2008 Fan Cost Index

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2008 10:37 AM CDT

Every year, the Team Marketing Report calculates their "Fan Cost Index", calculated as the total of:

two adult tickets at the average price, two child tickets at the average if available, two beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs and two adult caps.

Here are this year's calculations; TMR says the average has gone up 10.9%, the largest increase since 2001. The Red Sox have the highest average ticket cost, $48.80. The Cubs are second at $42.49, up 23%, and if they draw approximately what they did last year -- 3,252,462 -- which seems likely, that would generate over $138 million in gross ticket revenues. (Theoretically, this should allow them room to go out and acquire/buy a player later this summer if needed. Theoretically.)

This approach is a bit simplistic. First, according to this ESPN article on the topic, the Yankees really have the highest average:

Jon Greenberg, TMR's executive editor, said the team did not provide data and that he did not include the price of premium seating -- which covers a large percentage of New York's tickets. Yankees' box seats near the infield had a list price of $250 this year.

Also, of the $191.75 Fan Cost Index, probably 1/3 of it is accounted for by the caps and programs -- and not everyone buys those. The "real" Cost Index, then, is probably closer to $140 for a family of four.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Yeah, it's the two caps and two programs...

...that really gets me. At that point they're just throwing things in their calculation to make a point, and it bothers the hell out of me.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Mar 29, 2008 10:41 AM CDT reply actions

Furthermore...

... if you download their spreadsheet, I think they seriously underestimate the cost of caps. They say you can buy a cap at Wrigley for $12. I think it's close to twice that. Their "average" cap across all of MLB is $14.47.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2008 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Ha!...let me know when someone runs across a $12 hat...or $14.47 for that matter

n/t

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 29, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

The cost of beer is $5.00 at Wrigley?

I must find where those are sold, I recall paying over $6

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Mar 29, 2008 11:04 AM CDT reply actions

real cost

Lets break this down from my experience with my kids and not being cheap or extravagant.
Tickets: $32 each times 4 = $128
4 hot dogs, 4 fries (about $30)
I go to 7-11 to buy drinks and bring them in (4 drinks = $5)
1 scorecard $2
Total = $165
For the average fan, that expensive.

by cubbiesrule on Mar 29, 2008 1:07 PM CDT reply actions

HA!!

Now does anyone blame me for my smuggling practices?

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 29, 2008 1:12 PM CDT reply actions

Beer

Beer will be around $7 each this year. At HoHoKam, they were $6.50

by cubbiesrule on Mar 29, 2008 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

Can you imagine...

the day, in the near future, a beer will cost $10? I mean one damn beer. You can get a case of beer for $10. Insane.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 29, 2008 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

scary...believe it or not, the beer at Wrigley

...is about as cheap as you can get at any MLB park. Last year I paid $8.50 for a 16oz beer at Chase Field.

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 29, 2008 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Beers were $10 at the Super Bowl last year

For one $16 plastic bottle.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Mar 29, 2008 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Should be 16 oz. Doh!

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Mar 29, 2008 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Pretty soon...

... it'll be $16 for a 10-ounce bottle.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 29, 2008 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions

And

A Coke is between $3.50 and $5.00 now. You can buy four 2 liter bottles for that much. I am kicking myself for not knowing you can bring plastic bottles 1 liter or less into the stadium.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 29, 2008 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly.

That's why I buy a Super Big Gulp at 7-11. You get 44 ounces for $1.30 (including tax). Inside it's $3.75 for 32 ounces.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 30, 2008 4:06 AM CDT up reply actions

This is the price

we pay for $10 million/year players. With 4 sons I only get to 1 or 2 games a year.

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

by copes006 on Mar 29, 2008 1:57 PM CDT reply actions

At these prices

I wouldn't be surprised to see "mules" crossing the borders...

"I tell you, Steve Blass, you pitch me inside, they never, never find that ball."
-Roberto Clemente

by cubbybear on Mar 29, 2008 3:26 PM CDT reply actions

hahaahah

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 29, 2008 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

It's all relative

It was an "outrage" when beers hit the $4 mark, now it'd be really nice to see one.

Funny, someone mentioned HoHoKam. Mine cost 6 bits apiece or less. That's 'cuz we tailgated at all the ST games, something I'd love to do at Wrigley. Then again, we do buy a fair amt of decent food for tailgating.

My next tailgate won't be until 4/20 but that'll be a Rush game.

Now for a family of 4, we almost never buy any type of program or souvenier. It's only the game-related things. So for comparison over the past 2 years it has cost us approx the following for 4 tickets, parking and food/drinks at these places:

AZ ST: $100
Wolves: $120 (yesterday)
Rush: $165 (Fri night)
Cubs: $220 (tomorrow)
'Hawks: $275 (tonight)
Bears: $400

by blackhawk24 on Mar 30, 2008 2:06 PM CDT reply actions