Baseball Business: How do teams make money from ticket sales?

Welcome to Baseball Business

Welcome to our series on Baseball Business! In this series, we explore how baseball teams operate as businesses. We'll look at different ways teams make money, spend money, and manage their finances. Today, we're focusing on one of the most important sources of income for baseball teams: ticket sales.

The Basics of Ticket Sales

Ticket sales are a big deal for baseball teams. When fans buy tickets to watch games at the stadium, they give money directly to the team. This money helps pay for player salaries, stadium maintenance, and other team expenses.

A Major League Baseball (MLB) team plays 81 home games in a regular season. That means 81 chances to sell tickets to fans! Teams like the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers can fit over 50,000 fans in their stadiums for each game.

Different Types of Tickets

Not all tickets cost the same amount. Here are some common types:

• Single-game tickets: These are for fans who want to attend just one game. A ticket might cost $20 for a seat far from the field, or over $100 for a seat close to the action.
• Season tickets: These packages include tickets to every home game. A fan might pay $2,000 or more for a full season of games. Teams love selling season tickets because they get all the money upfront.
• Premium tickets: These special tickets often include extra benefits like better seats, free food, or access to exclusive areas in the stadium. When star players like Mike Trout or Juan Soto are playing, premium tickets are in high demand.

How Teams Set Ticket Prices

Baseball teams carefully decide how much to charge for tickets. They consider many factors:

• Opponent: Games against popular teams like the Boston Red Sox might cost more.
• Day of week: Weekend games usually cost more than weekday games.
• Special games: Opening Day or playoff games have higher prices.
• Dynamic pricing: Many teams now change prices based on demand. If a game is selling out quickly, they might raise prices. If many seats are empty, they might lower prices.

For example, a Tuesday night game against a less popular team might have tickets starting at $15. But a Saturday game against a rival team might start at $40 for the same seats.

Real-Life Examples

Imagine the Smith family wants to attend a baseball game. They might spend $200 for four tickets, $50 on parking, and another $100 on food and drinks. That's $350 going to the team for just one family's game experience!

Teams like the Chicago Cubs have very loyal fans who fill their stadium (Wrigley Field) even when the team isn't winning many games. Other teams might need to offer special promotions like "Kids Eat Free" nights or "T-shirt Giveaways" to attract more fans.

Fair Business Practices

It's important for teams to be fair with their ticket prices. If tickets are too expensive, many fans won't be able to attend games. Baseball is America's pastime, and people of all backgrounds should have the chance to enjoy it.

Many teams offer special discounted tickets for military members, students, and seniors. Some teams also have special sections with more affordable tickets for families.

Impact on Players

Players benefit from strong ticket sales too. When teams make more money from tickets, they can afford to pay for better players. Stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. or Shohei Ohtani help bring fans to the stadium, which creates a positive cycle of success for the team both on the field and financially.