'An arm and a leg': Amid World Series sticker shock, broker says ticket market is now 'taking a breather'
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Many Brewers fans are still reeling from sticker shock over World Series ticket prices.
The cheapest tickets on the secondary market are still well over $1,000.
And while one local ticket broker expects the market to cool off a bit, fans are still feeling priced out.
The reason is largely understood to be pent-up demand. A 44-year wait has the World Series tickets approaching Super Bowl levels.
An expert says it's an indicator of how rabid the Brewers fan base is, but some fans are frustrated they're being priced out.
Season ticket holder Ryan told us his Game 6 seats "Cost about an arm and a leg for it."
Fan Randy Crump said when he checked prices online, "It was in the range of, 'Whoa,' let's just leave it at that."
Randy passed.
World Series prices are catching everyone off guard, even fans that set a budget.
Ryan told us he had a number in mind, but said, "Once I saw the ticket prices, I figured that's way beyond, so might as well do it anyways."
Crump said, "Once every 40-some years. I guess it's worth it if you got it."
We saw 400 level seats in the left field corner, the highest in the stadium, going for $4300, $4800, $3900.
Behind home plate, 400 level seats were listed for $8,000. Seats down low behind a dugout are advertised for $12,800 per seat.
John Lamoreaux, the president of Ticket King in Milwaukee, told us, "This, by far, is the biggest one we've ever seen."
Lamoreaux said his brokerage office was swamped the moment the Brewers clinched the pennant last week, saying, "There was a huge demand coming in." He added, "It was nonstop."
Face value prices for World Series tickets are set by the team. They started high, then exploded from there on the secondary market.
The cheapest standing room only ticket we found to Game 1 is going for $2700, before taxes.
Lamoreaux said this World Series demand far outpaces the Bucks' championship run. "It was great. But it wasn't close. This is more like a Packers Super Bowl."
Some people tried to plan ahead, more than a decade ahead. They made an investment that could unlock World Series tickets at a more reasonable price.
Danny Fochesato had his eyes on the prize back in 2015 when he bought a Brewers Timeless Ticket.
For $1,000, Fochesato can redeem it for any future home game, plus he can buy three additional tickets.
But demand is so high for the World Series, Danny said he and other timeless ticket holders are frustrated with the Brewers over a lack of availability.
Instead of four prime seats, he'll get a solo seat to Game 1, and three seats to Game 2 for his sister and father in a section much further from home plate.
Still, he said, "I'm super excited to be sharing this with them. The whole plan from the jump was to share the moment with your dad, right?"
For anyone still hoping to go, Lamoreaux said there is some relatively good news: the market is taking a breather and prices are largely on pause. "If you see a price you like," he said, "a location you like, and you're happy with it, buy it and don't look back."
He shared another sign the market is on hold: one ticketholder offered to sell four front-row tickets behind home plate.
Lamoreaux offered $10,000 each but the seller wanted $12,500 each. Lamoreaux is passing for now because he's not sure he can make a profit at that price.
If you're willing to shell out $2,700 for a standing room only ticket to Game 1, consider this: you could buy a ticket to each of the Packers' six remaining home games for a total of $1300, less than half the price of the Brewers ticket.