• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Monday, October 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Is pro baseball pricing itself out of existence?

by Charles Hallman
June 13, 2018
13
SHARES
256
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

What is the true cost of attending a game for the average baseball fan? New research shows that attending an MLB game these days is not as reasonably priced as once believed.

According to a new PlayNJ report, the average cost is $5,270 if you attend all 81 home games. In addition to ticket prices, also factored in are the costs of parking, buying an alcoholic drink, a soft drink, and one hot dog, plus a team apparel item, such as a baseball cap.

Chicago Cubs ($15,722), Boston ($12,712) and New York Yankees ($12,547) are among the top 15 most expensive MLB teams this season. Minnesota ($6,365) is sixth among the 15 least expensive teams, and the Los Angeles Angels ($4,520) is the least expensive.

A Black Twins fan (“Mike,” his real name not used by request) recently told us that he spent over $200 after attending two games this season. “With tickets, parking, I probably spent about $90 dollars – that was by me,” he stressed.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Mike then itemized his game spending, which included two drinks for him and a friend at $35 apiece; $15 parking and $12 on food. “I looked at a [Twins] sweatshirt,” but said he found the $55 price tag too much.

hotdog
Photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash

The 2018 Team Marketing Report (TMR) Fan Cost Index (FCI) in a separate report shows a 2.4 percent increase to attend MLB games this season, with average ticket prices rising to $32.44 and the average FCI for a family of four at $230.98. Minnesota, with an average FCI for a family of four this season of $237.72, is nearly $7 above the MLB average. The Twins (nine percent), Toronto (15.7 percent) and Milwaukee (8.9 percent) show the largest FCI increases, the TMR report adds.

Pete Spike is the district general manager for Delaware North, who runs concessions at the Twins ballpark. Asked earlier this season about rising costs, Spike responded that the time will come “when we are going to price ourselves out.”

What about the crosstown St. Paul Saints? Their prices are cheaper than the Twins, which is expected since they are a minor league club: $28 the highest ($27 for seniors and youth), and $5 the lowest.

Nonetheless, whether it’s the Twins or the Saints, traditional baseball food – hotdogs, peanuts, hamburgers – seem to have given way to hotsy-totsy food usually found at four-star upscale restaurants: blue-cheese tenderloin, Middle Eastern dishes, rice bowls and day-game brunch items. “The Belly Buster” (cornbread and mac and cheese), “Chicken on a Stick,” and “a true vegan Italian sausage” are all new offerings this season at the Saints ballpark.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Most fans still “want to get a hot dog, a soda, [and spend] probably $12-$15 per person,” Spike said. I am among this group but not at these prices.

“People are looking for that wild, crazy food,” Saints Chef Ray Remier said as this reporter shook his head in disbelief. “You’re not happy because you want that simple hot dog,” the executive chef continued, correctly guessing my facial expressions. “A hot dog? You can [have that]. We have plain old cheeseburgers, good old-fashioned hot dogs and brats.”

Two questions remain: the first is how much is too much. The PlayNJ report summarized that “a shocking 42 percent of baseball fans” say they are not willing to pay so much simply to watch baseball games in person.

And the second question: Has baseball gotten too expensive? “I think it is,” Mike said. “If you get a standing room ticket, it’s cheaper. A baseball game is much longer [than other sports, which have game clocks], so you will spend more money.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

New Mpls parks commissioner ‘optimistic, hopeful, fearless’

Next Post

‘Ocean’s 8,’ a refreshing departure from prequels

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs
Sports

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs

The Players Alliance and Twins partner to attract more Black youth to baseball
Sports

The Players Alliance and Twins partner to attract more Black youth to baseball

Museum prez envisions a Negro Leagues campus
Sports

Museum prez envisions a Negro Leagues campus

MLB efforts to recruit more Black players have yet to bear fruit
Sports

MLB efforts to recruit more Black players have yet to bear fruit

Twins new scoreboards
Sports

Twins new scoreboards

How Blacks in baseball get pigeonholed
Featured

How Blacks in baseball get pigeonholed

Next Post
‘Ocean’s 8,’ a refreshing departure from prequels

'Ocean’s 8,' a refreshing departure from prequels

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Oct 3
October 3 @ 8:30 am-October 4 @ 5:30 pm

Insects: Little Body, Big Impact | Nobel Conference 59 | Virtual or In-Person

Oct 4
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

An Evening with Liz Cheney

Oct 5
8:00 pm-10:00 pm Recurring

Dianne McIntrye Group In the Same Tongue

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

PHOTO: Barbie back-to-school party

A Barbie back to school party.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: