KBO League Fever: Opening Games Sell Out, Ticket Wars Intensify
SEOUL — The passion for Korean professional baseball is reaching new heights as the 2025 KBO League season kicks off. Opening weekend games were a complete sell-out, highlighting the intense competition among fans to secure tickets.
Record Attendance Signals Growing Popularity
The first two games of the season drew a combined attendance of 219,900 spectators across five stadiums. This figure surpasses pre-pandemic levels, exceeding the 214,324 attendees from the 2019 opening series. Most of the tickets for games scheduled throughout the remainder of March are already sold out, demonstrating the sport’s surging popularity.
Tiered Memberships Fuel Ticket Frenzy, Frustrating Fans
To capitalize on the escalating demand, KBO clubs have implemented tiered membership systems offering prioritized ticket booking privileges. These “pre-presale” access tiers, with some clubs even introducing “triple pre-presale” options, grant earlier access to tickets based on membership fees.While intended to reward loyal fans,these systems have sparked controversy,as the number of premium members sometimes exceeds the available seats ,leaving general fans with limited opportunities to purchase tickets.
One fan,choi Beom-kyu,voiced a common sentiment,stating that the possibility of securing a good seat as a general fan has “entirely disappeared”.
Backlash prompts Some revisions
Faced with growing discontent, some teams have reversed course on their tiered membership plans. SSG Landers, such as, retracted its plan to offer the earliest ticket access to its highest-paying members just a day after announcing the policy, citing fan feedback.The team has stated that there are currently no plans to introduce added membership benefits.
Teams defend Membership Programs
KBO teams maintain that these premium membership programs are designed to bolster fan loyalty and streamline the ticket booking process. The Samsung Lions stated that the additional tiers reflected fan demand for premium services and that the number of members eligible for the “pre-presale” access has been adjusted, increasing access to general admission seats for fans.
A representative from the KIA Tigers also explained that their tiered membership approach was promotional and steps have been implemented to mitigate hardships fans may experience, such as limiting purchases to a maximum of two tickets per person.
Scalpers Exploit High Demand
The high demand and limited availability of tickets have created a fertile ground for scalpers. Tickets for opening games have been resold online for as much as ten times their original value.For example, tickets with an original price of 58,000 won for the SSG Landers vs. Doosan Bears game were listed for 140,000 won.Even seats with obstructed views, originally priced at 13,000 won, were resold for 80,000 won.
Tickets for the LG Twins vs. Lotte Giants game, originally priced at 23,000 won, were being sold as “transfers” for approximately 230,000 won each.
Calls for action Against Illegal Ticketing
While some teams have taken measures to combat illegal ticket sales,such as revoking memberships of those caught scalping,these efforts have been largely insufficient. Experts, such as professor Choi Cheol, argue that if preventative measures aren’t put in place to limit “pre-presales” then the inflated price of tickets will become even more rampant. Choi emphasizes the need for teams to address the issue of fairness and develop extensive countermeasures to prevent scalpers from profiting at the expense of dedicated KBO fans.
* **What are the benefits of tiered memberships in the KBO League?**
KBO League Fever: opening Games Sell Out, Ticket Wars Intensify – Q&A
- Sign up for team memberships: Even lower tiers might give you a better shot.
- Monitor ticket sales closely: Be ready to buy the moment tickets go on sale.
- Consider weekday games: Demand is often lower.
The KBO League’s popularity creates a thrilling atmosphere, but securing tickets requires strategy! Stay informed and be ready to join the ticket battle to experience the excitement of Korean baseball.
