How Not to Go Broke at the Stadium This Summer
According to the MLB Fan Spending Index , the average family of four spent $253 to go to a professional baseball game last year, and with rising inflation , vendors are already warning that this number is likely to increase this year. With the MLB season in full swing and summer just around the corner, here are some tips on how to save money at a football stadium so you can enjoy America’s favorite pastime somewhat sparingly.
Choose places where you can eat as much as you like
If you can’t eat well , you can eat a lot. One way to combat astronomical discount prices at a baseball stadium this summer is to search for available seats. Teams such as the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, and New York Mets offer some form of all-inclusive stadium ticket starting at $45. With the average cost of a hot dog and beer combo in MLB currently at $12.04 (according to a team marketing report ), an all-you-can-eat seat might be the best option. Just remember to poke an extra hole in your belt before you leave the house.
Go to promo parties
Major league teams will be giving away more than just t-shirts and bobbleheads to get people into the stadium. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros host a dollar dog night ($1 hot dogs) from time to time. Just don’t hold your breath to see these alcohol ads; nights like this have not been seen since the infamous Ten Cent beer night in Cleveland in 1974.
Ask for a valuable menu or children’s menu
In 2022, the Seattle Mariners unveiled a new budget menu that lists hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, Red Vines, bottled water, and sodas for just $3. Baltimore Orioles recently introduced a $4 homebrew option, and Arizona Diamondbacks offers a $2 hot dog. Offers may be, you just have to look for them.
For fans supporting bigger market teams who shy away from the value menu, don’t be afraid to look for options for your kids. The New York Mets are offering a $7 baby meal that includes a hot dog, popcorn, a box of juice, and even an indescribable “prize.” If a baseball stadium makes you feel like a kid again, why not take some food with you?
Bring food from home
The best way to keep money in your wallet is to keep it in your pocket. Twenty-six of thirty MLB stadiums allow food to be brought in from outside (I apologize to fans of the Miami Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers). Just be sure to check the rules posted at the stadium, as many require that any food from outside be brought in a clear one-gallon bag.
Go to the minor leagues instead
Even with all this advice, if you choose the big leagues, you will probably pay a high price. So if you’re trying to save a few bucks, why not play a minor league baseball game instead? There are over 100 minor league teams in America, with average concession prices much lower than those of their major league counterparts. Lake County Captains recently offered a meal kit for a family of four for just $40. Rochester Red Wings offer a $10 case of beer. To see the stars of tomorrow by paying for it… well, to see the stars of tomorrow.