BearX220

The US baseball mavens envy the NFL filling Wembley a couple of times per year for American football matches and, as you may know, are bringing the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox over to London Stadium for two games 29 and 30 June.

I wonder what interest you think there will be. On the one hand this is the first time it's been done, the Red Sox are league champions, and it's a great game to watch if you appreciate it. On the other hand the games will be played during Wimbledon fortnight, ticket prices are outrageous (Ł220+ to sit anywhere close to the action, Ł80 to Ł170 for high-deck seats), and I have no idea if anyone cares. My London cousin, queried about his interest in attending, expressed < 0 interest.

Tickets go on advance sale Monday. Two friends and I, who attend a Red Sox series somewhere in the US every year, are thinking of buying and flying. But do you think the battle for tickets will be fierce, the stadium filled with curious Londoners or even closet baseball supporters? Or will enthusiasm be low, meaning half-full stands on game weekend and possibly discounted tickets offered between now and then? The starting prices certainly discourage casual, semi-interested people from buying and are, I think, a big strategic mistake if MLB (Major League Baseball) is trying to attract a new audience.

I know if the cricket powers tried to hold a test match in Yankee Stadium and charged these prices they would have a hell of a hard time.

Ldnn1

There will no doubt be a contingent of Americans flying over for it or making it part of their summer Euro-trip, but instinctively I would be surprised if it sold out at those prices. Personally I have a similar level of interest to your cousin's.

aidy

i doubt it will sell quickly but for anyone else having to hit google, London stadium is the Olympic Stadium (no idea why MLB have renamed it)

BearX220

It shows up labeled as such on Google Maps now as well! Perhaps a Google-MLB conspiracy.

The configuration for baseball looks bad TBH. Most seats will be far away from the action.

krispy84

Raffles

The NBA games in London have always gone well, and in a bigger stadium - although London Stadium really is not ideal.

Worth noting that hotel prices go through the roof during that period, partly due to Wimbledon and partly due to other Summer events going on, so check out the total cost of your plans before booking. The reason Wimbledon causes such a big blip is that most people only attend for one day but stay in London for 3-4 days, so the total number of individual guests involved is high. It isn't like a business conference where the same people will attend every day.

lhrsfo

I've watched a US baseball match and a US American Football match and I found the baseball far more interesting than the American football, so much so that I might be interested in going to another but certainly not in London and certainly not at those prices. I suspect that the entire market would be US expats and tourists.
Also, Wimbledon fortnight is crammed with sporting events - generally there's a test match going on and often the British Grand Prix amongst others.

Worcester

Basketball is basically netball, isn't it? Good to see women's sports getting more prominence.

Analise

Not this American! . Such ticket prices are ridiculous. No way. That said, Yankee or RS expats might find the above prices a bargain as they would be able to see a game without airfare and hotel expenses.

Maybe not to British expats living in NYC?

BearX220

Yankee Stadium capacity is 54,000. I defy you to find 54k deep-pocketed, cricket-mad English expats in NYC. 5,400 perhaps.

jt82

I would have been interested as a Red Sox fan based over here, but not at those prices, that's more than I paid to watch the NFL game at Wembley last month, that's exorbitant (especially compared to the ~$30 I paid to watch the game I did at Fenway)

rickg523

I could see using the ball game as a "reason" to spend a few days in London and a week or two in the UK.
Btw, most of the NFL games played at Wembley have been dogs - games I wouldn't bother watching on TV. But Yanks v Sox is going to be good. It's a century old rivalry and both teams are loaded.

Swanhunter

UKtravelbear

MLB haven't renamed it.

London Stadium is it's official name. It was only called 'Olympic Stadium' in 2012.

aidy