For the last 12 years, Scott B. and his wife have enjoyed Yankee games from Row A of Section 1 of the Tier Reserve. Located directly behind home plate, these are primo Tier seats, and Scott had hoped for comparable seats at the ballpark.
When his relocation information arrived, he was in a surprise. The Yankees had put him in Section 412, Row 9. Using the seat selector to find those seats reveals a location a few sections away from fair territory down the right field line.
“When I called to express my extreme dissatisfaction,” Scott told me via e-mail today, “no one even looked at my file. They said I should pay it and check in periodically to see if we can switch our seats.”
Bin’s story isn’t an isolated one among Yankee fans, and last week, the Yankees sent a letter to holders of the 41-game plan about the relocation. “Due to overwhelming demand for 41-Game Plans, we strongly suggest that Licensees accept their initial seat assignment. The demand for 41-Game Plans will definitely exceed the available 41-Game Plan seat locations,” the letter said.
It continued: “If you decline your assignment, the assigned seat location set forth on the enclosed invoice will be immediately forfeited and released into available inventory. There can be no assurance that such assigned seat location or any other requested location and/or Plan will be available to you at a later date.”
Meanwhile, the Yanks’ customer service seems to be handling this with a little bit less than grace and aplomb. “I asked if blocks of 8 seats open up often (semi-sarcastically). No answer,” Scott related. “When I asked if the fact that we’ve had these seats for 12 years meant anything to anyone, he said others were pushed out farther. There ain’t much farther or higher to go. I think [the section] only goes up 15 rows.”
Scott says that the ticket rep he spoke to didn’t offer up much. He didn’t give him the option to buy cheaper or more expensive seats in a different section. He didn’t look up Scott’s file to check on his 12 years of patronage. He just gave off what Scott called a “a basic ‘I have to be courteous but stop bothering me'” attitude.
Opening the new stadium should be a celebratory event. This tale and countless others like just leave a bad taste in my mouth.
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