Today, at 7pm ET (MLB Network’s Bob Costas, Jim Kaat and John Smoltz will call the game, more details here), the most highly anticipated pitcher debut since Mark Prior will occur when Stephen Strasburg will take the hill for the Washington Nationals against the Pittsburg Pirates.

Interest in the game has been phenomenal (look for more by me on Forbes later on Tuesday). But, maybe the biggest reason to think that this is certainly much, much more than an ordinary Nationals game on a Tuesday is this: according to ticket forecast and resale company SeatGeek, the ticket price on the secondary market for the Strasburg debut game tonight is 146 percent higher than home games beginning in May, and nearly double what the cost for Sunday’s game with the Reds went for.

 And while the Nationals tell The Biz of Baseball that Opening Day with the Phillies may draw more, there’s little doubting that this is the biggest draw for the Nationals since. Remember, the game is with the Pirates on a Tuesday…  Under 20,000 would have been the norm for Nationals Park. Far be it from that… far be it from that.

Source: SeatGeek

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey, as well as a contributor to Forbes SportsMoney blog. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

Follow Maury Brown on Twitter

Follow The Biz of Baseball on Twitter

Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment