The Cost of Taking Your Family to a Major League Baseball 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.
In 2025, Major League Baseball reported total fan attendance reached a record 71,409,421. That equates to an average per game attendance of 29,471.
But that family road trip to see your favorite Major League Baseball team might set you back a few dollars. 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 $225.90, up 8.6% 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 $413.16. Rounding out the Top 5 most expensive ballparks are No. 2 Boston Red Sox at $372.90 followed by the Athletics ($324.08), Chicago Cubs ($314.22) and San Francisco Giants ($283.58).
By comparison, the five cheapest ballparks are No. 30 Florida Marlins ($159.14) followed by the Cincinnati Reds ($163.66), St. Louis Cardinals ($164.6), Los Angeles Angels ($165.94) and Kansas City Royals ($167.54). Other Midwest teams include No. 20 Chicago White Sox ($195.76) and No. 23 Milwaukee Brewers ($176.50).
When it comes to parking your car, the average price for all 30 teams is $28.95. The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox are tied for the most expensive parking at $65.
The average price for two 16 oz. beers at a Major League ballpark is $20.03. The Washington Nationals will charge you the most for a couple of cold brews at $30.80. Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, will sell you two beers for $9.98, the cheapest of all stadiums. The cost for two beers for the Midwest teams include the Milwaukee Brewers ($23.10), Chicago White Sox ($21.58), Chicago Cubs ($21.56) and St. Louis Cardinals ($13.60).
The League average is $13.98 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 $23.96, followed by the Los Angeles Angels ($19.52). The cheapest price is $8.46, offered by the Colorado Rockies.
Finally, the League average for your four hot dogs is $24.83. Both the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox charge a wallet-melting $35.96, the highest among all stadiums. The Arizona Diamondbacks offer the cheapest at just $12.28. The Atlanta Braves are a close second at $12.32.
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.