Cubs' runaway victory creates spike in price of Game 7 tickets

As theCubs went up 7-0 early in Game 6 of the World Series against theIndianson Tuesday night, tickets to Game 7 on the resale market exploded, as Chicago fans undoubtedly felt the need to be in Cleveland to potentially celebrate the team's first title in 108 years.

Ticket market tracker TicketIQ data reflects that right before Game 6, the average asking price for a Game 7 ticket was $3,922, with the average actual sale hovering around $1,800.

After the Cubs' three-run first inning on Tuesday night, the asking prices jumped 7 percent to $4,200 and the sale prices jumped 17 percent to $2,110 apiece. By game's end, the average asking price had jumped 19.8 percent and the average sale was up by 56.4 percent.

"A pair of seats is costing fans $2,000 per ticket, after fees," said Patrick Ryan, co-founder of Eventellect, a resale market ticket distribution company. "That is more than the 'get in price' for eight of the past 10 Super Bowls. It's unique, but it's the number most industry insiders would expect the get in for a Cubs Game 7 to be."

On StubHub, the most expensive tickets bought on Tuesday for Wednesday night's closing World Series game were $19,500 each for a pair by the Cubs dugout, where most of the bigger purchases were made.

Tickets 10 to 15 rows up from those front-row seats, which have a face value of $300, were selling for $4,500 on the open market.

"I would have never dreamed of getting these prices for baseball in Cleveland," said Mark Klang of Amazing Tickets, a ticket brokerage based in the city.

When informed of the prices of Game 7 tickets, Cubs catcherDavid Ross, who said he will retire at season's end, saw an opportunity for himself.

"Can I sell mine?" Ross asked. "I'm going to be looking for a job after tomorrow."

When Game 6 ended in a 9-3 Cubs win, the median paid ticket price on StubHub for Game 7 was $1,900. That was up $450 from Game 5 at Wrigley Field in Chicago and up roughly $900 from Game 6 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Those with tickets to sell weren't the only ones benefiting. Two hotels on Ninth Street in downtown Cleveland sold out for Wednesday night with huge room-rate asking prices: The Kimpton Schofield Hotel was getting $700 for a regular room, while the Hampton Inn sold out at $1,500 a room. Rooms at the hotels typically range from $130 to $160 a night.