February 27, 2015
The Tampa Bay Rays finished the 2014 season at 77-85 and stumbled to October's finish line with their worst record since 2007. Perhaps the team’s biggest headline last year was its decision to ship star southpaw David Price to Detroit for a handful of lesser talent. Now without a definitive clubhouse leader and head coach Joe Maddon, the Rays enter 2015 with little chemistry and identity in a competitive American League East.
New faces will be plenty at Tropicana Field this season, but that hasn't seemed to make ticket ticket prices suffer on the secondary market. The average price for Rays tickets on TicketIQ is $69.47, which is 9% higher than last season’s average of $63.76. Rays Opening Day tickets against the Orioles average at $129.80, but the team’s most expensive series will be played against the divisional counterpart Yankees from April 17 to 19.
Tickets will average over $100 during each of the series’ three games. April 18 Rays vs Yankees tickets own a secondary average of $125.95 and get-in price starts at $35. The opening game of the series on April 17 sees tickets average at $113.94 while the final game two days later boasts a $112.05 average on the secondary market. Get-in price for those two games is listed at $35 and 31, respectively.
The end of May will welcome the Ray’s three cheapest games of the season against Athletics and Mariners. The average price for May 21 Rays vs Athletics is $44 on the secondary market while games against the Mariners on May 27 and 26 both own a $45 ticket average. The cheapest seat available on May 21 is currently $9 and get-in price for both games against the Mariners see get-in price start at $11.
The numerous trades the Rays made over the offseason will certainly create a new clubhouse environment. While they aren’t poised to make a playoff push in the foreseeable future, the Rays will use 2015 to rebuild. Such was the case in 2007, which saw the team make its first World Series appearance just one year later.
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