Fred Wilpon apparently doesn't hold grudges. The New York Mets owner may have lost
hundreds of millions in Bernard Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme, but Madoff still has his season tickets at the club's brand new Citi Field ballpark.
And
now the trustee charged with liquidating Bernard L. Madoff Investment
Securities LLC under the Securities Investor Protection Act will sell
the tickets on eBay, where other Madoff-related items like
dolls and
trading cards can be purchased.
Madoff's firm owns two season
tickets in Citi Field's Delta Club Platinum section in the second row
behind home plate, which range from $295 to $695 each, depending on the
game. Similar seats selling on eBay, however, are listed for up to
twice the face value. The trustee, Irving H. Picard, says in bankruptcy
court filings that the tickets have a total face value of $80,190.
In
a deal reached with the Mets, Picard has exchanged the tickets for a
pair of Delta Club Gold tickets, located a few rows back, which have a
total face value of $60,750 and include access to the Delta Sky360 Club
and one free parking pass. The Mets will refund Picard the $19,440
price difference in the exchange.
"While the tickets are still
for excellent and exclusive seats, it is the view of the trustee that
the less expensive tickets will be more marketable, especially given
the current economic environment," Picard says in court filings.
Mets
tickets in the Delta Club Gold section range from $225 to $525, and
like Platinum seats selling on eBay are listed for up to twice the face
value. Picard also said that he could not transfer the right to
purchase playoff tickets or tickets for next season in a sale of the
pricier package.
Picard will hold a seven-day auction on eBay
for the tickets. The Mets will enter as the opening bidder, with an
offer of 50% of the tickets' face value. -
John Blakeley
Continue reading below
