Out of your league? At one of these stadiums, youll need $350 to watch Americas pastime.
Source: 10 Most Expensive MLB Stadiums | Bankrate.com
Swing for the fences
The nominal average salary of a Major League Baseball player in 1966 was a shade under $18,000. This year, the Philadelphia Phillies are selling a 2,200-calorie cheeseburger with nine patties.
Costs of admission continue to inch upward, but Americans’ appetite for long games, crazy foods and pitching changes is at an all-time high. The 10 best-attended seasons in the sport’s history have come in the past 10 years, including 73.7 million fans in 2014.
The average MLB ticket price rose 3.3 percent over last season to $28.94, the largest increase since 2009, according to Team Marketing Report, a sports marketing publisher. The average Fan Cost Index, or FCI, is up 2.5 percent over last year to $211.68. The FCI figure includes four adult average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four (regular) hot dogs, parking and two of the cheapest hats.
That might sound like you’re getting a lot, but you’ll also be spending a lot at these most expensive ballparks.
No. 10: Minute Maid Park
Team: Houston Astros
Fan Cost Index: $220.28
After another rebuilding season, which is baseball language for “What else is on?” the Astros had the second-highest increase in ticket pricing, behind only the American League champion Kansas City Royals. The 13.7 percent increase brings an average ticket to $31.82, though their Coca-Cola Value Days offer a ticket and refreshments for $16.
No. 9: Marlins Park
Team: Miami Marlins
Fan Cost Index: $224.83
Marlins Park saw the second-largest jump in average ticket price among the top 10 parks, up 7.2 percent. Just three years since its opening, the park recorded the lowest attendance in the National League last season. The Marlins do offer Half-Priced Tuesdays and All You Can Eat Mondays for $30, which is a lot of nachos.
No. 8: Target Field
Team: Minnesota Twins
Fan Cost Index: $229.36
New to the list this year is Target Field, which had a 6.5 percent increase on FCI this season, even with average ticket prices staying flat at $32.59 and having the lowest price average for premium tickets among the top 10 ($74.18). The team scheduled Star Wars Night on May 4, though, sadly, light sabers were prohibited. May the fourth be with you.
No. 7: Nationals Park
Team: Washington Nationals
Fan Cost Index: $232.08
After a considerable drop in total cost last season, Nationals Park ticked back up 1.8 percent this year. Average premium tickets are $111.95, but when you can be regularly graced with the presence of indifferent members of Congress (toward the game, of course), is there really a price too high?
No. 6: Busch Stadium
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Fan Cost Index: $236.81
The Cardinals offer the second-most expensive soft drinks in baseball at an average cost of $5.25, which makes a 12-ounce beer at $5 seem much more reasonable. That, and the fact that you’re sitting in a place named after beer. Discounts on premium tickets are offered on industry appreciation nights to accountants, among other rebel rousers.
No. 5: AT&T Park
Team: San Francisco Giants
Fan Cost Index: $241.13
The Giants were baseball’s first adopters of “dynamic pricing,” so their 6.8 percent increase on average ticket prices to $33.78 is likely quite reflective of a market that includes three World Series Championships in five years. The same system that hikes prices for popular rivalry games also offers tickets as low as $8 for lesser draws
No. 4: Citizens Bank Park
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Fan Cost Index: $252.18
The Phillies didn’t see an uptick in average ticket prices over last year, which should resemble the on-field performance of the finally retooling team. The steep $37.42 average ticket price is softened by ticket specials such as the Phamily Pack, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for $100.
No. 3: Wrigley Field
Team: Chicago Cubs
Fan Cost Index: $300.73
The friendly confines saw an increase in average ticket prices for the first time in five seasons, up just 1.5 percent to $44.81. Rooftop tickets across Sheffield Avenue can run from around $80 to more than $200 for a weekend game against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.
No. 2: Yankee Stadium
Team: New York Yankees
Fan Cost Index: $337.20
Once again, the Yankees’ average ticket price ($51.55) and FCI are flat compared with the previous season, and once again, they are comfortably the second-most expensive ballpark in baseball. The average premium ticket is far and away the most expensive in MLB at $305.39. Want to park? Better bring $35.
No. 1: Fenway Park
Team: Boston Red Sox
Fan Cost Index: $350.86
Fenway Park remains the most expensive ballpark, both in terms of average ticket price ($52.34) and FCI. The average ticket price is flat after the Red Sox finished last in the division last season. Beers also remain the most expensive in MLB, at 65 cents per ounce.