The Águilas vs. Licey series in NY is hanging by a thread; could be cancelled

The intense and complicated negotiations for Águilas and Licey against each other this fall in New York became the summer thriller of the event. Lidom…Those who thought that, with the official announcement and ticket sales last month, that the novel could already be sent to the press were wrong.

This week the event could be canceled if the Dominican Baseball League and the company Latin Events do not renegotiate the original agreement, one that has not come into force legally because the payment to the players through their union (Fenapepro). The games would be exhibition games.

The costs for this year’s convention have increased, which has forced the organizers to transfer the increase to tickets whose sales are going at a lower level, a situation that will cause a huge loss.

Ticketmaster, the ticket sales platform, put them at prices that started at US $ 70 and went up to US $ 643 for each game in the Bronx (November 8 and 9). In 2023, seats were sold at windows between US$40 and US$207 at Citi Field, which attracted more than 90,000 people in three days.

The other obstacle

Once the agreement was negotiated between Lidom and Latin Events (announced on September 20), the latter had to be approved by Fenapepro, responsible for paying the players, not the teams.

Sources assured Diario Libre that the union chaired by Erick Almonte started asking for US$550,000, but that there was a rapprochement that left the differences at less than US$50,000.

In addition to the fact that both the blue and yellow tables would be paid twice in 2023, this time US $ 1 million must be spent on the other four clubs in the league. Lidom and rent a more expensive stadium than Citi Field, which will only host one game this time around.

Seeing the “pyrrhic” performance of the demand for tickets, Latin Events senior staff, including businessman Félix Cabrera and former soccer player David Ortiz, wanted to talk to Vitelio Mejía, head- group sitting. Lidomwhich is proven impossible.

“(Mejía) is not able to understand the situation so that we can all sacrifice ourselves. If ticket prices are not lowered there will be no series this year,” explained a source close to the negotiations.

The uncertainty

If Ricardo Ravelo, the president of the Licey, announced on Thursday about the “security” of the series that was taking place, Julio Curylawyer for Latin Events, sheds more light on Friday on the program Grandes en los Deportes. Then, Mejía returned the park on Saturday night from Puerto Plata, where he went to the reopening of the José Briceño stadium.

“There are some issues to come that are not the responsibility of the league, or the Licey, or the Águilas, let me know! They are things that someone has to do and they didn’t,” said Mejía. “When there is a contract, each party is obliged to do something, we have complied with everything, they as a promoter have to comply with certain things.”

When asked by Diario Libre on Sunday, Cury indicated that it was impossible for him to sit at the negotiating table.

“(Mejía) has been a broken bridge: he does not respond to emails, WhatsApp messages, or phone calls. It’s a shame, because he shouldn’t be racking his brain to create formulas to give financial benefits to the teams. and the league itself, but also , and, above all, in ensuring that the fan of the diaspora can access and enjoy the games,” Mejía told DL via text message .

“However, it seems that selfishness and ambitions grow above some people and cover them with their shadow. We don’t know if the idea is related to that false ideology of sin at the convenience of the deaf, blind and dumb, but it would be appropriate. to remind them again that Titanes del Caribe is not from Latin Events, but a joint effort, so the league, teams and promoter must do their part, and if not, the to break a cup,” wrote Cury.

“Vitellius’ vindictiveness, indifference and indifference to the legitimate concerns which Latin Events have allowed themselves to express to him in various ways have been painful, but apparently, Phoenician blood flows through his veins. Of course, if that method has been successful. , I don’t think, at the stage of life he’s in, he’s going to change it,” Cury concluded.