Study: Ranking all MLB ballparks from most to least expensive.

[Thrylos]

Just released.

Interesting to think where Target Field ranks.  About to bust some mythology...

 

From there:

 

Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed four costs of attending a baseball game at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums: (1) ticket prices, calculated by averaging the cost-per-game for the five cheapest season ticket prices advertised on the baseball team's official MLB site; and (2) parking, (3) beer, and (4) hot dog prices, as reported in the April 2015 Team Marketing Report. To find the cost of attending a game, GOBankingRates assumed two guests and calculated the total cost of two tickets, two hot dogs, two beers, and one parking spot. Stadiums were ranked by this amount to find the least and most expensive stadiums for baseball fans attending a game.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I wonder if they changed the method of ticket purchase from season to one game how the rankings would change. And I also wonder the same if you weighted the average by seat price across the whole stadium. So the cheapest ticket is lower than everyone else, but there's only 5 of them.

 

Still, interesting, and unexpected

[DaveW]

This says on "average" two beers at an MLB stadium costs $11.69

Yeah, I'm calling bull**** on that, I can also tell you no stadium sells $4 beers.

 

Also, $6 for parking at Target Field....um, where?

[jimmer]

I never park at TF. I usually park at the mall and jump on the light rail (if my hotel isn't close enough to a light rail stop.

[Brock Beauchamp]

This says on "average" two beers at an MLB stadium costs $11.69

Yeah, I'm calling bull**** on that, I can also tell you no stadium sells $4 beers.

 

Also, $6 for parking at Target Field....um, where?

Ramp A, B, or C.

 

And it's more like $10-12, not $6.

[Thrylos]

 

Ramp A, B, or C.

And it's more like $10-12, not $6.

 

$8-11. That is next door.  Here are the Parking facilities around TF.  And not sure about rates in most of those, but there are municipal lots and ramps for $6 or less.  Rates here.   I assume that the study did not take the most convenient or most expensive place, but actually looked for the cheaper or close to it.   

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/images/ballpark/y2010/1024x800_mpls_parking.jpg

[Thrylos]

 

This says on "average" two beers at an MLB stadium costs $11.69

Yeah, I'm calling bull**** on that, I can also tell you no stadium sells $4 beers.

 

from here.

http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5523e1bf69bedd9667fc8281-800-681/03-65.png

[Brock Beauchamp]

$8-11. That is next door. Here are the Parking facilities around TF. And not sure about rates in most of those, but there are municipal lots and ramps for $6 or less. Rates here. I assume that the study did not take the most convenient or most expensive place, but actually looked for the cheaper or close to it.

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/images/ballpark/y2010/1024x800_mpls_parking.jpg

Oh, I'm not arguing the study's validity - if they took the cheap route at TF, they probably did the same for the other 29 parks. Just pointing out the most abundant and convenient parking at TF costs more than $6.

[Mike Sixel]

Is that for a 1 oz beer? I've never seen $6 parking anywhere near the stadium, any stadium. I mean, if you are going to do a study, you should probably not just take the cheapest option, since there is a limited number of such options.

 

And, since another study found TF to be expensive, I think it is acceptable to question both of their validity.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think parking near the Minneapolis central library is around $6.  Although at that point, you're pretty close to some meters that aren't enforced after 6 PM, so you can probably score a spot for free.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't think Target Field is cheap, but my issues with it generally have little to do with price.

[nicksaviking]

I park at the library for $5.

 

Not sure about the $15.50 average ticket though. This is the verbiage they use: "$15.20 a game on average for cheaper season tickets."

 

They use similar verbiage for all the stadiums, so it's not the average cost of going to a game, it's more like the average cost of getting a cheap ticket from a season ticket holder. I'm not sure those tickets are always available. They probably should have figured out a median ticket price or maybe just used the pricing from a specific vantage point.

 

It's also no wonder that the LA teams have the cheapest season ticket prices as it's hard to get people in California to commit their beautiful summers to going to the stadium.

[Thrylos]

 

Is that for a 1 oz beer? I've never seen $6 parking anywhere near the stadium, any stadium. I mean, if you are going to do a study, you should probably not just take the cheapest option, since there is a limited number of such options.

 

And, since another study found TF to be expensive, I think it is acceptable to question both of their validity.

 

12 to 14 oz beers (the graph there shows their size in oz).  Most ballparks (not sure why the Twins do not do it) serve small beers.  And bud or the like, not summit

 

I think that the other study was an "average" study.   This one is for people who want to get to the ballgame the cheapest way possible (or close to it.)   I remember that in my 20s in the Dome we use to do it with $7 a head.   Park at the warehouse district streets by the Sofitel for free, walk 8-9 blocks, $3 upper deck OF ticket, $3 beer and $1 hot dog.   This is the equivalent today and I think that it is pretty valuable for a lot of people.  Would I do that now?  Maybe, but I have options...

[Mike Sixel]

Ah, didn't read this was for cheapest. I bet you could go cheaper if you really tried (even with the food/beverage being the same).

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Not sure about the $15.50 average ticket though. This is the verbiage they use: "$15.20 a game on average for cheaper season tickets."

 

They use similar verbiage for all the stadiums, so it's not the average cost of going to a game, it's more like the average cost of getting a cheap ticket from a season ticket holder. I'm not sure those tickets are always available. They probably should have figured out a median ticket price or maybe just used the pricing from a specific vantage point.

I think it's roughly accurate.  Average cheapest home ticket at StubHub right now, across all 81 games, is $16.11 including fees:

 

http://www.stubhub.com/minnesota-twins-tickets/performer/5648/

 

Take out the home opener, and it drops to $15.80.  Take out the 7 games with Boston and NY, and it drops to $14.86.

 

Yeah, some of those summer games might climb in price a little if the team is competitive and demand is high, but some of those September games may eventually drop closer to April prices too regardless of team performance.

[Vanimal46]

I can confirm that the Rangers have pretty cheap beer at their games. Granted for $5 you're limiting yourself to the Bud Light, Bud, Coors, and Michelob Ultras of the world, but it does come in 16 oz servings! 

[Willihammer]

Parking under the 94 ramp is $5. There are spots all the way up to 10th Ave.

Its north of the Fulton brewery so you can stop in for a $4-5 beer before the game there too.

[USAFChief]

Why would they use season tickets as "cheapest"?

 

There are $7, $10, and $12 tickets for sale by the Twins starting with game 2.

[old nurse]

 

This says on "average" two beers at an MLB stadium costs $11.69

Yeah, I'm calling bull**** on that, I can also tell you no stadium sells $4 beers.

 

Also, $6 for parking at Target Field....um, where?

Fremont and 16th Avenue North.

[blairpaul715]

 

This says on "average" two beers at an MLB stadium costs $11.69

Yeah, I'm calling bull**** on that, I can also tell you no stadium sells $4 beers.

 

Also, $6 for parking at Target Field....um, where?

I pay $15 most times and I suppose I could find $10 but $6????Where LOL

[blairpaul715]

 

 

Parking under the 94 ramp is $5. There are spots all the way up to 10th Ave.

Its north of the Fulton brewery so you can stop in for a $4-5 beer before the game there too.

Good to know, next time I come, but i did learn last fall, how nice the literail was to use and ease of navigation.

[spinowner]

It would be more accurate if they figured for 5 beers.

[spinowner]

As to parking, I don't mind paying for the A ramp. If one arrives fairly early, which I like to do anyway, one can find a spot fairly low in the ramp that is close both to the skyway across 7th street and to the exit which goes directly onto 394. For western suburbanites like me it's very slick.

[Craig Arko]

I'll either walk or take the bus into downtown these days. Parking is really cheap.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Why would they use season tickets as "cheapest"?

There are $7, $10, and $12 tickets for sale by the Twins starting with game 2.

Mainly because ticket prices vary so much by individual game.  For example, Game 4 vs the Angels, the cheapest ticket is $15 simply by virtue of it being a weekend game.  Eventually for weekend games in June through August, the cheapest ticket jumps up to $23.

 

The "season ticket price" is basically just a shortcut to an average of those varied prices.

[zenser]

I had free beer at Target Field once.  Well, i had to fork over $200 for a champions club ticket, but at the end of the night, I think I got my monies worth!

[James]

 

I'll either walk or take the bus into downtown these days. Parking is really cheap.

It's a bit of a hike for me to walk there (although I've walked home before though).  

 

I usually take a bus or a Car2go down to the game.  There are plenty of spots to park just a few blocks away from TF.  

 

But I waste all those savings by buying craft beer, so it comes out a wash in the end.

[Mike Sixel]

 

It's a bit of a hike for me to walk there (although I've walked home before though).  

 

I usually take a bus or a Car2go down to the game.  There are plenty of spots to park just a few blocks away from TF.  

 

But I waste all those savings by buying craft beer, so it comes out a wash in the end.

 

Saving money to make experiences better is never a wash.....