Red Sox Season Ticket Holder
It is well.
After a five-year wait, annually getting e-mails notifying me that “we’ve again had a 99.8% renewal rate with our season ticket base, so you’re still on the waiting list”, I am a Red Sox Season Ticket Holder. After seeing the Sox generously adding seating capacity each year (clearly in an effort to get me season tickets, although there may have been other ancillary benefits as well), only to yet again be told “maybe next year”, I finally got the e-mail I’d been waiting for last month:
Abridged version: “You can have tickets, give us a call.”
Hall-le-lu-jiah!!!
I called, and they explained that what was available to me was a ten-game plan, for two seats in the RF bleachers - total cost $545 for the season. So, I parrot back to the lady on the other end of the phone, “You’ve got, what… a ten-game program - which is *per-fect* for me!” I don’t have to take out a second mortgage to front the funds for the tickets. I’m likely not going to make ten games anyway, living 90 minutes away (in good traffic). Per-fect!
Having waited five years, I would’ve taken ten games against the Orioles, Royals, and Rays - but when the tickets came, I see I got *two* Yankee games (both Sundays, which allows for a nice day in Boston - and by extension, enough time to get in and out without abandoning my sleep schedule as a weeknight game would). I also got a Tigers game in the Opening Series (the 12-6 game, on Thursday night), a Blue Jays game, Indians, Angels, Diamondbacks, and then a few scrub games (Rangers, and two Rays games - which actually should be entertaining).
The Angels game is a Thursday afternoon game next week, during Cody’s school vacation. Perfect. We can make a day of that one, too.
In all, one Wed night game, five Thursday night games, one Thursday afternoon game, and three Sunday games. Beautiful.
Plus, now I can put in at the end of each season for an upgrade if I so desire (specifically, I’ll start an annual request to upgrade to the “S” package - which is all 13 Sunday home games, Opening Day, and the annual Patriot’s Day Game played at 11am on a Monday in April… when the hold the Boston Marathon, fwiw). But until I get to the “S” package, I’ve got great seats right now: About twenty rows up from the visiting bullpen, at the end of an aisle so I have room on one side - in a row with extra leg room (just by chance), around a bunch of fans that seem diehard without being drunken jerks (i.e. safe to bring the boy). Picture the season-ticket holders around Jimmy Fallon in “Fever Pitch”, except younger. Good crowd.
The funny thing was at the end of the phone call with the Sox Season Ticket Office, the girl makes a point of explaining to me in almost an apologetic voice, “Now, you understand this means you are a Season-Ticket Holder now. You’re no longer on the waiting list.”
I’m confused, and ask, “Um… yeah. I signed up for the waiting list so I could one day get tickets - and it seems like that ‘one day’ is today. Um.. is there a downside here?”
She explains, “No, no… I just want you to understand that these are season tickets, which you have the opportunity to renew each season - and if the Sox make the playoffs, you’re given right of first refusal for an ALDS game.”
Still confused, I reiterate, “Got it. So again, is there a downside here?”
She concludes, “I just want to make sure you understand that you’re no longer on the waiting list.”
I feel like I’m in a Twilight Zone episode, “So to sum up: I’ve got tickets to ten Sox games this year at face value, and every year going forward if I want them. I have an opportunity to get to at least one playoff game each season (if the Sox are in the playoffs) at face value. If I want to upgrade to “better” seats, I’m building tenure with each passing season to be able to do that. I’m no longer on the Waiting List cuz I’m now on the Season Ticketholder List. Did I miss anything?”
Girl, sounding somewhat relieved for reasons I still don’t comprehend, “Yeah - that’s everything. Enjoy the games.”
Thanks. I will. For a long, long time.
Pondering this exchange subsequently, the only thing I can think of is that some folks may be “upset” that they don’t get an 81-game (i.e. all home games) package as a season-ticket holder coming right off the waiting list. But even in that scenario, as mentioned, they can continue to work towards that goal if they so desire… indeed coming off the waiting list onto the official Season Ticketholder List - even for only ten games - gets them closer to that goal. If that’s indeed what upsets some people, and consequently has the Season Ticket Office personnel so concerned about “backlash” from coming off the Waiting List, well… I guess there’s just no pleasing some people. If it’s something else, I dunno.. and, well… don’t care.
I am a Red Sox Season Ticket Holder. It is well.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I think what you are trying to say is: Some people are idiots, so all others need to be treated as if they are idiots to avoid “backlash”
April 16th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I always thought the definition of a season ticket was having tickets to all home games. What you have, Cliffy, is known in technical parlance as “a bunch of tickets.” Mind you, if being called a “Red Sox Season Ticket Holder” is something other than a mark of deep unabiding shame in the circles within which you travel, I’m more than happy to oblige. If it made you happy, I’d be happy to call you “Admiral.” I’m just saying it not my understanding of the term.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:58 am
So, Tank, I believe you’re trying to tell me, “You keep saying those words, Red Sox Season Ticket Holder. I do not think those words mean… what you think they mean.” You may be right, I may be crazy… but all I know is that I’m guaranteed the opportunity to see the reigning World Champs (and only two-time WS champs this millenium) play in the most historic ballpark in the majors. We can pick nits and call it Season Tickets or not… the point is: I’m in.
It is well.