Watching your favorite sports team from afar just doesn’t compare to the experience of being inside the stadium, hearing the crowd roar as you follow the action live. But attending a game can be pretty pricey, or reasonable, depending on the team. Researchers analyzed data to determine the most expensive sports experiences and least expensive pro sports experiences.

TN Bets analyzed the cost to attend a game for all four major sports leagues including the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL. Costs were based on one general admission ticket, two beers, a hot dog and parking via Team Marketing Report’s 2019-2020 Fan Cost Index report.

Here’s what they found when it came to determining the most expensive sports experiences for Major League Baseball fans:

• The most expensive MLB Stadiums to see a game are: 1. Chicago Cubs 2. Boston Red Sox 3. New York Yankees 4. Washington Nationals 5. Houston Astros.

• The league average cost to see a game is $67.39.

• The most expensive ticket on average in MLB will cost you $60.09 at a Red Sox game.

• The most expensive beer on average in MLB will cost you $11 at a Mets game.

• The most expensive hot dog on average in MLB will cost you $7.25 at a Nationals game.

• The most expensive parking on average in MLB will cost you $29 at a Yankees game.

• 37% of sports fan believe it will be the end of 2021 before full stadium attendance returns, while another 21% feel it won’t fully return to 2022.

Most Expensive MLB Stadiums

Most expensive MLB stadiums

It’s one of the oldest ballparks in the country and nicknamed “The Friendly Confines,” but it isn’t necessarily friendly to fans wallets.

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, tops the list for the most expensive places to see an MLB game. On average, a ticket, two beers, a hot dog and parking will cost you $109.78. Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, comes in at a close second place ($96.62) followed by the New York Yankees ($95.91).

The Boston Red Sox is also the top team with the priciest general admission ticket. An average ticket will cost fans $60.09. That is a steep price just for a ticket considering the average cost to attend an MLB game with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $67.39.

Most Expensive NFL Stadiums

Most expensive NFL stadiums

The cost to attend an NFL game is by far the most expensive among all four leagues. In fact, the cheapest team to watch live is the Cincinnati Bengals ($105.69) and the league average is $157.07. The Las Vegas Raiders come in at No. 1 ($236.97) followed by the San Francisco 49ers ($205.75) and the Dallas Cowboys ($198).

The Las Vegas Raiders also have the most expensive general admission ticket with an average cost of $153.47.

Most Expensive NBA Stadiums

Most expensive NBA stadiums

The NBA is the second most expensive league in terms of attending a game. On average, the cost to watch an NBA game is $120.13, but the New York Knicks are home to the priciest game. An average Knicks game will cost fans $260.38, and that’s not even for floor seats! The second most expensive NBA game to attend is the Golden State Warriors ($203.30) followed by the Los Angeles Lakers ($190.76).

Most Expensive NHL Stadiums

Most expensive NHL stadiums

While it is not as affordable as the average price to see an MLB game, an NHL game is still a reasonable option compared to an NFL or NBA game. On average, the cost to attend an NHL game is $114.47.

After including a ticket, two beers, hot dog and parking, a New York Rangers game will set you back $182.43. A Boston Bruins game is the second most expensive ($162.36) followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs ($160.01).

The Rangers are also home to the most expensive beer in the league, which will cost you a whopping $15.

When Fans Think Attendance Will Return

When fans will return to stadiums

Most diehard sports fans can overlook the cost to attend a live game, but when do they think arenas and stadiums will be filled with fans again? According to survey respondents, 37% believe attendance will return by the end of 2021 while 21% feel it won’t be until 2022.

While it’s difficult to say when live attendance will return to full capacity, fans will be eager to be the first in line to grab the best seats in the house when stadiums are packed once again.


Methodology

From Jan. 13 – Jan. 19, 2021, we surveyed 2,020 sports fans from around the country. 57% of respondents were female and 43% were male. The average age of respondents was 38 years old.

MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL costs were sourced from Team Marketing Report’s 2019-2020 NBA, NFL, MLB and NFL Fan Cost Index reports. The average cost to attend a game was based on one average general admission ticket price, price of least expensive beer (multiplied by two), price of least expensive hot dog and average parking price for each team.