PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 1 million people entered the Phillies ticket lottery, hoping to score a face-value seat at the World Series.
There are only 20,000 tickets available for the three games at Citizens Bank Park next week, so many lotto entries struck out. Those who were selected were able to buy tickets ranging between $130 to $260 a pop.
Those who were not so lucky were notified that they “will remain eligible for any potential additional World Series ticket sale opportunities in the event they become a available.” Some people who registered, however, said they did not receive an email at all.
The secondary market is still an option, but fans will have to shell out the big bucks. Standing-room tickets for Game 3 on Monday were going for $675 on StubHub as of Thursday morning.
Another option: Go to Houston.
“The tickets down in Houston are definitely a lot cheaper than what I’ve seen here,” said Phillies superfan Justin Aglialoro of Fishtown.
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While still a hefty price tag, standing-room tickets for Game 1 in Houston started at $490 on StubHub.
Aglialoro and his fiance, Jes Laing, were decked out in red at Philadelphia International Airport Thursday morning before their flight to Texas. The season ticketholder bought World Series tickets to Game 1 as soon he could. They have done their fair share of traveling for the Phillies in the last few weeks to make up for lost time.
“I went to the World Series in ’08 and ’09 and I couldn’t wait for them to get back in the playoffs,” he said. “This was so unexpected but so exciting as well. We went to Atlanta, went to San Diego and off to Houston; hopefully bring back a win or two.”
Patricia Conrad is also eager to watch a win in enemy territory.
“My brother who lives in Houston called me on Monday morning after both the Phillies and Astros clinched and said, ‘So, considering this might never happen again in our lifetimes, can you get down here? Because if you can, I’m gonna buy us tickets to Game 1,’ ” she said.
Their mother, Elsa, wearing her red Phillies jacket to the airport, was thrilled to join them.
“I’m over the moon,” she said. “Just to get to see my kids and also go see the Phillies and root them on, because this doesn’t happen every day!”
Her son has been living in Houston for sometime now, and his allegiances have shifted. They will be sitting next to each other at Minute Maid Park but cheering on different teams.
“Mom brought him a Phillies shirt but I’m pretty sure he won’t be wearing it to the game,” Patricia Conrad said. “But we’ll be wearing ours!”