Brewers admit error over World Series seats for 2015 'Timeless Ticket' holders
In short
The Milwaukee Brewers, in the World Series for the first time in 44 years, drew criticism after fans who bought $1,000 'Timeless Tickets' in 2015 were offered mostly top-level or standing seats. Business operations president Rick Schlesinger acknowledged an internal communication error. The club said it would keep the seats it assigned and let holders use the ticket once more in another season.
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The Milwaukee Brewers, who have reached the World Series for the first time in 44 years, drew criticism over how they handled holders of 'Timeless Tickets' sold in 2015, Yonhap and Newsis reported, citing AP. The club sold the tickets for $1,000 and said they allowed entry to any game the club plays. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
At the time the club promoted buyers as getting the next priority after season-ticket holders and the right to buy up to three extra tickets at face value. Yonhap said the club promised the best seats available when the booking was made. Dong-A Ilbo said 1,000 tickets were sold and that most buyers had the World Series in mind. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
After the Brewers advanced, hundreds of holders applied to use them, according to Yonhap. Dong-A Ilbo said about 500 expressed interest. Yonhap said the club restricted them to top-level or standing seats, and Dong-A Ilbo said some were guided to standing or top-level seats, usually the cheapest. [ 1 , 3 ]
Danny Pochesato (대니 포체사토), a Milwaukee fan, bought a ticket on his 27th birthday. Yonhap said that in 2018 he had been pre-assigned a 100-level seat behind home plate. This year, he said, the application offered only 400-level and standing options and did not let him choose the game. He said better seats were still available through regular sales. After talks with the club he got one lower outfield-corner seat for Game 1 and three 400-level seats for Game 2. [ 1 , 2 ]
Rick Schlesinger, the club's business operations president, said there was an internal communication error in handling requests. He said that although available seats were limited, the program's intent had not been honoured. Newsis quoted him as saying the club was continuing to work on solutions. [ 1 , 2 ]
The club said holders who applied for World Series tickets would keep their assigned seats and could use the ticket once more in another season. Dong-A Ilbo quoted the club as saying it had arranged seats for everyone who wanted to use the ticket at the World Series, but some customers were unhappy and the club had received that feedback. It added that those offered the disputed seats would keep their eligibility after this World Series. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo said the lowest resale price for standing seats at Game 1 had reached $2,681 and top-level seats $3,500. It also said the Brewers had the best regular-season record in MLB at 103-59 and host Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 at American Family Field. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The dispute shows how a promise made when the tickets were sold in 2015 was tested once the team reached the World Series. The club's remedy, a further use of the ticket in a later season, applies to holders who applied for World Series seats.
Key facts
- In 2015 the Brewers sold 'Timeless Tickets' for $1,000 that allowed entry to any home game the club plays. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Buyers were promoted the next-best seating after season-ticket holders and the right to buy up to three extra tickets at face value. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo said 1,000 of the tickets were sold and about 500 holders said they wanted to use them for this World Series. [ 3 ]
- Fan Danny Pochesato (대니 포체사토) said the request form offered only 400-level and standing options and did not let him choose the game. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Pochesato ended up with one lower outfield-corner seat for Game 1 and three 400-level seats for Game 2. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Rick Schlesinger, the club's business operations president, said there was an internal communication error in handling requests. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The club said holders who applied for World Series tickets would keep their assigned seats and could use the ticket once more in another season. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Brewers sold $1,000 'Timeless Tickets' in 2015 and promoted up to three extra tickets at face value for buyers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Some holders were offered top-level or standing seats for the World Series, which drew controversy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Schlesinger acknowledged an internal communication error in processing the requests. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The club said affected holders could use the ticket once more in another season. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether all holders were given suitable seats Dong-A Ilbo quoted the club as saying it arranged seats for everyone who asked, while the other outlets and Pochesato describe limited 400-level and standing options.
- How many holders were affected Yonhap said hundreds of fans applied and Dong-A Ilbo said about 500 expressed interest, but no document says how many were offered poor seats.
- Which series the Brewers beat the Rays in Newsis said the Brewers beat Tampa Bay in the American League Championship Series, while Dong-A Ilbo called Milwaukee the National League champion and Tampa Bay the American League champion.