Starting next year you'll be able to buy those impossible to-get Yankees-Red Sox tickets or any other tough ticket by going to your team's website. Major League Baseball just signed a 5-year contract yesterday with StubHub to handle all of the league's online ticket resales starting in 2008. This is a huge jump for Major League Baseball which previously looked at ticket resales with disdain. Oh sure, they allowed fans to resell their tickets online but with one eye closed. There were only 4 teams that didn't allow ticket resales including the Yankees. The others being Baltimore, Minnesota and Toronto. Now not only will all 30 teams allow resales, they'll allow StubHub the space on their websites...
It's surprising to me that there are so many folks that have never bought tickets to either a concert or game through StubHub which has virtually eliminated ticket scalping. Here's how it works in very simple terms. A ticket seller offers his or her ticket to StubHub to sell for them. StubHub then typically charges sellers a fee equal to 15% of the sale price and buyers a 10% fee. The tickets are then shipped to buyers via FedEx and you're in business. Big business. Some analysts say the online resale market could be as big as $10 billion a year...
EBay knows about reselling and they also know about StubHub. They bought the company in January for $310 million. There are no reports that they now intend to resell it...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1824] On the avenue, Fifth avenue: Manhattan's 5th Avenue is opened to the public...
- 1876] Change 'Wild' to 'Dead': 'Wild Bill' Hickock is killed when he's shot from behind while playing poker in Deadwood (SD). Jack McCall was later hanged for the shooting...
- 1921] Not guilty as charged: A jury in Chicago acquits several former members of the Chicago White Sox (referred to as the Black Sox) and two others of conspiring to defraud the public by throwing the World Series...
- 1943] A day for heroes: PT-109, commanded by Lt. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, sinks after being sheared in two by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands. Kennedy is credited with saving members of his crew...
- 1961] Now headlining: The Beatles begin their engagement as regular headliners at Liverpool's Cavern Club. They will perform about 300 shows over the next 4 years including the performance seen on this video clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=w2AXaOULs6Q ...
- 1962] What's your name?: Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan...
- 1979] Tragedy in Canton: Yankees captain, 31-year old Thurman Munson dies when the private jet he was piloting crashes near the Canton (OH) airport. The baseball world is stunned...
- 1987] It's Snow White in August: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is re-released. The film was 50 years old at the time of its re-release. If you ever wanted to hear the full version of "Hi Ho" sung by the dwarfs, now's your chance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=y8AkKnLMELo ...
- 1992] 'The Franchise' is franchised forever: Under a blisteringly hot sun, George Thomas Seaver of the Mets enters the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown with the highest percentage (98.84%) of votes in history...
- 1992] One degree of separation: Kevin Bacon's relationship with Kyra Sedgwick sizzles (forgive me, I had to) as the couple exchange marriage vows...
Music Memories:
- 1960] #1 on this date: "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - Brian Hyland...1971] "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" - Bee Gees and here's the video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5r49pYLk6Xg ...1981] "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Last night it was Boston's newest superstar, Kevin Garnett, who threw out the first ball at Fenway Park. Tonight Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr will have the honors on the 60th anniversary of the first Bobby Doerr Day at Fenway Park. Throw a strike Bobby...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Pete Sampras (36), Tim Wakefield (41), Mary-Louise Parker (43), Victoria Jackson (48), Butch Patrick (54), Lance Ito (57), Joanna Cassidy (62), Kathy Lennon (64), Wes Craven (68), Garth Hudson (64) and Peter O'Toole (75)...
Timeline Countdown: 2 days until the Pro Football HOF induction (Gene Hickerson, Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas and Roger Wehrli), 32 days until Labor Day and 35 days until the NFL opener...
