Taking the family to a Major League Baseball (MLB) game is a beloved American tradition. Yet, the price tag associated with this pastime may come as a surprise — on average, $140 for a family of four. MoneyGeek analyzed budget ticket prices for the remainder of the 2023 season, along with parking and concessions, to determine the average cost of attending a baseball game for a family of four for each team. Additionally, we calculated the average ticket price for each team and found that certain teams tended to either increase or decrease the cost of their game's tickets.
MoneyGeek Analysis:
Taking Your Family Out to the Ball Game Costs $140 in 2024
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Key Findings:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the most costly team to see, costing $219 for a family of four. The Miami Marlins are the least expensive team at $83.
The most affordable Boston Red Sox tickets cost $35.90, on average. That's double the overall MLB average cheap ticket price of $17.67.
When the New York Yankees are on the road, ticket prices for the competing home team have the largest increase of any other visiting team.
Attending a game between "natural rivals," such as a Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox, costs families an average of $48 more.
Seeing a game on a weekday rather than a weekend (Fri-Sun) can save families $25, on average.
Family Outing Expenses by MLB Team
While MoneyGeek found that the average price is $140, the cost of a family day out at an MLB game can vary significantly depending on the team. For example, attending a Los Angeles Dodgers game costs $218 when factoring in the cost of four tickets, parking, four hot dogs, two beers and two sodas. At the other end of the spectrum, a trip to a Miami Marlins game totals $83 for the same expenses.
To account for the variation in the cost of living across the nation, we compared these expenses with the median weekly household earnings in each team's metropolitan area. Even with this percentage of weekly income adjustment, the Dodgers remain the priciest option. Interestingly, the Houston Astros rise as the second most expensive MLB team outing when accounting for cost of living.
Average Cost of Taking a Family of Four to an MLB Game
Team | Family Game
Cost | Family Game
Cost as %
of Weekly
Earnings | Cost of
Four Tickets | Cost of
Parking | Cost of Food
and Drink
for Four |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Dodgers | $219 | 12.1% | $127 | $27 | $65 |
Boston Red Sox | $215 | 8.9% | $144 | $20 | $52 |
San Diego Padres | $203 | 10.1% | $109 | $33 | $61 |
Houston Astros | $182 | 11.3% | $106 | $20 | $56 |
San Francisco Giants | $174 | 6.4% | $90 | $25 | $59 |
New York Yankees | $161 | 8.1% | $73 | $47 | $41 |
Cleveland Guardians | $158 | 9.8% | $108 | $10 | $41 |
Baltimore Orioles | $157 | 7.5% | $93 | $10 | $55 |
Chicago Cubs | $154 | 8.2% | $87 | $14 | $53 |
Philadelphia Phillies | $154 | 7.8% | $85 | $25 | $43 |
Tampa Bay Rays | $150 | 9.8% | $95 | $15 | $40 |
St. Louis Cardinals | $147 | 8.5% | $63 | $25 | $59 |
Washington Nationals | $146 | 5.7% | $70 | $20 | $56 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | $145 | 8.6% | $77 | $20 | $48 |
Texas Rangers | $142 | 8.1% | $71 | $15 | $57 |
Oakland Athletics | $141 | 5.2% | $54 | $30 | $57 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | $139 | 8.0% | $86 | $10 | $43 |
New York Mets | $127 | 6.4% | $32 | $40 | $55 |
Atlanta Braves | $120 | 6.8% | $72 | $10 | $38 |
Cincinnati Reds | $119 | 6.8% | $50 | $15 | $55 |
Detroit Tigers | $116 | 7.1% | $50 | $15 | $52 |
Chicago White Sox | $116 | 6.2% | $39 | $27 | $51 |
Colorado Rockies | $116 | 5.4% | $47 | $18 | $51 |
Milwaukee Brewers | $107 | 6.2% | $48 | $15 | $45 |
Kansas City Royals | $106 | 5.9% | $40 | $20 | $47 |
Los Angeles Angels | $100 | 5.5% | $26 | $20 | $53 |
Seattle Mariners | $97 | 4.1% | $58 | $10 | $30 |
Minnesota Twins | $85 | 4.0% | $39 | $16 | $30 |
Miami Marlins | $83 | 5.7% | $30 | $25 | $28 |
Cheap MLB Tickets Cost $17.67 On Average
For the everyday fan seeking the most affordable ticket options, MoneyGeek found the average ticket price is $17.67. This cost was calculated using the cheapest ticket prices for each team's home games scheduled from July onwards, as listed on seatgeek.com on June 29, 2023.
In addition to calculating the average price for a cheap ticket across the U.S., we also calculated the average price for each team in their home stadium. Tickets to watch the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park will set you back an average of $35.90, double the average across all teams. In contrast, fans can enjoy a Miami Marlins game for $7.43, reflecting one of the best value-for-money experiences considering their current competitive power ranking published by the MLB. Notably, there isn't a direct correlation between ticket prices and a team's performance, allowing fans to enjoy games affordably regardless of their team's current standing.
Average Cost Of Cheap Seats
Team | Field | Average Ticket Price | Team Power Ranking (June 26) |
|---|---|---|---|
Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park | $35.90 | 17 |
Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | $31.81 | 7 |
San Diego Padres | Petco Park | $27.33 | 18 |
Cleveland Guardians | Progressive Field | $26.95 | 21 |
Houston Astros | Minute Maid Park | $26.50 | 10 |
Tampa Bay Rays | Tropicana Field | $23.81 | 1 |
Baltimore Orioles | Oriole Park | $23.23 | 4 |
San Francisco Giants | Oracle Park | $22.51 | 6 |
Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | $21.80 | 19 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | PNC Park | $21.58 | 23 |
Philadelphia Phillies | Citizens Bank Park | $21.36 | 14 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | Chase Field | $19.27 | 5 |
New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium | $18.30 | 12 |
Atlanta Braves | Truist Park | $17.97 | 2 |
Texas Rangers | Globe Life Field | $17.67 | 3 |
Washington Nationals | National Field | $17.43 | 27 |
St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium | $15.80 | 24 |
Seattle Mariners | T-Mobile Park | $14.38 | 20 |
Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum | $13.59 | 30 |
Cincinnati Reds | Great American Ball Park | $12.41 | 8 |
Detroit Tigers | Comerica Park | $12.40 | 25 |
Milwaukee Brewers | American Family Field | $11.88 | 16 |
Colorado Rockies | Coors Field | $11.72 | 28 |
Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium | $9.90 | 29 |
Minnesota Twins | Target Field | $9.69 | 15 |
Chicago White Sox | Guaranteed Rate Field | $9.63 | 26 |
New York Mets | Citi Field | $8.07 | 22 |
Miami Marlins | loanDepot park | $7.43 | 9 |
Los Angeles Angels | Angel Stadium | $6.60 | 11 |
Prices Are Higher for Rivalries and "Popular" Teams
Nothing fuels the excitement of a baseball game like a heated rivalry. However, the catch is that ticket prices increase for popular matchups. Our analysis looked into how natural rivalry series, such as when the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Los Angeles Angels, impact prices. We also looked into which teams — regardless of matchup — drove the largest increases in prices.
2023 saw the MLB expand the number of interleague games, pitting National against American league teams more often. While this ramps up the excitement with natural rivalry games, like the Chicago Cubs vs. the Chicago White Sox, it also means higher prices. In fact, we found that tickets for these natural rivalry games cost, on average, an extra $12 per ticket or an additional $48 for a family of four.
The Most Loved (or Hated) Teams In Baseball
Additionally, some teams seem to naturally drive ticket prices. Is it because of a love of the visiting team or a deep desire to watch the visiting team lose? This year, the Yankees are the most love-hated team in baseball. On average, a visit from the Yankees spikes the home team's ticket prices by $11.87, a 67% increase from the average ticket price. For example, Marlins' ticket prices leap from an average of $7.43 to a hefty $32 when the Yankees come to play. This reflects a $24.57 premium for just one ticket or about $100 more for a family.
Most Buzzy Teams in Baseball
Rank | Away Team | Ticket Premium | % Increase
in Price |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York Yankees | $11.87 | 67% |
2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | $11.46 | 65% |
3 | Boston Red Sox | $6.80 | 39% |
4 | New York Mets | $5.15 | 29% |
5 | Chicago Cubs | $4.00 | 23% |
6 | Atlanta Braves | $2.52 | 14% |
7 | St. Louis Cardinals | $2.48 | 14% |
8 | Houston Astros | $2.30 | 13% |
Less Buzzy Teams Mean Lower Ticket Prices
Certain MLB teams don't seem to spark the same interest and corresponding price hikes when they visit. This doesn't reflect their performance or their own fan base but rather the home fan’s ambivalence. MoneyGeek found that the Arizona Diamondbacks have the least buzz in baseball, selling at a $3.43 discount or a 19% decrease compared to the average national cheap ticket. However, the D-backs were ranked fifth in the MLB power rankings as of this analysis.
Least Buzzy Teams in Baseball
Rank | Away Team | Ticket Discount | % Decrease
in Price | Power Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Arizona Diamondbacks | -$3.43 | -19% | 5 |
2 | Pittsburgh Pirates | -$2.75 | -16% | 23 |
3 | Chicago White Sox | -$2.59 | -15% | 26 |
4 | Kansas City Royals | -$2.56 | -15% | 29 |
5 | Baltimore Orioles | -$2.52 | -14% | 4 |
6 | Milwaukee Brewers | -$2.44 | -14% | 16 |
7 | Tampa Bay Rays | -$2.24 | -13% | 1 |
8 | Cincinnati Reds | -$2.08 | -12% | 8 |
How to Attend an MLB Game Affordably
Taking the family out to the ballgame costs $140, on average. While an MLB game can be a fairly expensive affair for the average family, it’s possible to balance frugality with your loved one's enjoyment by doing the following.
Buy low-price tickets.
MoneyGeek’s cost analysis is based on buying the cheapest tickets available, but you can certainly spend much more than the average cheap ticket ($17.67) to attend a game.
Go to a weekday game.
Weekday games are typically less expensive than weekend ones. The data indicates a savings of $6.89 per ticket for weekday games, translating to around $25 in savings for a family of four.
Bring your own food and skip the drinks.
With the average cost of a hot dog at $6.13, you could save $24 by bringing your own food to an MLB game. Most stadiums permit fans to bring their food in soft-sided containers (up to 16x16x8), but be sure to confirm these rules before you go. You can save even more by packing sealed water bottles and avoiding purchasing drinks at the game.
See less buzzy teams.
Part of the fun of an MLB is an exciting game, but you can potentially find that during any game. Seeing marquee games can add a lot to the cost of your outing. For example, seeing the Diamondbacks instead of the Yankees could save your family $61 on average.
Take alternative transportation or walk further.
If public transit is an option, you may be able to get to the game for less than the cost of parking. While cheaper parking further away may also be an option, it can be an inconvenience, especially when attending with children.
Earn while you pay.
Assuming you’re paying off your credit cards each month in full, you can use your steep outing costs to at least earn points or cash back. There are also many team-branded credit cards that are a special type of rewards credit card for die-hard fans. But, before taking out one of these cards, we recommend comparing the rewards offered to other cards, especially if you’re only planning to attend a game once or twice a year. There are many great rewards cards available — especially if you have excellent credit — that may be better suited for you and your spending habits.
Methodology
To analyze ticket prices, MoneyGeek gathered data on the least expensive tickets for all regular-season games occurring after July 1, 2023, from seatgeek.com. The reported ticket price for each team represents the average of all collected home game prices. A linear regression model was utilized to discern premiums and discounts associated with different factors.
To calculate the cost of taking a family to the game, we used a hypothetical family of four parking at the game buying four tickets and hot dogs, two beers and two sodas.
The Toronto Bluejays were excluded from the analysis due to limitations in scope to the United States. Bluejays away games were included in the price analysis for other teams.
Parking costs and food policies were obtained from official team pages on mlb.com. We selected parking prices either from official team parking areas or locations in close proximity to the stadiums and represented the lowest prices observed.
Information about concession prices was sourced from several places, with a May 9, 2023, article by USA Today article being the primary reference.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Major League Baseball. "Surging clubs closing in on Power Rankings Top 5." Accessed October 22, 2024.
- Statista. "Price for a soft drink in Major League Baseball in 2022, by team." Accessed October 22, 2024.
- Ticketmaster. "Curveballs and Changeups: A Look at the New MLB Schedule and Rules." Accessed October 22, 2024.
- United States Census Bureau. "S1901: INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2021 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)." Accessed October 22, 2024.
- USA Today. "MLB beer prices by team: See where drinks, hot dogs are cheapest at stadiums across league." Accessed October 22, 2024.