The Cost of a Game
Which fans pay the highest price in sports, and what about their team justifies the cost?
Below, datascience@berkeley analyzed the average cost to attend1 a game for every team in the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL, as well as data on their success, team value, and the city’s cost of living.
MLB
| Team Name | Stadium Name | City | Team Value (millions) | Ticket, parking and concession cost | Ticket price | Stadium parking price | Price of one hot dog and one beer | Cost of Living | Winning % (last 5 years) | Winning % (all-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Cubs | Wrigley Field | Chicago | $2,675.00 | $104.07 | $58.57 | $30.00 | $15.50 | 110.9 | 53% | 51% |
New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium | New York | $3,700.00 | $91.62 | $47.62 | $35.00 | $9.00 | 180 | 53% | 57% |
Boston Red Sox | Fenway Park | Boston | $2,700.00 | $80.22 | $56.97 | $10.00 | $13.25 | 169.9 | 53% | 52% |
San Francisco Giants | AT&T Park | San Francisco | $2,650.00 | $77.80 | $38.30 | $25.00 | $14.50 | 272.6 | 49% | 54% |
New York Mets | Citi Field | New York | $2,000.00 | $69.60 | $27.60 | $25.00 | $17.00 | 180 | 49% | 48% |
Seattle Mariners | Safeco Field | Seattle | $1,400.00 | $68.33 | $37.33 | $20.00 | $10.00 | 176.5 | 49% | 47% |
Houston Astros | Minute Maid Park | Houston | $1,450.00 | $66.50 | $40.25 | $15.00 | $11.25 | 102.3 | 48% | 49% |
St. Louis Cardinals | Busch Stadium | St. Louis | $1,800.00 | $65.54 | $35.54 | $20.00 | $10.00 | 85.2 | 56% | 52% |
Washington Nationals | Nationals Park | Washington | $1,600.00 | $64.52 | $42.02 | $10.00 | $12.50 | 158.5 | 56% | 49% |
Philadelphia Phillies | Citizen Bank Park | Philadelphia | $1,650.00 | $64.04 | $36.04 | $18.00 | $10.00 | 99.5 | 43% | 47% |
Toronto Blue Jays | Rogers Centre | Toronto | $1,300.00 | $62.36 | $26.07 | $26.46 | $9.83 | NA | 51% | 50% |
Miami Marlins | Marlins Park | Miami | $940.00 | $59.01 | $31.76 | $15.00 | $12.25 | 122.8 | 45% | 47% |
LA Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | Los Angeles | $2,750.00 | $58.88 | $41.13 | $5.00 | $12.75 | 166.2 | 58% | 53% |
Chicago White Sox | Guaranteed Rate Field | Chicago | $1,350.00 | $58.23 | $26.73 | 20.00 | $11.50 | 110.9 | 44% | 50% |
Texas Rangers | Globe Life in Arlington | Dallas | $1,550.00 | $55.94 | $26.94 | $17.00 | $12.00 | 95.2 | 52% | 48% |
Kansas City Royals | Kauffman Stadium | Kansas City | $950.00 | $55.33 | $33.58 | $12.00 | $9.75 | 87 | 53% | 49% |
Oakland Athletics | Oakland Coliseum | Oakland | $880.00 | $55.13 | $24.13 | $20.00 | $11.00 | 179.3 | 49% | 49% |
Atlanta Braves | Sun Trust Park | Atlanta | $1,500.00 | $52.96 | $31.71 | $12.00 | $9.75 | 101.8 | 47% | 50% |
Minnesota Twins | Target Field | Minneapolis | $1,025.00 | $52.18 | $32.68 | $6.00 | $13.50 | 109.4 | 45% | 48% |
Cleveland Indians | Progressive Field | Cleveland | $920.00 | $51.04 | $30.04 | $12.00 | $9.00 | 78.8 | 56% | 51% |
Colorado Rockies | Coors Field | Denver | $1,000.00 | $50.27 | $26.02 | $16.00 | $8.25 | 127.5 | 46% | 47% |
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Angel Stadium | Los Angeles | $1,750.00 | $49.76 | $30.26 | $10.00 | $9.50 | 166.2 | 51% | 50% |
Milwaukee Brewers | Miller Park | Milwaukee | $925.00 | $49.60 | $26.10 | $11.00 | $12.50 | 84.1 | 47% | 48% |
Pittsburgh Pirates | PNC Park | Pittsburgh | $1,250.00 | $47.93 | $23.43 | $15.00 | $9.50 | 88 | 54% | 50% |
Detroit Tigers | Comerica Park | Detroit | $1,200.00 | $47.90 | $28.15 | $10.00 | $9.75 | 72.9 | 50% | 51% |
San Diego Padres | Petco Park | San Diego | $1,125.00 | $46.03 | $21.78 | $14.00 | $10.25 | 166 | 45% | 46% |
Baltimore Orioles | Oriole Park at Camden Yards | Baltimore | $1,175.00 | $43.45 | $29.95 | $8.00 | $5.50 | 90 | 53% | 48% |
Arizona Diamondbacks | Chase Field | Phoenix | $1,150.00 | $42.65 | $19.65 | $15.00 | $8.00 | 99.4 | 48% | 49% |
Cincinnati Reds | Great American Ball Park | Cincinnati | $915.00 | $42.64 | $21.14 | $10.00 | $11.50 | 85.9 | 45% | 51% |
Tampa Bay Rays2 | Tropicana Field | Tampa Bay | $825.00 | $31.60 | $21.60 | $0.00 | $10.00 | 94.1 | 49% | 46% |
NFL
| Team Name | Stadium Name | City | Team Value (millions) | Ticket, parking and concession cost | Ticket price | Stadium parking price | Price of one hot dog and one beer | Cost of Living | Winning % (last 5 years) | Winning % (all-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas Cowboys | AT&T Stadium | Dallas | $4,800.00 | $199.20 | $110.20 | $75.00 | $14.00 | 95.2 | 58% | 57% |
Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Chicago | $2,850.00 | $195.15 | $131.90 | $49.00 | $14.25 | 110.9 | 34% | 55% |
Washington Redskins | FedEx Field | Washington | $3,100.00 | $192.02 | $119.52 | $57.50 | $15.00 | 158.5 | 39% | 49% |
San Francisco 49ers | Levi’s Stadium | San Francisco | $3,050.00 | $191.50 | $117.00 | $60.00 | $14.50 | 272.6 | 41% | 53% |
New England Patriots | Gilette Stadium | Boston | $3,700.00 | $181.98 | $130.73 | $40.00 | $11.25 | 169.9 | 79% | 55% |
New York Giants | Metlife Stadium | New York | $3,300.00 | $164.40 | $123.40 | $30.00 | $11.00 | 180 | 41% | 53% |
Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore | $2,500.00 | $163.61 | $112.11 | $40.00 | $11.50 | 90 | 50% | 54% |
Denver Broncos | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | Denver | $2,600.00 | $155.75 | $114.00 | $30.00 | $11.75 | 127.5 | 64% | 53% |
Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | Green Bay | $2,550.00 | $148.47 | $94.47 | $40.00 | $14.00 | 87.3 | 59% | 55% |
Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia | $2,650.00 | $147.15 | $98.65 | $35.00 | $13.50 | 99.5 | 59% | 48% |
Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | Pittsburgh | $2,450.00 | $146.81 | $93.56 | $40.00 | $13.25 | 88 | 66% | 52% |
New York Jets | Metlife Stadium | New York | $2,750.00 | $146.54 | $110.54 | $25.00 | $11.00 | 180 | 40% | 45% |
Seattle Seahawks | CenturyLink Field | Seattle | $2,425.00 | $146.20 | $88.20 | $50.00 | $8.00 | 176.5 | 68% | 51% |
New Orleans Saints | Mercedes Benz Superdome | New Orleans | $2,000.00 | $140.75 | $91.25 | $35.00 | $14.50 | 96.4 | 54% | 44% |
Houson Texans | NRG Stadium | Houston | $2,800.00 | $140.48 | $94.73 | $35.00 | $10.75 | 102.3 | 41% | 43% |
Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami | $2,575.00 | $132.00 | $98.25 | $20.00 | $13.75 | 122.8 | 48% | 56% |
Buffalo Bills | New Era Field | Buffalo | $1,600.00 | $129.68 | $88.18 | $25.00 | $16.50 | 83.7 | 49% | 46% |
Detroit Lions | Ford Field | Detroit | $1,700.00 | $121.96 | $85.71 | $25.00 | $11.25 | 72.9 | 54% | 45% |
Oakland Raiders | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum | Oakland | $2,380.00 | $121.78 | $71.03 | $35.00 | $15.75 | 179.3 | 40% | 52% |
Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis | $2,375.00 | $119.69 | $87.44 | $20.00 | $12.25 | 90.4 | 53% | 52% |
Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City | $2,100.00 | $116.79 | $73.79 | $30.00 | $13.00 | 87 | 66% | 52% |
Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis | $2,400.00 | $116.67 | $91.67 | $15.00 | $10.00 | 109.4 | 55% | 54% |
Arizona Cardinals | University of Phoenix Stadium | Phoenix | $2,150.00 | $113.11 | $87.86 | $14.00 | $11.25 | 99.4 | 61% | 42% |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa Bay | $1,975.00 | $112.86 | $74.11 | $25.00 | $13.75 | 94.1 | 33% | 39% |
Los Angeles Chargers | StubHub Center | Los Angeles | $2,275.00 | $124.55 | $84.55 | $25.00 | $15.00 | 166.2 | 45% | 49% |
Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte | $2,300.00 | $109.04 | $79.04 | $20.00 | $10.00 | 97.2 | 64% | 50% |
Tennessee Titans | Nissan Stadium | Nashville | $2,050.00 | $108.15 | $67.15 | $30.00 | $11.00 | 99.6 | 38% | 48% |
Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium | Cincinnati | $1,800.00 | $106.63 | $74.13 | $22.00 | $10.50 | 85.9 | 58% | 45% |
Los Angeles Rams | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles | $3,000.00 | $105.96 | $72.71 | $20.00 | $13.25 | 166.2 | 44% | 49% |
Atlanta Falcons | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | $2,475.00 | $105.83 | $78.83 | $20.00 | $7.00 | 101.8 | 49% | 44% |
Cleveland Browns | FirstEnergy Stadium | Cleveland | $1,950.00 | $105.13 | $69.13 | $25.00 | $11.00 | 78.8 | 19% | 48% |
Jacksonville Jaguars | TIAA Bank Field | Jacksonville | $2,075.00 | $104.36 | $61.36 | $30.00 | $13.00 | 92 | 31% | 45% |
NHL
| Team Name | Stadium Name | City | Team Value (millions) | Ticket, parking and concession cost | Ticket price | Stadium parking price | Price of one hot dog and one beer | Cost of Living | Winning % (last 5 years) | Winning % (all-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston Bruins | TD Garden | Boston | $890.00 | $144.95 | $88.70 | $42.00 | $14.25 | 169.9 | 56% | 48% |
Toronto Maple Leafs | Air Canada Theatre | Toronto | $1,400.00 | $142.82 | $113.66 | $17.85 | $11.31 | NA | 43% | 44% |
New York Rangers | Madison Square Garden | New York | $1,500.00 | $124.87 | $77.87 | $30.00 | $17.00 | 180 | 58% | 44% |
Vancouver Canucks | Rogers Arena | Vancouver | $730.00 | $124.13 | $84.87 | $26.77 | $12.49 | NA | 45% | 42% |
Chicago Blackhawks | United Center | Chicago | $1,000.00 | $117.05 | $78.80 | $24.00 | $14.25 | 110.9 | 60% | 43% |
Philadelphia Flyers | Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia | $740.00 | $110.40 | $74.65 | $22.00 | $13.75 | 99.5 | 47% | 50% |
Winnipeg Jets | Bell MTS Place | Winnipeg | $375.00 | $106.04 | $79.28 | $13.38 | $13.38 | NA | 48% | 41% |
Los Angeles Kings | STAPLES Center | Los Angeles | $750.00 | $105.50 | $66.25 | $25.00 | $14.25 | 166.2 | 53% | 42% |
Washington Capitals | Capital One Arena | Washington | $625.00 | $104.48 | $70.98 | $20.00 | $13.50 | 158.5 | 59% | 46% |
Montreal Canadiens | Bell Centre | Montreal | $1,250.00 | $104.32 | $73.67 | $20.95 | $9.70 | NA | 56% | 51% |
Pittsburgh Penguins | PPG Paints Arena | Pittsburgh | $650.00 | $101.84 | $73.59 | $18.00 | $10.25 | 88 | 61% | 45% |
Edmonton Oilers | Rogers Place | Edmonton | $520.00 | $96.06 | $72.63 | $13.39 | $10.04 | NA | 40% | 45% |
Minnesota Wild | Xcel Energy Center | Minneapolis | $440.00 | $91.56 | $67.06 | $10.00 | $14.50 | 109.4 | 54% | 47% |
St. Louis Blues | Scottrade Center | St. Louis | $450.00 | $87.33 | $53.33 | $20.00 | $14.00 | 85.2 | 60% | 46% |
Calgary Flames | Scotiabank Saddledome | Calgary | $430.00 | $86.44 | $63.07 | $12.75 | $10.62 | NA | 48% | 46% |
New Jersey Devils | Prudential Center | Newark | $400.00 | $85.96 | $47.71 | $24.00 | $14.25 | 111.7 | 40% | 42% |
San Jose Sharks | SAP Center | San Jose | $490.00 | $85.93 | $54.68 | $21.00 | $10.25 | 222.2 | 55% | 47% |
Nashville Predators | Bridgestone Arena | Nashville | $380.00 | $83.16 | $62.16 | $10.00 | $11.00 | 99.6 | 49% | 48% |
Carolina Hurricanes | PNC Arena | Raleigh | $370.00 | $81.54 | $61.04 | $10.00 | $10.50 | 102.1 | 41% | 41% |
Detroit Red Wings | Joe Louis Arena | Detroit | $700.00 | $79.66 | $49.16 | $20.00 | $10.50 | 72.9 | 48% | 46% |
Anaheim Ducks | Honda Center | Los Angeles | $460.00 | $75.35 | $45.10 | $16.00 | $14.25 | 166.2 | 60% | 48% |
Buffalo Sabres | KeyBank Center | Buffalo | $350.00 | $74.97 | $49.72 | $13.00 | $12.25 | 83.7 | 35% | 47% |
New York Islanders | Barclays Center | New York | $395.00 | $73.46 | $49.21 | $8.25 | $16.00 | 180 | 51% | 44% |
Ottawa Senators | Canadian Tire Centre | Ottawa | $420.00 | $71.39 | $51.76 | $10.71 | $8.92 | NA | 50% | 45% |
Arizona Coyotes | Gila River Arena | Phoenix | $300.00 | $69.93 | $44.68 | $10.00 | $15.25 | 99.4 | 39% | 41% |
Colorado Avalanche | Pepsi Center | Denver | $385.00 | $69.06 | $47.56 | $10.00 | $11.50 | 127.5 | 45% | 46% |
Florida Panthers | BB&T Center | Miami | $305.00 | $67.89 | $33.39 | $20.00 | $14.50 | 122.8 | 44% | 40% |
Dallas Stars | American Airlines Center | Dallas | $515.00 | $67.28 | $37.28 | $20.00 | $10.00 | 95.2 | 50% | 44% |
Columbus Blue Jackets | Nationwide Arena | Columbus | $315.00 | $65.40 | $48.90 | $7.00 | $9.50 | 84.3 | 51% | 42% |
Tampa Bay Lightning | Amalie Arena | Tampa Bay | $390.00 | $64.50 | $44.50 | $10.00 | $10.00 | 94.1 | 54% | 41% |
1 Cost of attendance was determined using the most up-to-date values from Team Marketing Report (MLB, 2017 season; NFL, 2016 season; NBA, 2015-16 season; NHL, 2014-15 season). This data will be updated as those figures are updated arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2 The Tampa Bay Rays have free parking arrow_upward
SOURCES
Team Marketing Report, www.teammarketingreport.com; Forbes.com; Sperling’s Best Places, www.bestplaces.net
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