Seattle on Saturday and scalpers are taking full advantage.

Astros-Mariners get-in prices on @StubHub:

Game 1 — $35 (Tues in HOU)
Game 2 — $42 (Thurs in HOU)
Game 3 — $317 (Sat in SEA)
Game 4 — $225 (Sun in SEA)

Weekday afternoon vs. Weekend afternoon coupled with a 20+ year playoff drought.

— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) October 10, 2022

“Clearly, there are a number of folks who have decided that it was a good investment to purchase those Mariners tickets,” Andrew “Chef” Lanier said on the Gee and Ursula Show. “As soon as they went on sale, they turn around and resell them. We see this obviously with every concert that comes to town, all the big festivals, as soon as there’s a big game or if the Seahawks are popping really big. The resale market hits huge.”

Tickets for Seattle’s home games in the best-of-five ALDS series sold out nearly instantly with the resale market exploding. Fans who once paid $60 for upper deck level seating would now have to pay more than $300 each, according to seatgeek.com.

“I don’t think it’s wrong. I don’t like it, but I don’t think it’s wrong. I mean, how can you ever deny another man’s scam — something I was taught early in my life — unless they deny you yours,” said Spike O’Neill, guest host on the Gee and Ursula Show. “You know, if you were lucky enough to get tickets, good for you. But if you realize that you’ve got an opportunity to maybe get caught up on some bills or put some money back into your retirement fund or your savings account. I’m willing to watch the game on TV and give somebody else the opportunity.”

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Game 2 will be in Houston, with first pitch at 12:37 p.m., before Seattle hosts Games 3 and 4 on Saturday at 1:07 p.m. and Sunday at 12:07 p.m. Game 5, if necessary, will be back in Houston at 2:07 p.m.

“I’m not good with scalpers. I get it, we live in a capitalistic society, and yet, we have waited this long and now you probably priced out a bunch of people who might have otherwise been able to go to the game because you snapped up all those tickets and then you’re turning around and making a profit,” said Ursula Reutin, host of the Gee and Ursula Show. “Yeah, that’s great for you. But still, it deprives a bunch of people from being able to enjoy a game.”

Over the past 10 years, prices for admission to sporting events have increased by 19.42%. Over the past 25 years, ticket prices increased by an astounding 117.54% in total.

The ALDS features two of the best defensive teams in MLB, with the Astros ranking third in defensive efficiency at .719 and the Mariners ranking fourth at .710. The Astros logged the best bullpen ERA in the league at 2.80, while the Mariners’ bullpen finished sixth at 3.33.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.