 | Mark Schremmer is a major contributor to KPREPS.com, a website dedicated to covering Kansas high school football. A Pittsburg native and Pittsburg State University graduate, he is assistant news editor at The Topeka Capital-Journal and has covered sports in Kansas since 2000. |
Sports
2012-06-20 16:43:25
Events surrounding the MLB All-Star Game
A: If you are determined to attend the All-Star Game on July 10th at Kauffman Stadium and don’t already have tickets, you will need to be willing to open your wallet. As of mid-June, the least expensive ticket for the Midsummer Classic available on Stubhub.com was $285 for standing-room only. If you want a seat, an upper deck ticket could be purchased for $330. The closer you want to get to the action, the more expensive it will be. A single dugout box ticket around home plate exceeds $2,200.
However, you don’t have to empty your child’s college fund in order for you and your family to take in some of the All-Star weekend’s festivities.
If you’re wanting to take the kids, the All-Star FanFest maybe your best bet. The FanFest, which will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 6th through Monday, July 9th and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 10 at the Kansas City Convention Center, touts itself as the largest interactive baseball theme park in the world.
Tickets for each day are affordable with the base rate at $30 for adults, $25 for children 2-12, and free for kids under the age of 2. There also are plenty of ticket packages available through allstargame.com, such as a five pack for two adults and three children at the price of $110. There also are packages available for people who would like to attend the FanFest all five days.
The best part is that once you’re in FanFest, all of the attractions are free. Attractions include batting cages, Hall of Fame and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum displays and exhibits, baseball clinics hosted by coaches, managers, MLB legends and current stars, autograph stages and much more.
Some of the stars scheduled to attend FanFest include Willie Wilson, Rollie Fingers, Frank White, Andre Dawson, Ferguson Jenkins, Tom “Flash” Gordon, Joe Carter, Gaylord Perry, Bret Saberhagen, Lou Brock, Monte Irvin and Hal McRae. Current All-Stars also are expected to attend. Keep checking at allstargame.com for updated lists of who will be at FanFest and which days they will be there.
If FanFest isn’t your thing, there are plenty more activities and competitions to watch over the weekend.
The All-Star Game 5K and Fun Run will be Sunday, July 8 in downtown Kansas City. The 5-kilometer race will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the 1-mile Fun Run will start at 8 a.m. All registered finishers will receive a commemorative All-Star medal and T-shirt. Net proceeds from the event will be given to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Registration and event information can be found at allstargame.com/5k.
Tickets to MLB All-Star Sunday may be the best value inside Kauffman Stadium. The day includes entry to the Futures Game and the Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.
The Futures Game will include some of baseball’s best minor league players. In past years, the Futures Game has included the likes of Josh Beckett, Ryan Braun, Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Alex Gordon, Zack Greinke, Eric Hosmer, Ryan Howard, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Moustakas, C.C. Sabathia and Joey Votto.
The Legends and Celebrity Softball Game will follow on Sunday night. Baseball legends scheduled to participate include George Brett, Bo Jackson, Ernie Banks, Joe Carter, Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Mike Piazza, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield and Mike Sweeney.
Ticket packages that include entry to the MLB All-Star Sunday and either Monday or Tuesday’s FanFest are available on allstargame.com. As on mid-June, Stubhub.com had standing-room only tickets to MLB All-Star Sunday for as little as $12 each.
Monday’s main attraction will be the Home Run Derby. Tickets through Royals.com range from $200 for upper deck seats to $325 for dugout plaza seats. Stubhub.com was selling tickets ranging from $175 to $1,200.
Hopefully, this gives you an overview of the festivities and some affordable options to be a part of it. Keep checking allstargame.com for updated information as the event draws closer.
I hope to see you out there.
