Baseball Fans Again Facing Higher Prices

NEW YORK —  The average price of major league baseball tickets rose 7.1% for the upcoming season to $11.98--the highest increase in at least six years.

The Boston Red Sox charge the most with a $17.69 average.

St. Louis, which won the National League Central last season, had the highest hike this year, 24.7% to $12.36, according to a study released Thursday by the Team Marketing Index.

Montreal, which lowered prices by an average of 24.9%, has the lowest average price, the equivalent of $6.81 in U.S. currency.

Baseball’s average ticket price has risen 38.7% since 1991, when it was $8.64. Since then, the average price of an NFL ticket has gone up 41.8%, from $25.21 to $35.74. The average price of NBA tickets has risen 46.6% since the 1991-92 season, from $23.24 to $34.08. The average price of an NHL ticket is $38.34.

Last year, baseball tickets rose 6.1%, the highest increase since a 7.6% hike in 1992.

In comparison, the Consumer Price Index rose 3.3% in 1996 and has gone up 16.8% since 1991.

Boston plays in Fenway Park, the smallest stadium in the majors. The World Series champion New York Yankees have the second highest average price at $16.27, an 11.6% rise.

The Chicago White Sox are third at $16.12, followed Baltimore at $15.66, Atlanta at $15.54, Cleveland at $15.29, Toronto at $14.86 U.S. and the Chicago Cubs at $14.63. The Cubs play in Wrigley Field, the second-smallest ballpark in the major leagues.

Cincinnati has the second-lowest average at $8.37. The only other teams with averages under $10 are Milwaukee ($9.57), Kansas City ($9.65), the Angels ($9.68) and Minnesota ($9.73).

The Fan Cost Index, which estimates the cost of attending a game for a family of four, rose 3.5%, to $106.20 from $102.55. The index includes four tickets at the average price, four small soft drinks, two small beers, four hot dogs, parking for one car, two programs and two baseball caps.

Atlanta, which moves into Turner Field this season, is No. 1 at $129.16, followed by Boston at $128.26. Montreal has the lowest cost at $80.42 U.S.

The NFL’s average was $208.45 last season. The NHL is at $220.72 this season, the NBA at $203.38.

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Ticket Price List

Average ticket prices and fan cost index for 1997:

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Team Tix Rk FCI Rk Dodgers $11.16 14 $104.15 16 Angels 9.68 24 117.72 8 Atlanta 15.54 5 129.16 1 Baltimore 15.66 4 119.15 6 Boston 17.69 1 128.26 2 Chicago AL 16.12 3 126.50 3 Chicago NL 14.63 8 121.02 5 Cincinnati 8.37 27 82.48 27 Cleveland 15.29 6 116.65 9 Colorado 11.38 13 111.03 11 Detroit 10.40 19 108.09 13 Florida 10.11 21 89.95 24 Houston 10.45 18 101.84 19 Kansas City 9.65 25 85.11 26 Milwaukee 9.57 26 94.29 23 Minnesota 9.73 23 103.40 17 Montreal 6.81 28 80.42 28 New York NL 13.06 11 114.26 10 New York AL 16.27 2 126.08 4 Oakland 10.50 17 94.52 22 Philadelphia 11.02 15 99.58 21 Pittsburgh 10.09 22 87.34 25 St. Louis 12.36 12 104.44 15 San Diego 10.59 16 100.85 20 San Francisco 10.13 20 104.51 14 Seattle 13.40 9 118.61 7 Texas 13.28 10 110.60 12 Toronto 14.86 7 102.74 18 AVERAGE $11.98 -- $106.20 --

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Tix--Ticket price; Rk--Ranked according to highest price; FCI--Fan cost index comprises the price of four average tickets, two small beers, four small sodas, four hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two twill caps.