The Philadelphia Phillies, during the downtime between their final regular-season game and the NLDS, are conducting an intra-squad game at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.
It's not a simple intra-squad game either. The Phillies sold tickets to fans for $10 each, with all proceeds going to Phillies charities. As Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports, the Phillies sold out their intra-squad game, with 31,000 tickets sold.
It's an impressive showing from Phillies fans, as in comparison, the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers Wild Card series haven't sold nearly as many tickets in either Game 1 or Game 2.
Daryl Ruiter of 923 The Fan reports that in Game 1, the Guardians sold 26,186 tickets, while in Game 2, 26,659 tickets were sold. Both are a few thousand below the Phillies' 31,000 tickets sold. While not the best look for the Guardians, there are a few reasons why the Phillies outsold the Guardians for their respective games.
How the Phillies sold more tickets than the Guardians-Tigers AL Wild Card matchup
There are a few reasons why this Phillies intra-squad game has sold more tickets than either of the Guardians' or Tigers' Wild Card games. The most obvious reason is the big price difference.
The Phillies announced that tonight's 6 p.m. intrasquad game at Citizens Bank Park is sold out. They sold 31,000 tickets to the seven-inning game at $10 a piece.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) October 1, 2025
All proceeds will go to Phillies Charities.
The Phillies' intra-squad tickets were only $10 each, and even though it's not an official game, it's still very cheap compared to most games. With how expensive postseason tickets can get, even the cheapest ticket for Guardians-Tigers is significantly more than this Phillies ticket.
Another major factor is the start time. While the Phillies begin their game at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Guardians and Tigers games begin at 1:08 p.m. Eastern Time. This time difference is a huge factor, with the postseason matchup coming during working hours.
Fans of either team would need to take off work to come to the ballpark for the Guardians and Tigers series, while Phillies fans can drive over to the stadium (with free parking) to watch their team play one last time before the postseason begins.
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If this Guardians-Tigers matchup were later in the day, the same time as the Phillies intra-squad game, there would likely be a lot more tickets sold.
This scenario might be put into practice, as the Guardians, after losing Game 1, won Game 2 to even the series, and go to a winner-takes-all on Thursday.
If the other Wild Card series end in sweeps, then the Guardians would likely play at night in primetime, getting the chance for a full-house to eliminate a division rival and further cement their improbable comeback.
But the noticeable difference in tickets sold shows how much timing, price, and convenience come into play for fans. The Phillies game is cheaper, at a better time, and more easily accessible, while the Guardians-Tigers matchup is in the middle of the day and isn't cheap.
At the end of the day, the Phillies sold more tickets for their intra-squad game than the Guardians sold for either of their Wild Card games against the Tigers. Game 3 might sell more than 31,000 tickets. But, for now, the Phillies have the edge in attendance.
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