Royals say postseason tickets are cheaper than they would have been last season

Royals season ticket holders have receive invoices for postseason games, and general public will have the opportunity to buy tickets beginning on Sept. 18.

And, the tickets are cheaper than they would have been last year, when the Royals went through the postseason ticket pricing for first time in a decade.

Last year, a strip of postseason tickets that includes 14 games — two possible tie-breakers, wild-card, division, league championship and World Series games — in the Hy-Vee Outfield would have cost $1,010 for a half- or full-season-ticket holder.

This year, that same strip is $736.

The team set prices in consultation with Major League Baseball and found its prices higher than in similar sized markets like Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

“We heard from fans, and lowered the price,” said Toby Cook, Royals vice president for community affairs and publicity.

The Royals have set two pricing plans for season-ticket holders, and those who have 81- and 41-game plans get a break from those with a 21-game plan ($736 for the outfield strip vs. $828).

But a season-ticket holder of any plan gets first crack at what would be the organization’s first postseason appearance in 29 years. The most expensive ticket: $5,630 for the 14-game strip in the BATS Crown Club for a 21-game ticket holder.

Season-ticket holders can make their purchases in three installments with 35 percent of the purchase due on Sept. 8. The next payment is due on Oct. 1, two days after the end of the regular season.

If the Royals don’t reach the postseason, refunds for tickets will be available in November upon request. Otherwise, the purchase price will be applied to 2015 season tickets.

Before tickets go on sale to the public, season-ticket holders will have an opportunity to purchase additional ticket strips, capped at the number of their season passes.

The Royals also are offering postseason ticket priority to anybody who becomes a 2015 season ticket holder by Sept. 8. A $250 deposit toward a 2015 season ticket by Sept. 12 would put you in line for postseason tickets this year.

Why 14 games? Teams sell the maximum number of postseason games that can be played, and for the Royals that’s four in the World Series (the American League won the All-Star Game), four in the League Championship Series, three in the Division Series, one wild-card game and two tie-breakers, which are technically regular-season games.

A tie-breaker was required last year when the Rays and Rangers tied for the second wild-card spot. If a third team is tied for the second wild-card spot, a second tie-breaker game may be required.

This story was originally published September 4, 2014 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Royals say postseason tickets are cheaper than they would have been last season."