An annual study of the cost of attending MLB games for a family of four shows a wide variation across the league.
Attending an MLB game in any of the league’s 30 parks can be a lot of fun. Depending on which park you visit, however, the cost of doing so can hit the wallet much harder. According to the newest fan cost index by Team Marketing Report, there are definitely some parks at which you should hit up the ATM for much more than others.
The fan cost index creates a figure for each MLB franchise, projecting what it currently costs a family of four to attend a game at each team’s park. The total cost figures in tickets, transportation, “four sodas, four hot dogs, two beers and two souvenir caps, plus a parking spot.” With all those costs accounted for, the index produces one US (prices for Toronto Blue Jays games were converted to US dollars) dollar figure they ranked the 30 MLB franchises on.
Overall, the average cost of attending an MLB game for a family of four rose 2.4 percent as compared to 2017. That figure is pegged at $230.98 for 2018. Much of that increase can be attributed to a 2.7 percent increase in average general ticket prices.
Currently, the average price for a 14-oz. beer at MLB parks is $5.98, while a 19-oz. soft drink runs 4.65. The average price for a souvenir cap is $17.62 and a parking spot is going for $15.42 on average. A hot dog is running $5.01 on average.
There are five franchises whose costs are running well above those averages, and which teams those are should not surprise anyone.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers round out the top five in this year’s ranking thanks to a tremendous increase in cost for 2018.
The total cost of $268.02 represents a 8.4 percent increase from 2017, which is the fourth-largest increase year-over-year in MLB. Only one other NL team saw a bigger increase from 2017. Much of the overall cost can be attributed to concession and ticket prices.
The Dodgers have the second-highest average soft drink price at $6. Hot dogs at Dodgers Stadium tie for the most expensive in MLB at $6.50. The Dodgers saw the greatest increase in average general ticket price from 2017, as the 14.5 percent increase brought the cost to $41.13. The Dodgers’ average premium ticket price is $149.77, ranking it ninth for that category.
Other facets of the cost of attending a Dodgers game aren’t too bad. A souvenir cap runs $18, less than a dollar above the league average of $17.62. The Dodgers offer the lowest average parking spot cost in MLB at just $5, which is less than 1/3 of the MLB average.
As the cost of attending an MLB game for families continues to increase as the years go by, the responsibility of justifying families spending those amounts continues to lay upon the individual franchises. Based on these numbers, some teams carry more of that responsibility than others.