How Many Hours Americans Have to Work to Afford MLB Tickets

Are you someone who prioritizes work over everything else, or do you work to support your life outside of work? While many Americans lean towards the latter option, the current era demands greater financial awareness and accountability. According to a recent survey of over 1,000 Americans, it was revealed that more than a third (35%) of respondents will be attending fewer MLB games in 2023 due to economic considerations.

How much should you budget to attend some professional baseball games this season? We have calculated the average ticket price and determined the number of hours the average American needs to work in order to support their favorite team and enjoy the games.

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How Much Americans Need to Work to Afford MLB Tickets

In 2023, approximately 47% of individuals have intentions to attend a live professional baseball match. Among these game-goers, the average plan is to attend three games throughout the season. To calculate the cost of three tickets, we considered the average hourly wage of the largest metropolitan city near each MLB team and determined the number of hours Americans would need to work.

In Houston, MLB fans have to put in significant effort to afford tickets, working longer hours compared to fans in other cities. In order to cover the cost of three tickets, they need to dedicate more than a full day’s work, approximately nine hours. Considering the average ticket price for an Astros game is $58.61 and the average hourly wage is $20, attending a game to witness the recently victorious World Series champions requires a substantial investment.

The New York Yankees are closely trailing the Astros. To attend three games, fans are required to dedicate approximately eight hours of work. While certain teams share the same city, ticket expenses differ among them. New York Mets tickets are priced at half of what Yankees fans pay, enabling Mets fans to earn the necessary money for three tickets in just four hours.

On the other hand, Boston Red Sox tickets are the priciest among all MLB teams. However, considering that the average ticket price is $61.71 per game and Boston’s average hourly wage stands at $32, fans only have to work approximately six hours to afford three tickets.

In 2023, the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies emerge as the most budget-friendly MLB teams to catch a game. Residents of these cities can secure three tickets by investing a mere two hours of work. Following closely are the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics, where approximately three hours of work will suffice to afford their tickets.

How Much Americans Need to Work to Afford an MLB Game Suite

Baseball enthusiasts should step up their game when it comes to indulging. The average price to rent a suite across the MLB stands at $5,722.

The Yankees possess the priciest suites, with an average cost of $15,000 per game. Considering the average hourly wage, a single fan intending to cover the entire expense would need to work for over 15 weeks, equivalent to a total of 78 days.

In comparison, it would take a dedicated Chicago Cubs fan 58 days of work to afford an $11,500 suite. On the other hand, fans of the Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers would need to work 46 and 43 days respectively to cover the cost. The Red Sox offer the fourth most expensive suite rental in the MLB, priced at $10,750, requiring fans to work 42 days to afford such luxury.

If you’re looking for the ultimate VIP experience at an MLB stadium, look no further than the RingCentral Coliseum, home of the Oakland Athletics. With an average suite rental cost of $2,250, fans would need to work for about nine days to afford this luxurious treat.

Extra MLB Gameday Costs

Fans are willing to spend a little more to enhance their MLB gameday experience, even if they don’t rent out a whole suite. On average, they will pay an additional $51 on top of their ticket price.

The majority of fans allocate their funds primarily for food-related expenses. A significant portion, specifically 43%, choose to purchase concessions and non-alcoholic beverages during games. Additionally, 25% of fans openly admit their willingness to spend extra money on alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, 24% of fans express their preference for dining at restaurants located within the ballpark.

Over a third of the population (35%) is willing to spend money on upgrading their seats, while 16% are willing to pay for premium stadium parking or purchase team merchandise at stadium stores.

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When inquired about their willingness to sacrifice in order to save money for MLB tickets, individuals pointed out that fast food would be the first expense to eliminate. Out of the total respondents, 28% expressed their willingness to forgo these meals to afford a ticket, while 25% were willing to give up dining out. Remarkably, 22% even indicated their readiness to abstain from consuming alcohol in order to acquire the necessary funds for purchasing MLB tickets.

Moreover, 10% of individuals expressed their willingness to forgo a spring break vacation in order to save money for attending an MLB game. Additionally, 27% admitted that they would choose front-row tickets to an MLB game over going on a spring break trip.

MLB 2023 Season Plans

During this spring, approximately 21% of individuals are intending to watch their teams participate in spring training games. Although the majority of fans (94%) do not plan to physically attend a spring training game, almost 8% have previously attended such games.

Out of all the dedicated fans, 25% have ventured beyond their state to witness their team competing in a regular season game, while an additional 28% have gone to the extent of requesting a day off from work to attend an MLB game.

The New York Yankees are the top choice for people who are hopeful of winning the World Series in 2023. They are closely followed by the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox. Interestingly, it seems that most people are not placing their bets on the current champions, the Houston Astros. Houston was ranked seventh among the teams that fans predicted would win this year. So, whether you’re planning to make a bold prediction or simply watch the games from the comfort of your own home, let’s raise a toast to another exciting baseball season.

Methodology

In order to calculate the average cost of MLB tickets, we examined the 2022 MLB Fan Cost Index report from Team Marketing Report, which contains the most recent data available at the time of this analysis. To determine the average hourly wage in each city, we utilized data from the US Census on the median non-family household income in the largest metropolitan area nearest to each MLB team. For instance, when determining the average hourly wage for the LA Angels, we considered the average salary of individuals residing in Los Angeles, even though the Angels’ stadium is located in Anaheim. Similarly, for the Texas Rangers, we calculated the average hourly wage by considering the average salary from both Dallas and Fort Worth.

We utilized data from the Suite Experience Group to calculate the average cost of suites in each MLB stadium.

In January 2023, a survey was conducted on the MLB and its related expenses, involving 1,055 participants. The breakdown of respondents was as follows: 48% identified as female, 49% as male, 2% as non-binary/non-conforming, and 1% chose not to respond. The age range of the respondents varied from 18 to 93, with an average age of 40.

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