The Rising Cost of Your Family Trip to a MLB Game
Going to the ballpark is one of our great American traditions. Watching a ballgame on a summer day while munching on a bag of peanuts and sipping a cold beer has been a mainstay in our culture for generations. As we sit in the stadium and watch the game unfold, for a moment, at least, we forget all our troubles of the outside world. Your only concern is trying not to get beaned in the head by a foul ball.
But at today’s prices, that family road trip to see your favorite Major League Baseball team is going to cost you. According to online sports-betting site Bookies.com, the average cost for a family of four at one of the 30 Major League ballparks is $180.53, up 4.5% from last year. This includes the cost of four tickets, two 16 oz. beers, two 20 oz. sodas, four hot dogs and parking.
The price of the tickets was calculated by averaging the lowest ticket price available for each regular season home game. Obviously, where your seat is located is the primary factor in cost. Preferred seating can easily cost you $200-$300 for a single ticket and could quickly send the cost of your family outing to well over $1,000. If the game is sold out or in high demand, buying your tickets on a secondary market like StubHub or via a ticket scalper can also increase the cost substantially.
For a family of four, the total cost varies extensively from one Major League ballpark to the next. The most expensive place to watch a game this year is Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, where your “cheap” tickets, food, drinks and parking will set your wallet back around $322.25. Rounding out the Top 5 most expensive ballparks are No. 2 Boston Red Sox at $321.25 followed by the Chicago Cubs ($267), Houston Astros ($233) and San Francisco Giants ($226.75).
Other Midwest teams include No. 14 St. Louis Cardinals ($168.35), No. 24 Milwaukee Brewers ($143) and No. 30 Chicago White Sox ($118). The five cheapest ballparks are No. 30 Chicago White Sox ($118) followed by the Kansas City Royals ($122.75), Cleveland Guardians ($130.75), Colorado Rockies ($136.75) and Cincinnati Reds ($139).
When it comes to parking your car, the average price for all 30 teams is $28.33, a hefty 50% from last year’s average of just $18.93. The most expensive is the Boston Red Sox at $62. Parking your car near Wrigley Field to see the Chicago Cubs will cost you around $50, the second highest.
The average price for two 16 oz. beers at a Major League ballpark is $15.32, in-line with last year’s average of $15.06. The Baltimore Orioles will charge you the most at $22. The Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox are tied for the second highest at $21 for a couple of cold brews. Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, will sell you two beers for $7.50, the cheapest of all stadiums. The Midwest teams of the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals charge $17 and $13.25, respectively.
The League average is $11.73 for two 20 oz. sodas, big enough to keep even the calmest child hopped up on sugar and caffeine for hours. The New York Mets charge the most at $22.50, followed by the San Francisco Giants ($16.50). The cheapest price is $5, offered by the Minnesota Twins.
Finally, the League average for your four hot dogs is $21.38. The San Diego Padres charge a wallet-melting $32, the highest among all stadiums. The Miami Marlins offer the cheapest at just $12. The cost at the local Midwest stadiums are Cubs ($26), Cardinals ($22) and White Sox ($20) and Brewers ($16).
Going to any major league sporting event, not just baseball, can be an expensive endeavor. Adding a quick stop at the stadium gift shop for some gameday souvenirs is just one of many additional costs that can be incurred. It pays to be flexible. Some games and days tend to be cheaper than others. But enjoy the fun and excitement.
Mark M. Grywacheski, Investment Advisor
Quad Cities Investment Group is a Registered Investment Adviser.
This material is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Quad Cities Investment Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Quad Cities Investment Group unless a client service agreement is in place.
