Despite Tigers woes, Comerica Park still draws big crowds

The Tigers season, which began with high hopes of 120 wins, 1000 runs, and 17 Justin Verlander no-hitters, appears to be imploding on itself.

This team’s inability to pitch, hit, and play defense at the same time (or to avoid committing hate crimes while on the road) is troubling. Never mind the unmitigated disasters that have been Ryan Raburn and the bullpen. All over town, fans and pundits are pressing the panic button like it’s going out of style.

Even Detroit News beat writer Lynn Henning thinks this team has to stop acting so “entitled” if they want to salvage the season. Entitlement: That’s the sort of analysis only a BBWAA cardholder can provide.

Still, despite a particularly miserable month of baseball, Tiger fans are still showing up at Comerica Park. Wednesday night’s game drew an announced attendance of 37,840 and yesterday’s day game drew 33,955.

Standing room tickets are the only option currently available for interleague play games against the Pirates tonight and Saturday. It probably doesn’t hurt that Justin Verlander and rookie phenom (fluke?) Drew Smyly are scheduled to pitch.

Based on StubHub listings, the demand is keeping prices on the secondary ticket market steady. For tonight’s game, upper reserved tickets (cheapest in the ballpark with a $14.00 face value) are listed between $15-$59/ticket.

On top of that you have to pay a 10% commission to StubHub (in addition to the 15% commission they get from the ticket seller) and a $5.45 “delivery fee” to Major League Baseball, so you can print the tickets using your own printer. With your own paper and toner. Thanks, Bud Selig. You’re a real peach.

But fans seem less excited about the Tigers-Pirates Sunday matinee. The box office still has some actual seats for sale and StubHub has hundreds of tickets available for less than $20, plus assorted fees.

You’d think a Sunday day game (especially with a sunny/high in the 80s forecast) would be bigger draw than Friday and Saturday night, but then again, the phase “scheduled starter Max Scherzer” probably doesn’t help the gate.