Financial Matters

Jason Michael Barker

The Fan Cost Index came out last week, and of course fans and media members alike are going on and on about how it costs too much to see a baseball game these days. They're right, of course -- but only if you believe the aforementioned FCI, which this year reported that a family of four heading to the ballpark should expect to spend roughly the gross national product of a small European nation.

Does it cost money to go to a baseball game? Certainly. The Fan Cost Index overstates the issue, however, by including such frivolities as good seats, parking, two programs, two beers, four soft drinks, four hotdogs and two hats. What follows is relevant to my baseball situation (attending games at Safeco Field in Seattle), but you can certainly adapt things to your city.

Tickets. Sure, you could buy $27 or $32 box seats. But if you're taking a family of four to a game, this simply isn't practical or necessary. Safeco Field has both $5 and $9 bleacher seats in center and left field respectively, and they're very good seats for the price. One Monday each month is designated as a "Family Night," when most tickets are available on a two-for-one basis, and "Senior Sundays" allow fans 65 and older to purchase tickets at half price.

Parking. In all my years of attending baseball games in Seattle, not once have I paid for parking. Part of this comes from my dad, who instilled in me at an early age that paying for parking is something we simply do not do in my family unless there are no other options. If you simply set aside an extra hour and get to the game a bit early, you can probably find a decent free parking space somewhere around the stadium. Besides, the walk will do you good. Better yet, leave the car at home and hop on the bus or whatever form of mass transit is available in your city.

Programs. You're kidding, right? I fail to see how a family of four needs even one program, let alone two. Besides, if you're really set on buying a publication for information chances are the stadium program is not your best bet. Here in Seattle there are two programs available: the standard issue program, purchased inside the stadium for $5, or the independent publication available outside for $2. The stadium program comes from the team itself, and contains boring player bios and fluff pieces about how the manager is really optimistic heading into the season. The other publication is not affiliated with the team, contains twice the information of the competition, and takes an objective look at the team, even criticizing as needed.

Beer. I don't drink beer, so perhaps I'm not the best one to comment on this one. Still, I've heard numerous beer drinkers complain that the prices at the park are twice what you'd pay in a bar for the exact same product. The answer? Either go out to an establishment before the game, go out after the game, or smuggle your own beer into the game. Long-time Strikethree readers know all about that last option.

Soft drinks. Again, there's no reason to buy inside the park what you could get outside for half the price. Chances are what you buy outside won't be watered down or flat, either. If you need to sneak your beverages in, I hear an old Cracker Jack box is a great place to conceal two 16-ounce plastic bottles. It helps to buy the same products that are available inside, because then you don't have to worry about hiding your drinks.

Hot dogs. Thanks to the, er, questionable sanitary practices at Safeco Field, I rarely buy any food at the ballpark. It's much cheaper to bring your own food from home, and of course then you can get exactly what you like. If you really must buy food at the game, as long as you're saving money other places (tickets, parking, programs) it shouldn't be a large financial burden.

Hats. This is the one that really gets me, because ballpark souvenirs are normally a worse deal than ballpark food. If you're buying hats or T-shirts at the game it's likely an impulse purchase -- had you thought ahead, you could have purchased something very similar (if not identical) at a department or sporting goods store before the game at a better price.

The Fan Cost Index is a great number, if you're into extravagance and only plan to attend one or two games a year. But by simply being a bit frugal (the French would say faire les economies), you can keep a family trip to the ballpark affordable enough that a half-dozen return trips won't require taking out a second mortgage on your house or selling a kidney on the black market.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker has never, to the best of his knowledge, sold a kidney on the black market. There was that time, however, when he woke up in a bathtub full of ice... On second thoughts, better send 20% off dialysis coupons to jmb@strikethree.com.