The Yankees think their premium seats are out of your league. The team has discontinued online sales to keep out the “riffraff” John Oliver reported on Last Week Tonight.
Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost explained his rationale in an ill-advised interview with WFAN. Trost said their existing fanbase would experience “frustration” at having to sit next to someone who purchased tickets at a discounted price from online resellers.
“Wow!” Oliver exclaimed. “He’s saying rich people couldn’t bear to sit next to people who aren’t as rich, which would be offensive if you were talking about the opera, much less a sports whose primary fashion statement is the goatee.”
Oliver consequently announced an unofficial contest that is in no way affiliated with the Yankees. Fans can win two tickets strategically placed behind home plate by tweeting photos of themselves in their least appropriate attire.
“You must dress like you’ve never sat in a premium location before,” he explained. “What that means can be up to you.”
The first day winners were John Welch and Joe Spilo, who dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
“I was so stoked and I was so excited,” Welch told Daily News. “It’s a practical joke, but it’s fun for us and it’s awesome to be sitting here for 25 cents. Big shout out to … John Oliver. This could not have been any better.”
Oliver got a double play on Wednesday with two sets of winners. Hannah Lee and Michelle Munera dressed as unicorns while Ashley Lewis and Jennifer Sedgley dressed as the sharks from Katy Perry’s Super Bowl performance.
“Causing some riff raff!” Sedgley tweeted.
The third and final winners were Nick Turchak and Chris Chestnut dressed as dinosaurs.
“I have roamed the Earth since prehistoric times, but #IHaveNeverSatInAPremiumLocation,” Turchak tweeted.
The prank did not go unnoticed by management, which finally caved on Thursday.
“Thanks John Oliver! Everyone is welcome at Yankee Stadium,” read the video board.
How to enter:
To win two tickets valued at $245 each for 25 cents, tweet your photo to @lastweektonight with the hashtag #IHaveNeverSatInAPremiumLocation and #Wednesday or #Thursday for the day you wish to attend. Entry deadline 9AM ET the day of the game. Winners notified via Twitter with 1 hour and must respond within 30 minutes.
Official rules: http://www.hbo.com/assets/pdf/series/last-week-tonight/70272premium.pdf
Tips:
The point is to get noticed on TV so bright colors and instantly recognizable costumes are the way to go. This looks like a job for Superman and Batman costumes!
