“To sell volume, it must be affordable. So that’s my whole life, to make it affordable.” – Australian developer Harry Triguboff
Perhaps in Australia, you can drive down the rental rates of apartments by building lots and lots of them. At North American ballparks, a variation on that theme is at work. If a team wants more fans to attend games, they keep prices affordable.
It makes sense. On the surface, anyway.
While this axiom is true in Arizona and Florida, this formula doesn’t seem to apply in the Northeast or West Coast. There, the price to attend a game is high, but fans continue to show up anyway.
But how do you find out which parks are the most affordable to visit?
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It turns out that a firm called Team Marketing Report conducts just such research. Their Fan Cost Index (FCI) database dates back to 1991, when the most expensive place to attend a big-league game was Toronto. It cost a family of four an average of $93.29 to see the Blue Jays that year.
Last year, the least expensive place to see a game was Chase Field, where a four-member family spent $170.09 to watch the National League champion Diamondbacks.
Talk about inflation!
You might assume that the Oakland A’s, the lame-duck franchise that is moving after this season, would be among the most affordable. Not so. They are middle-of-the-pack, with their FCI coming in at $260.02, which is 16th most expensive.
Chris Hartweg publishes the FCI for all of the teams in various pro sports. A lot goes into his research, including average ticket price, parking, beer, sodas, hot dogs and a hat. The resulting FCI for a venue represents the average cost for a family of four to attend a game.
His 2023 findings helped us select our rankings, because 2024 isn’t compiled yet. We evaluated those findings along with ticket specials and promotions by teams this season to arrive at our rankings. Thanks to Hartweg for allowing us to share his research with our readers!
So here now is our ranking of the eight most affordable big-league parks for 2024.
It’s not much of a spoiler to let you know that none of the eight are in New York, Chicago or Boston. As Colin Cushing of Washington, DC puts it, “Yankee Stadium is outrageously priced and it took us two full innings to get a beer and a dog. Ridiculous.”
By the way, the Yankees’ FCI of $376.54 is topped only by the Red Sox at $396.16.
1. Chase Field – Arizona Diamondbacks
No surprise here, as last year was the 15th straight season that Diamondback fans paid the least to attend games – despite the fact that their FCI jumped 11.7% from the previous year. It’s interesting that the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, whose home is in the western suburbs of Phoenix, have the most affordable NFL venue … although the cost for a family to attend a football game there is $513.14, compared to $170.09 for the D-backs.
2. loadDepot Park – Miami Marlins
The Marlins actually boast the lowest average ticket price in the Majors, coming in at $22.98. In fact, their FCI of $184.90 dropped a bit from the previous year. If you go on a Friday, Budweisers are $5 all game long.
3. Great American Ball Park – Cincinnati Reds
With exciting young talent and affordability, why would you not want to take in a game on the banks of the Ohio River? On Thursdays, there is a $30 ticket that gets you a field-box seat and a $10 concession voucher.
4. Tropicana Field – Tampa Bay Rays
The always-competitive but attendance-challenged Rays emphasize affordability, as seats near the left-field corner are only $10. The FCI for Rays games is $205.01.
5. Coors Field – Colorado Rockies
Watch for "HotRox" ticket specials where seats are only $7.99. Like some other teams around MLB, the Rockies have launched a ticket plan where if you pay $39.99 per month, you’ll get a “Ballpark Pass” that gives you standing-room access for every home game that month. Take the month of August, for instance. There are 15 home games at Coors Field, so if you use your “pass” to attend every one, each game would cost you only $2.67.
6. PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates
The future is very bright for the suddenly pitching-strong Pirates. Why not invest in a 10-ticket “flex plan” for $259 that allows you to get from one to ten seats to almost any game? Use it whenever you decide to. Plus you’ll be in an elite ballpark with the nicest view in the sport.
7. Comerica Park –Detroit Tigers
Watch for giveaways on Saturdays – caps, shirts, beach towels, sunglasses, bobbleheads and more. The Tigers also have one of the lowest average ticket prices in the Majors. FCI pegs it at $26.84, with an overall cost for a family of four to attend a game at $224.74.
8. Rogers Centre – Toronto Blue Jays
There is so much to like here, especially the rebuilt outfield with group social spaces, new food items (can you believe poutine on a hot dog?) and $20 Canadian “Outfield District All In” tickets that let you sit in bleachers inches away from the visitors’ bullpen. Be there when the gates open to get a spot on the front row!
About Joe Mock: Joe has examined all 30 Major League parks, all 23 spring training parks and all 119 affiliated Minor League parks – plus plenty of indy league and college facilities. He covers sports facilities for USA TODAY publications and he’s operated BaseballParks.com since 1997. There he’s posted nearly 100 in-depth reviews of pro parks that have opened in the last quarter century. His ballpark expertise has landed him appearances on the Travel Channel and History Channel. You can follow his ballpark escapades on X @baseballparks.
