New York Yankees vs. Diablos Rojos Clash in Mexico City Sells Out in Record 90 Minutes

It only took 90 minutes for tickets to sell out for the Yankees' visit to the Mexico City Diablos Rojos to be held in March of this year.

According to Ticketmaster Mexico's website, tickets for the March 24-25 games went on sale at 11 AM local time on February 7, but by 12:30 PM, tickets were sold out.

The Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium, situated just a few meters from the massive Foro Sol, boasts a seating capacity of just over 20,000. Within an hour and a half, Ticketmaster managed to sell at least 40,000 tickets.

The series between the Bronx Bombers and the Capital Devils represents the first time in nearly six decades that the two teams have met. The last time they faced each other was in 1968 splitting wins.

The Major League Baseball announced on Friday (Feb.2) that the Bronx Bombers will be suiting up against Los Diablos Rojos del México on March 24 and 25, finishing its Spring Training sessions before the season begins on the 28th.

The two-game series marks the first international trip by the Yankees since 2014, when they visited Panama for a two-game exhibition at the request of Panama-native and Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera.

This time around, Los Diablos Rojos were the ideal opponent for the Yankees given that they both hold the largest number or titles in their respective leagues (Diablos Rojos have 16 while the Yankees have 27).

The games will be held almost 26 years after the last time the Yankees played in Mexico City ( March 18 and 20, 1968). To put that timeframe into perspective, it was the last year that Mickey Mantle wore pinstripes. Back then, the two teams split the result, with Los Diablos winning the first encounter 5-3 and the Yankees getting payback in the second outing by a 9-1 score.

It's worth pointing out that the New York Yankees have three players with Mexican roots on its current roster: reliever Victor González, catcher Jose Trevino and outfielder Alex Verdugo. Overall, Mexicans (24) represent the fifth country with the most active players in the Major Leagues behind the United States, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Cuba.

The games in Mexico are part of a larger initiative by Major League Baseball to expand their global reach. In 2024, as part of their MLB World Tour, the league will be hosting games in Seoul (March 20-21), London (June 8-9) and Santo Domingo (March 9-10), besides an in-season series to be played in Mexico City between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies.