Is it just me or have baseball prices gone way up this year. Fans (almost) everywhere share the same cry's of distaste for the current cost of enjoying a night out at the ball game.
According to reports released by TMR average league wide ticket prices have gone up to $25.40, a 10.9% increase from the previous season.
"Team Marketing Report's 2008 Major League Baseball Fan Cost Index jumped 8.3 percent to $191.75 this season. Both increases are the highest for MLB since 2001, when tickets went up 12.9 percent (to $18.99), and the FCI went up 9.8 percent to $145.45".
12 teams had price increases of more than 10% 6 of which had increases over 20%
"The World Champion Boston Red Sox continue to have baseball's priciest ticket. The Red Sox's average price of $48.80 is a 10.1 percent jump from last year. The team's Fan Cost Index total of $320.71 is more than $60 higher than the No. 2 team, the New York Yankees".
"The FCI is a representative look at the costs for a family of four to attend a Major League Baseball game. It is comprised of four average tickets, as calculated through a weighted formula, two beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking for one car, two programs and two adult-sized caps".
"The Yankees, playing in their last season at Yankee Stadium, could overtake the Red Sox for the toughest ticket in baseball. And that ticket won't be cheap. According to TMR research, the average regular ticket will cost $36.58 and the cost to take a family of four to the Bronx stadium will be $259.84. That price, however, is hardly representative to what tickets will cost via the secondary market this season".
The Mets in their last season at Shea stadium recorded a 20.5% increase in average ticket prices. The Cubs entering there 100th season since their last World Series win are second priciest with an average price of $42.49
"Regardless of the increase, baseball is still the most affordable of the top four North American sports (see TMR web site for FCI historical data for baseball, basketball, football and hockey) and 11 teams have average ticket prices under $20".
Five teams have FCI totals under $150 including the Rays, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Giants, and Angels. Despite turnaround seasons the Rockies and the Brewers also rank low on the FCI. While National's fans will be feeling a jump from 24-15 in the rankings. The Kansas City Royals who typically rank low on the FCI have jumped a few spots in the index due to a 21.1% increase in ticket prices.
