World Baseball Classic - tickets?

[Dutch Girl]

Hi guys!

I am planning to go to Puerto Rico to encourage the Dutch (& Cuban) team.

Does anybody know when the tickets are available & teamrosters are publiced?

I also understand that poule B is played in the USA (Florida & Arizona). If somebody knows the exact locaties of the games, I would like to hear that as well.

kind regards, Dutch girl ;)

[Bonus]

Dutch girl,

Originally, tickets for Puerto Rico were to go on sale December 10th, while the venues in the US proper started selling on the 12th.

As for venues, here is the latest information (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/article.jsp?content=111405_a):

First Round

Pool A--Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and China (March 3-5): Tokyo Dome (http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/dome/), Tokyo, Japan

Pool B--U.S., Canada, Mexico and South Africa (March 7-10): Chase Field aka "the BOB" (http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ari/ballpark/index.jsp), Phoenix, Arizona and Scottsdale Stadium (http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sf/news/spring_training_ballpark.jsp), Scottsdale, Arizona

Pool C--Puerto Rico, Cuba, Netherlands, and Panama (March 7-10): Estadio Hiram Bithorn (http://www.ebaseballparks.com/bithorn.html), San Juan, Puerto Rico

Pool D--Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Italy, and Australia (March 7-10): Cracker Jack® Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex (http://mysite.verizon.net/charliesballparks/stadiums/disney.htm), Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Second Round

Top two teams from A & B (March 12-16): Angel Stadium (http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/AngelStadium.htm), Anaheim, California
Top two teams from C & D (March 12-15): Estadio Hiram Bithorn (http://www.ebaseballparks.com/bithorn.html), San Juan, Puerto Rico

Semifinals and Final

Semifinals and Final (March 18-20): PETCO Park (http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sd/ballpark/index.jsp), San Diego, California

Of course, all of this is subject to change at the whim of Major League Baseball.

As for the rosters, the preliminary 60-man roster for each nation must be submitted by Jan. 17, (assuming the players consent to be drug tested under more rigorous standards). Each team's 30-man roster must be finalized 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament. It may be required that teams carry 13 pitchers. There may also be pitchcount restrictions imposed.

Here is to Dutch baseball played on hot Puerto Rican astroturf!

[Dutch Girl]

Thanks for your reply & information.....

I will certainly check out the site of WBC and it looks like I am going to Puerto Rico!!!!!!

greetings, Dutch girl;)

[davidmoram]

Hi,

It looks like tickets go on sale tomorrow for Puerto Rico and Monday for the rest of the games.

Anyone know what time the tickets will be on sale?

I am a UK baseball fan flying to Florida for the Pool D games and hoping to see some Spring Training games also while I'm there.

Cheers,

David

[Bonus]

It looks like tickets for PR will be sold in "strips" for all games. In other words, if you want to go to see only one game or a couple of games, you need to buy tickets for all of them.

"How to Purchase Tickets
Tickets will be sold in strips of tickets consisting of each game to be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The strip will consist of 12 games which includes all 6 games in Round 1 and all 6 games in Round 2." (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/tickets.jsp?venue=pr)

Anyone want to share a strip of 4 tickets? My interest is primarily second round. Is there anyone who is only interested in the first round? Dutch Girl or any other Dutch fans?

[Kroxquo]

Welkom naar het bord, Nederlandse meisje.

[Dutch Girl]

It looks like tickets for PR will be sold in "strips" for all games. In other words, if you want to go to see only one game or a couple of games, you need to buy tickets for all of them.

"How to Purchase Tickets
Tickets will be sold in strips of tickets consisting of each game to be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The strip will consist of 12 games which includes all 6 games in Round 1 and all 6 games in Round 2." (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/tickets.jsp?venue=pr)

Anyone want to share a strip of 4 tickets? My interest is primarily second round. Is there anyone who is only interested in the first round? Dutch Girl or any other Dutch fans?

Hi! We also want to see the second round even if the Netherlands will not proceed to the second round (which is most likely the case unfortunately!)...
Good luck!

gr. Dutch girl:crazy

[Dutch Girl]

Welkom naar het bord, Nederlandse meisje.

Dank je wel!

groetjes, Nederlands "meisje"

[Cubano100%]

Dank je wel!

groetjes, Nederlands "meisje"


Nederlands "meisje". What ever that means! I suppose: Go Netherlands!:waving

[Cubano100%]

Welkom naar het bord, Nederlandse meisje. Let's rid baseball of the pestilence of the DH now and forever!




Yeah, sounds good! Haven't you notice that Roger Clements and Pedro Martinez are model citizen since joining the National League. They are not head hunters anymore. I wonder why.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Yeah, sounds good! Haven't you notice that Roger Clements and Pedro Martinez are model citizen since joining the National League. They are not head hunters anymore. I wonder why.
Gotta call you on this one Cubano. Pedro Martinez got his head hunter "reputation" as a member of the Montreal Expos in the mid 1990s.

[Cuba_fan]

Hi all

Today is the day...time to buy some tickets!!! :D

Hopefully it will be possible soon to buy them because we (dutch girl and I) are still waiting....:crazy

greetings

[Cuba_fan]

Ticket Prices:Puerto rico
Seat Type Strip Pricing
Pricing (includes both Round 1 & Round 2)
Infield Box (Blue) $1,146.00
Palco A $966.00
Palco B $696.00
Preferencia A $516.00
Preferencia B $456.00
Entrada General (12-17) $318.00
Bleachers $138.00

[Cubano100%]

Gotta call you on this one Cubano. Pedro Martinez got his head hunter "reputation" as a member of the Montreal Expos in the mid 1990s.


Yeah, But he had his encounters with Tampa Bay's Gerald Williams. Tampa Bay rocked him a couple of times and he decided to hit a few batters. They had a brawl. He also had his problems with the Yanks. Have you forgotten Don Zimmer?

[Cubano100%]

Ticket Prices:Puerto rico
Seat Type Strip Pricing
Pricing (includes both Round 1 & Round 2)
Infield Box (Blue) $1,146.00
Palco A $966.00
Palco B $696.00
Preferencia A $516.00
Preferencia B $456.00
Entrada General (12-17) $318.00
Bleachers $138.00

It sounds really cheap! I will be watching on TV with the benefit of the replay too.

[Bonus]

Have they started selling yet?

[Gamingboy]

The prices look expensive. Primarily because it looks like they are only selling in packages. Not exactly a great move. Looks like the easiest way to get individual game tickets will be through Scalpers.

For example, those tickets for the Hiram Bithorn are for a package of 12 games! So here's approximately what the single game tickets would be:

Infield Box: $95.50
Palco A: $80.50
Palco B: $58
Preferencia A: $43
Prefencia B: $38
Entrada General: $26.50
Bleachers: $11.50

[Dutch Girl]

Guys, I have been waiting for 12 hours now to buy those :grouchy tickets! I am getting a little (???) impatient now.....

And yes, I do think it's very expensive. Are they completely out of their minds???

But evenso, I have bought my ticket to Puerto Rico, and if I do not get tickets I'll go slightly insane...:

Just for the record: Nederlands meisje means Dutch girl.........

Go Netherlands & Go Cuba!!!!:gt

gr. Dutch girl

[Fermin Lafita]

Buy them from scalpers there, you wont have to go to every game and the seats will probably be better

[Tribefan2006]

We're a family who's also hoping to go to Puerto Rico for the games. I really don't want to buy a strip of tickets, but I don't like the idea of going down there without tickets. We'd like to see the 2nd round, too. Do you think they'll be on ebay and readily available on a game by game basis?

Anyone ever sit in the bleachers at Hiram Bithorn? How lively is it? We're taking a 10 year old.

The tickets STILL aren't for sale on the website and it's Saturday evening. Hmmmm.

[Cuba_fan]

it's Sunday now...and they are still not on sale :evil

What is scalpers? never heard of it...are they selling the tickets already? I will be there with Ducth girl from 3/7 till 3/16 so we are planning to see a lot of games...and otherwise we can always sell our tickets in PR

Would like to know who are going to PR...you never know maybe we will see each other over there

[dsapp]

I have been waiting for tickets to go on sale, too. My wife and I will be in PR for rounds 1 and 2, but I'd be interested in sharing a strip of tickets with someone here who only plans to attend round 1 (or is willing to get tickets for round 2 from someone else). For example, in round 1, my wife and I want to go to all three games with Cuba, but we're willing to give up our tickets to the opening game (PR v. Panama), as well as the second game (PR v. Netherlands) and perhaps the fifth game (Panama v. Netherlands), too.

This may seem obvious, but I'm guessing that Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico will advance to the second round. If so, my wife and I will probably want to go to all of the second round games. But, if there's a surprise or two, we'd probably be willing to sell a few of the games (of course, we wouldn't know until we're there).

By the way, we'll probably end up buying two infield box seats at $1146 each, if they are available. I'm not sure what "Palco A" means, however. My ideal seats would be somewhere in sections 14-20 or 15-21, if I'm reading the seating chart correctly. We'd enjoy meeting up with others here while we're there. That would be fun!

[Cuba_fan]

yes that would be fun indeed! We need to keep in contact :dance don't know what palco means either...

[Gamingboy]

I believe "Palco" means "Box", so it'd be Box Seats, I'd imagine. Probably down the lines.


Scalpers are a common sight at Major Sporting events, at least here in the USA. They often get tickets in Bulk, or will buy season tickets (which, in a a way, the system MLB is offering for the WBC is), and sell those tickets on game day. Officially, they cannot sell tickets for more then face value if they are within a certain radius of the stadium, but if it's a truly large event, they will sell them for more then face value. But be careful, occasionally the tickets being scalped are fakes.

[Licey Fan]

I have been waiting for tickets to go on sale, too. My wife and I will be in PR for rounds 1 and 2, but I'd be interested in sharing a strip of tickets with someone here who only plans to attend round 1 (or is willing to get tickets for round 2 from someone else). For example, in round 1, my wife and I want to go to all three games with Cuba, but we're willing to give up our tickets to the opening game (PR v. Panama), as well as the second game (PR v. Netherlands) and perhaps the fifth game (Panama v. Netherlands), too.

This may seem obvious, but I'm guessing that Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico will advance to the second round. If so, my wife and I will probably want to go to all of the second round games. But, if there's a surprise or two, we'd probably be willing to sell a few of the games (of course, we wouldn't know until we're there).

By the way, we'll probably end up buying two infield box seats at $1146 each, if they are available. I'm not sure what "Palco A" means, however. My ideal seats would be somewhere in sections 14-20 or 15-21, if I'm reading the seating chart correctly. We'd enjoy meeting up with others here while we're there. That would be fun!

I believe that in this kind of tournaments, the tickets are PER DAY, not PER GAME...

Example: If DR vs Ven play in the afternoon game of day A, and PR and Cuba play in the night game of day A, you only enter with one ticket for both games... You can either wait until the second game and lose the first game, or go to the first game and skip the second, but you pay for the whole day

[Bonus]

I believe that in this kind of tournaments, the tickets are PER DAY, not PER GAME...

Example: If DR vs Ven play in the afternoon game of day A, and PR and Cuba play in the night game of day A, you only enter with one ticket for both games... You can either wait until the second game and lose the first game, or go to the first game and skip the second, but you pay for the whole day

Licey, that is incorrect. There are 12 games in PR and according to MLB the "strip will consist of 12 games which includes all 6 games in Round 1 and all 6 games in Round 2." If tickets were per day, there would only be 8 sold (see schedule below). Furthermore, who is going to watch a game at 2 pm, sit around for 3 hours between games, and watch another game?

Date Local Time Time (ET) Matchup
Tue. March 7 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Puerto Rico v. Panama
Wed. March 8 2:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Puerto Rico v. Netherlands
Wed. March 8 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Cuba v. Panama
Thu. March 9 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Cuba v. Netherlands
Fri. March 10 2:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Panama v. Netherlands
Fri. March 10 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Puerto Rico v. Cuba

Date Local Time Time (ET) Matchup
Sun. March 12 2:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Pool C Winner v. Pool D RU
Sun. March 12 9:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Pool D Winner v. Pool C RU
Mon., March 13 2:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Pool D Winner v. Pool C Winner
Mon., March 13 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Pool D RU v. Pool C RU
Tue. March 14 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Pool D Winner v. Pool D RU
Wed. March 15 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Pool C Winner v. Pool C RU

[Licey Fan]

OK, Thanx for the info... :clapping

[Mattingly]

Yeah, sounds good! Haven't you notice that Roger Clements and Pedro Martinez are model citizen since joining the National League. They are not head hunters anymore. I wonder why.
During 5 years in the Bronx, Clemens' most infamous head-hunting involved Mike Piazza. Since then, it's been mostly brushback pitches, but he hadn't played tons of chin music. In fact, David Wells let a few more fly near the batters' heads than did Clemens.

[Swagger]

This is a first time one-of-a-kind event ... I was wondering how crazy it will be for the demand for these types of tickets for the semifinals and finals ... Tickets go on sale tomorrow ... how quick will this sell out?

I have a feeling that demand for these tickets is going to be really really high .... any thoughts?

[dsapp]

I noticed that specific times are now listed for tickets to go on sale at the other WBC venues (in about 5 hours, I think). It still lists the venue in Puerto Rico as "soon." :confused:

[dsapp]

Tickets for Pool D, Round 1, in Orlando are now on sale. Still waiting on tickets to go on sale for Pool C and Pool 2 in Puerto Rico....

[davidmoram]

I'm in UK, trying to purchase tickets for Orlando, but will only supply to US addresses!!!

Any ideas, anyone?

[dsapp]

Have you tried the "will call" delivery option?

[davidmoram]

Thanks for the tip, but there is no "will call" option! Not a good start for the WBC organisation.

I finally got it sorted by entering a "fake" US address, then phoning TicketMaster's customer services line to get the address corrected and the tickets changed to "will call".

On the plus side, I've snagged tickets for behind home plate. On the down side, it's just cost me a 40 minute, peak rate, international phone call (probably about GBP40/USD70 cost!).

Oh well ... now to see if I can get a flight!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Yeah, But he had his encounters with Tampa Bay's Gerald Williams. Tampa Bay rocked him a couple of times and he decided to hit a few batters. They had a brawl. He also had his problems with the Yanks. Have you forgotten Don Zimmer?
And? You implied the Pedro only started "hitting batters" whe he began pitching in the American League where he doesn't have to bat. That is not true at all. He was "hitting batters" when he was with the Montreal Expos.

[Swagger]

Man ... it's unbelievably impossible to get onto server to buy tickets to the semifinals and finals at PETCO in San Diego :mad:

This is the response ...

Please wait for the server to become available.
The site is experiencing heavy loads at this time.

To improve your ticket-buying experience and to make it as pleasant as possible, this site permits entry to a limited number of patrons at a time.

This page will refresh when the countdown timer below reaches zero. When this happens, the system will automatically try to access the site again.

If this page refreshes too many times, you may want to try again later.

[Cuba_fan]

only us addresses?? oooh no! than we will have the same problem (located in the netherlands)... I am still waiting to be able to buy tickets for Puerto Rico :o

[polkahard]

I'm really happy...I just got "clubhouse" tickets to the games at Chase Field in Arizona. Not sure exactly where my seats are, though...every Chase Field seating chart is just too small.

Can anyone help me out? :confused: They're definitely directly behind home plate. Just...where? :D

[dsapp]

Cuba fan, don't worry too much. I doubt they'll have a restriction like that for games played in PR. Also, I noticed that, for the other sites, there's a button that says something like "other delivery methods" which lists WILL CALL as an option. The only down side is that you'll need to pick up your tickets in person at the stadium (in March) and have the same credit card you used to buy the tickets available to show them. I suspect that this will work for you. Of course, if tickets never go on sale for the games in PR, ... arg! :mad:

[Cuba_fan]

ok,I believe you ;)

[Dutch Girl]

Hi guys, I'm checking the worldbaseballclassic.com site every hour now and so far no luck!:cool:

Maybe tomorrow? It's now 10.00 pm Monday 12th of December......

It would be great if we have contact with some other fans who go to PR... so let's hook up in PR!!!!!!

gr. Dutch girl ;)

[Gamingboy]

I read a news report that they have sold 60% of the tickets already.

[Bonus]

I read a news report that they have sold 60% of the tickets already.

60% of the tickets...for PETCO that is (http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-12-2005/0004232621&EDATE=). Everyone relax--they have not started selling PR tickets yet, although December 10th was 4 days ago.:noidea

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

60% of the tickets? The cheapest are $ 62.00. Do they really think that they will draw enough attendance with these prices?

IMO the tickets are way too expensive.

I am affraid that Hirham Bithorn Stadium will look very empty.

[dsapp]

The ticket situation for the games in Puerto Rico is quite frustrating! How often are you checking the MLB site to check if tickets are on sale? Has anyone heard anything about the cause of the delay (now going on 5 days)?

[Cuba_fan]

eeehhhhmmm I´m checking it 20 times a day! :ughh and indeed it´s really frustrating. Don´t know what´s going on...how often are you checking??

[dsapp]

I'm checking about once an hour from about 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., so about a dozen times each day. This is really crazy!

[PR Fan]

I have been waiting since Saturday too (checking multiple time a day since then), been lurking on this board the last few days in hope for some news also.

But I think our anwser came out today, when the US government denied Cuba permission to send a team on US soil. Feeling that they will not sell tickets until this is solved one way or another. Tickets hopefully will be coming, but it might be a couple weeks.

At least that is my best guess, since no one is saying anything.

Guess I will just have to make my plans and just hope for the best.

[Bonus]

Could this be the problem?

According to the Associated Press (http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/article.jsp?content=121405_a), Cuba won't be allowed to send a team to next year's inaugural World Baseball Classic because of a decision by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") to deny a permit to the Cuban team. A permit from OFAC is necessary because of US laws governing certain commercial transactions with Fidel Castro's communist island nation. The AP reports that Major League Baseball International and the Major League Baseball Players Association issued a joint statement saying the organizers would try to have the decision reversed.

Stay tuned. This could be bad.

[Cuba_fan]

This is terrible!! What is WBC without Cuba!!!

We have to wait and see.

[Dutch Girl]

Do I have to say more? :grouchy :grouchy :grouchy :grouchy :grouchy

[Cubano100%]

I read in a Puerto Rican newspapers that the tickets are not for sale yet. They are still waiting for MLB to give the OK.


Hang in there!

[Licey Fan]

I have been waiting since Saturday too (checking multiple time a day since then), been lurking on this board the last few days in hope for some news also.

But I think our anwser came out today, when the US government denied Cuba permission to send a team on US soil. Feeling that they will not sell tickets until this is solved one way or another. Tickets hopefully will be coming, but it might be a couple weeks.

At least that is my best guess, since no one is saying anything.

Guess I will just have to make my plans and just hope for the best.

I read that it had something to do with issues of the MLB with the Puertorican "Secretaria de Hacienda" (PR IRS)... So is an issue with tax exemptions

[PR Fan]

I read that it had something to do with issues of the MLB with the Puertorican "Secretaria de Hacienda" (PR IRS)... So is an issue with tax exemptions

You would have thought they would have worked it out already, before they anticipated selling tickets.

Oh well, be like everyone else and just keep waiting.

[Baseball Guru]

I bought mine the other day for the Orlando games...

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/wbc/images/stadium_cracker_jack_big.gif
We are in SEC-209, 1st Row:)
They were like $130, but that gets you into every game:)

[stripes]

I'm thinking about whether a team of defectors would be better or worse than a team of non-defectors. Please don't post a heart on your sleeve answer and be analytical. I'm guessing that the depth of talent on the originally planned team would be greater than any replacement but depth isn't the only thing that matters. How could you argue that a team sending Contreras, El Duque, and Livan to the mound wouldn't have just as good of a chance? Sometimes a rotation can be more important than a lineup. This all makes me wish we could see the REAL Cuban team with EVERYBODY on it. They'd be right up there with The DR, PR, and Ven. I don't know if Panama would be in that class. I just don't know much about their players outside MLB.

[Bonus]

I'm thinking about whether a team of defectors would be better or worse than a team of non-defectors. Please don't post a heart on your sleeve answer and be analytical. I'm guessing that the depth of talent on the originally planned team would be greater than any replacement but depth isn't the only thing that matters. How could you argue that a team sending Contreras, El Duque, and Livan to the mound wouldn't have just as good of a chance? Sometimes a rotation can be more important than a lineup.

Stripes,

I would say that depth is the critical issue. To be successful in the WBC, a team will need at least a dozen talented hitters/fielders/baserunners, covering all of the positions. DR's pop 1-9 and the USA's depth are staggering. Venezuela and Japan are not too shabby either. Given the quality of pitching for DR, Venezuela, and especially USA, it seems to me that that there are simply not enough major league caliber non-pitchers for a Cuban exile team to contend for the top spot. Now, there may be many Cuban defectors that I am not aware of, for example because they are in minors, or they play in foreign leagues (although that would be a telling reality too), and obviously I will defer to the Cuban experts on this board. But I just don't see Livan, El Duque and Contreras alone making a team contend.

[Swagger]

I got this info about tickets for Puerto Rico site on this website

http://www.ticketpop.com/spotlight/default.asp


TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 AT 9:00 AM. Sale of 12 Games Package only.

Interesting that you have to buy all 12 games :ughh :ughh

[Dutch Girl]

Hi Swagger,

Thanks for your reply. It's very strange that the official MLB site doesn't mention this date!

Anyway, I hope this date is correct......... and yes, I still hope that Cuba will participate...

greetings,

Dutch girl ;)

[PR Fan]

I got this info about tickets for Puerto Rico site on this website

http://www.ticketpop.com/spotlight/default.asp


TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 AT 9:00 AM. Sale of 12 Games Package only.

Interesting that you have to buy all 12 games :ughh :ughh


Hmmm....just looked at this site this morning...says sale of this event has been cancelled.

[Swagger]

So again fans are left in the dark to wonder when and how these tickets will go on sale. It is really unique to see a situation like this where tickets were going to be announced to go on sale only to be delayed and delayed without any news about what is going on.

My feeling is that this a combination of many things ... (1) MLB not very organized about this distribution with Puerto Rico which makes sense since this is a first time event, (2) political wrestling over which tickets will go on sale since there must be a heavy local demand for these seats considering how so many Caribbean nations are baseball fanatics, (3) furthermore, the stadium in Puerto Rico is small so the tickets will be even more sought after and (4) I've heard that there is some lobbying going on with some of the prestigious local Puerto Rican tourist hotels to get their cuts of tickets since going to Puerto Rico from the States on a vacation to watch baseball doesn't sound like too bad when you got NYCers toiling through winter weather.

[Bonus]

I think the problem is (1) Cuba, (2) Cuba, (3) Cuba, and (4) Cuba.

A hot ticket is hardly new in PR--imagine what happens when Marc Anthony plays at Hiram Bithorn. PR has an efficient system of patronage and graft, so I do not think corporate in-fighting is the problem.

The real issue to me is the coincidence of the timing of the Cuban ban occuring right at the same time as the sale for the tickets was supposed to start. Remember, Cuba is projected to play in half of the games in PR (6 of 12). It would be a PR (public relations) disaster for PR (Puerto Rico) to offer 6 games involving Cuba and deliver 3-6 games of Nicaragua instead.

[Licey Fan]

I think the problem is (1) Cuba, (2) Cuba, (3) Cuba, and (4) Cuba.

A hot ticket is hardly new in PR--imagine what happens when Marc Anthony plays at Hiram Bithorn. PR has an efficient system of patronage and graft, so I do not think corporate in-fighting is the problem.

The real issue to me is the coincidence of the timing of the Cuban ban occuring right at the same time as the sale for the tickets was supposed to start. Remember, Cuba is projected to play in half of the games in PR (6 of 12). It would be a PR (public relations) disaster for PR (Puerto Rico) to offer 6 games involving Cuba and deliver 3-6 games of Nicaragua instead.

Is also a problem with the Puertirican IRS... Is just that the PR organizing committee want the "Secretaria de Hacienda" to give them tax exemptions in the profits of the event, including tickets sales, which I consider totally abusive, since the ones buying their tickets are paying their taxes!!

That's the issue... Cuba could be another factor ON TOP OF IT making it worse

[Dutch Girl]

And just to make things even worse!!!!!!:
Citing the Olympic chart, the Puerto Rican FBAPR requested to withdraw from hosting the BWC.

Well, that means 10 days on the beach then in stead of watching baseball!!!

:(

[dsapp]

My wife and I will be on the beach with you, I guess. :(

[Dutch Girl]

Hi dsapp!

I guess we won't be hard to recognize: Dutch baseball shirts(orange) with pathetic faces!!!!!!

How do we recognize you & your wife? Other shirts same faces????:waving

[Cuba_fan]

Dutch girl and I are staying at the Holiday inn at Isla verde/San Juan, when PR withdraws from hosting the WBC, we invite everybody to our own PR WBBC (worldbaseball beach classic) tournament.....:dance :cool: :gt

[dsapp]

My wife and I will be staying at the Caribe Hilton. We'll be enjoying the warm weather but wearing the same sad faces as you.

Since you brought it up, I had planned to wear a blue Industriales baseball shirt for Cuba's games and my white Braves shirt when the Dutch team plays.

:gt

But if there are no games (or if Cuba is blocked out), my wife wants us to wear shirts that, in some fashon, express our solidarity with the Cubans and our outrage at the Bush administration.

A bit much? Actually, you'll probably see me on the beach with a icy drink with a tiny umbrella in it.

[Cuba_fan]

Great...we will see each other for sure! I found a link of PR where the hotels are mentioned http://www.travelmaps.com/SanJuanVicinity.html

Quote: But if there are no games (or if Cuba is blocked out), my wife wants us to wear shirts that, in some fashon, express our solidarity with the Cubans and our outrage at the Bush administration.

If that is the case...we will join you for sure....just let us know where we can find these shirts :D

And you will also find us on the beach singing " Hup Holland Hup, laat de leeuw niet in z´n hempje staan" :radio or Cuba,Cuba, Cuba!!!!! :gt

[Cubano100%]

The Venezuelan Baseball President said: "if Cuba is not allowed to compete in the BWC, Venezuela won't send a team in solidarity."

The link is from a Venezuelan newspaper. The article also said that Panama would like to replace Puerto Rico as a host. However, if Panama hosts the first and second rounds, what would happen if Cuba goes to the finals?

http://deportes.eluniversal.com/2005/12/26/beis_art_26302D.shtml

[Dutch Girl]

Good question! I still hope that the outcome will be that Cuba participates in PR and not in Panama!

Dsapp & your wife, looking forward to see you guys in PR! It's always nice to talk to baseball fans..

gr. Dutch girl

[dsapp]

bump bump bump

[Cuba_fan]

and......we are still waiting....:coffee

[dsapp]

While we are waiting...I looked at the map you posted, "Cuba fan" and do see where my hotel is but don't see the stadium. Am I being naive in thinking that there will be easy transportation to/from the stadium? Or do I really need to rent a car?

[Licey Fan]

While we are waiting...I looked at the map you posted, "Cuba fan" and do see where my hotel is but don't see the stadium. Am I being naive in thinking that there will be easy transportation to/from the stadium? Or do I really need to rent a car?

I don't live in Puerto Rico, but I've been in San Juan several times... The stadium is way out of the beach/hotel/colonial zone area, but a cab will take you there easily... Is best if you just take a cab

[Cuba_fan]

if you scroll down on the map you will find route 18 and than you will see the stadium in the middle near plaza las americas and eleanor roosevelt

think we will take a cab aswell, but ofcourse if there is no baseball we will rent a car to travel on the island

[Dutch Girl]

Or, as typical Dutch girls, we can use bicycles :ughh , but if we will reach the stadium??? That's the question...

I have noticed that there still isn't an answer on participation of Cuba.
Can't they speed it up a little bit :eek: ?

[dsapp]

Cuba is in! Now...just waiting for the tickets to go on sale. See you guys in Puerto Rico (on the beach, by the pool, and at the ballpark!).

[stripes]

If anyone gets any advance word on when tickets will go on sale,
please post it here. If we find out then we won't have to be
constantly checking to see if they're on sale yet. It's killin' me!

[Cuba_fan]

yeeeeehooooooo let's play ball!!! we will be checking internet now every hour!!!

:crazy :D :atthepc

[PR Fan]

Tickets are now on sale, I just got mine over the internet. Apparently they are not being sold through the MLB site.

Here is the web address:

http://www.ticketpop.com/spotlight/default.asp


yeeeeehooooooo let's play ball!!! we will be checking internet now every hour!!!

:crazy :D :atthepc

[Dutch Girl]

I can't believe my eyes!!

We have tried the WBC site a 1000 times!! Does anybody know how to purchase these tickets when you're not a PR or US citizen????

Help is very much needed here!!

gr. Dutch girl

[PR Fan]

Some other information on the tickets...called this morning to get tickets shipped to the USA, you need access to an account with Fed Ex or UPs to get them shipped here. Not sure on if that is available elsewhere.

[dsapp]

I just ordered my tickets and am still trying to figure a few things out:

1. I ordered the tickets through Ticket Pop and designated them for "island delivery" (the only option that made sense), but I have not yet called the phone number to request that they mail them to me in the US. Could someone please clarify this? What is this about needing a FedEx or UPS account? Does anyone feel fairly confident that your tickets are actually being sent to you?

2. Did anyone else notice that the game schedule on the Ticket Pop sight is slightly different than the one listed on MLB.com. For example, games 2 and 3 are switched in terms of order (i.e., Cuba plays the early game. Darn! See #3 below).

3. I need to sell my pair of tickets to the first two games of Round 1 (since I'll be arriving in Puerto Rico just in time to see Game 3 and will be there until the end of Round 2. Once I have the tickets in my hands, I'll be looking for someone interested in taking them off my hands at cost. My two tickets are in Row A of Section 27.

I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is excitement or if I'm just worried....:hp

[PR Fan]

Here is what I can answer from the conversation with the representative from ticketpop this morning.

1. In order to send tickets to the US, you need an account for Fed Ex or UPS for them to charge to for shipping costs. I plan on using the one at my work to get them sent to me, I do not know what would happen if you do not have access to one. There is a option to pick it up at the will call booth or at a distribution center in San Juan, but looked at the website, says you need a valid Puerto Rican ID to pick them up, so not sure how it works from people coming from the States or international. If in doubt sure you could call them directly, as there is English speaking representatives.

2. Another note is that tickets shall be sent out in mid February according to the representative.

3. All the times are correct, so it might just be a misprint, but did not notice that.


I just ordered my tickets and am still trying to figure a few things out:

1. I ordered the tickets through Ticket Pop and designated them for "island delivery" (the only option that made sense), but I have not yet called the phone number to request that they mail them to me in the US. Could someone please clarify this? What is this about needing a FedEx or UPS account? Does anyone feel fairly confident that your tickets are actually being sent to you?

2. Did anyone else notice that the game schedule on the Ticket Pop sight is slightly different than the one listed on MLB.com. For example, games 2 and 3 are switched in terms of order (i.e., Cuba plays the early game. Darn! See #3 below).

3. I need to sell my pair of tickets to the first two games of Round 1 (since I'll be arriving in Puerto Rico just in time to see Game 3 and will be there until the end of Round 2. Once I have the tickets in my hands, I'll be looking for someone interested in taking them off my hands at cost. My two tickets are in Row A of Section 27.

I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is excitement or if I'm just worried....:hp

[Bonus]

Dutch girl and others without tickets for Puerto Rico,

Log onto www.ticketpop.com (http://www.ticketpop.com/events/sectionsprice.asp) and follow the links to the WBC. I just got my ticket strips.

[Cuba_fan]

Hi

We have the tickets!! And it will be send by Fedex to us ...we are happy now!!! we are at row b of section 21. We will arrive very late on 03/07, so if somebody wants to buy our tickets for the first day, plse let me know

Dsapp, if you receive a trackingnr from fedex..just let me know and i can track it for you...i work there :dance
If you want I can give you my mobile number so that we can reach each other when we are in Puerto Rico
Ok hopefully we will all receive our tickets and party in Puerto rico :gt

[dsapp]

I just talked to the folks at TicketPop and gave them a UPS account number, from a free personal account I opened at UPS.com last night. The TicketPop representative said that the tickets would be mailed this afternoon and arrive on Friday. He said he'd send me a tracking number via e-mail. Until I have the tickets in my hand (or at least the UPS tracking number), I'm not going to believe that it worked. :rolleyes:

If this works, it was sure great of us to have the opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale at MLB.com. All of you guys in Europe (and "Dutch girl"), did you figure out how to buy your tickets? Even if you don't have access to a UPS or Fed Ex account, it seems that you can purchase your tickets online and pick them up at the stadium at "will call" when you arrive, right?

By the way, for those who have ordered tickets, in what sections will you be? As I said before, I'll be in Section 27, Row A (which is actually the fifth row behind the big spenders in the field boxes). I'm curious: Why did all of you end up choosing tickets where you did? And, if anyone wants my two tickets for the first two games, I'm willing to sell them to any of you here for what I paid for them. If I get no takers, I'll probably list them on ebay next week.

What a relief! Now...go Cuba! Yes, I am interested in meeting all of you in Puerto Rico. Perhaps in a few weeks (closer to the trip) we should all arrange a place to meet and have drinks before/after one of the first few games.

[PR Fan]

Just talked to the ticketpop people again this morning to check since they told me orginally that it would be sent out in February, guess they are sending them to me today...also should have them on Friday.

I will be seating in section 12 Row C, which is at first base. Now I guess better finish finalizing my tavel plans. :)

[Dutch Girl]

PR Fan, thanks for posting that link at this forum, otherwise we were still checking the site of WBC.

We called Ticketpop this morning and the tickets are almost on their way to Holland!

We are looking forward to meet you guys in San Juan!!!!

gr. Dutch girl & Cuba_Fan:dance

[Cubano100%]

PR Fan, thanks for posting that link at this forum, otherwise we were still checking the site of WBC.

We called Ticketpop this morning and the tickets are almost on their way to Holland!

We are looking forward to meet you guys in San Juan!!!!

gr. Dutch girl & Cuba_Fan:dance


So when Holland plays Cuba, who will you guys be rooting for?:)

[Cuba_fan]

So when Holland plays Cuba, who will you guys be rooting for?:)

Cuba ofcourse!!!! :laugh :waving :p

[dsapp]

Okay, another really weird thing happened today. I received my "tickets" from TicketPop, but when I opened the envelope, instead of 24 game tickets, there were only two tickets there, and I don't think they are actually tickets. On the tickets, it reads, "Abono 12 juegos redimir este boleto presentar su ID con foto." If my Spanish is correct, I think that this means that I must exchange this "ticket" for 12 games tickets when I arrive at the stadium, and bring photo ID.

This is a problem on two levels: 1) I won't be there in time for the first two games, and without physical tickets, I can't sell them (or even give them away). And 2) Why did I have to pay $6 delivery fee on top of whatever they ended up charging me to actually mail them from Peurto Rico to the U.S. if I wasn't going to actually get the tickets? I could have just had them saved on "will call" and picked them up at the stadium. This makes absolutely no sense!

Any ideas?

:grouchy

[dsapp]

I just talked to the TicketPop folks, and it looks like I paid for UPS shipping to the US for nothing...complete waste of money.

As I now understand it, the actual tickets will be printed at the end of February and will not be available in time to be mailed to us internationally. What they sent me instead is a "ticket" to be exchanged at the stadium for my actual season tickets. I guess you could see it as a confirmation of my purchase, or a receipt for the tickets. But not tickets.

It didn't seem to matter to them that I wouldn't be arriving until Game 3. By buying season tickets, rather than waiting until Thursday to buy individual game tickets, I wasted the two tickets I bought for the first two games...a bit over USD$200, plus the international shipping charge that was wasted. I can't sell (or give away) the ones I won't be using.

A costly mistake, I guess. Now, I just have to get over it and relax a bit.

[Cuba_fan]

Ohhh No...think we will have the same problem! We also saw on the WBC sites that it is possible to buy single tickets :grouchy :grouchy :grouchy and the first day we won't be on time so we will not be able to sell them too :evil :mad:

Ok breath in.......breath out.....breath in....breath out...we have tickets and that's all that counts??? :cool:

[dsapp]

On top of that, it still appears that TicketPop is selling tickets for Cuba playing in the early game on the 8th, whereas MLB.com has always had Cuba playing in the evening game on that day. It may not matter to most of you, but I don't arrive until the afternoon of the 8th. More bad news....

But we should just keep on smiling....I'm trying.

[Dutch Girl]

Hi Dsapp,

We can always film the baseball match (we arrive late on the 7th of March), so you can see it later??????

Just keep on smiling..... it is almost March..

By the way, we also received a confirmation, not the actual tickets..

gr. Dutch girl:rolleyes:

[dsapp]

I noticed that some tickets are now for sale on ebay for the games in San Juan, including a few pictures/scans of the tickets themselves. Has anyone received their actual season tickets in the mail? I'd sure like to get my hands on my tickets so that I could sell or give away the ones I won't be able to use (the first two games of round 1). Anyone figured this out?

And, yes, Cuba will be playing in game 2, not 3.

[Cuba_fan]

we checked and they told us that we are not able to sell our tickets for the first day :(


I noticed that some tickets are now for sale on ebay for the games in San Juan, including a few pictures/scans of the tickets themselves. Has anyone received their actual season tickets in the mail? I'd sure like to get my hands on my tickets so that I could sell or give away the ones I won't be able to use (the first two games of round 1). Anyone figured this out?

And, yes, Cuba will be playing in game 2, not 3.

[PR Fan]

Yeah, haven't recieved any tickets either, except for that same "receipt" everyone else got. I haven't even had the time to follow up on it.

[njjeff73]

I have tickets for 3 games of the World Baseball Classic that I will be unable to use.

I have Team USA vs. San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game

Mexico vs. South Africa

Canada vs. South Africa

If anyone will be in Arizona for the WBC and would like tickets, let me know. I had to buy these 3 games in order to get tickets for USA vs. South Africa. But I will not be in Arizona for the other games.

Email me at njjeff73@optonline.net if you or someone you know may be interested or want more details