"Cheap" food at ballparks? Not here, they're not!

[Solair Wright]

If you were going to ask me, at Busch Stadium (III), a simple order of two large cups of two Diet Cokes and two hot dogs. One is for me, and the other is for my father. Then sometimes, later on in the game, my father gets some nachos. The total cost is surprising, and you'd think it would be cheaper.

You'd be paying $5.50, or $5.75 (don't remember, and that includes tax) for nachos is slightly pushing it, but that's nothing compared to two Diet Cokes and two hot dogs. Though the price is worth it, Busch Stadium has the best hot dogs in baseball.

Are there any ballparks that have a steeper bill for food and drinks? (This is together in one game, not just one order)

[rockin500]

i know wrigley isnt that bad. its expensive, but its less obscene than anything at the movie theater.

the east coast is worse.

[Elvis]

For $35 at Dodger Stadium you get a RF ticket and all the Dodger Dogs, nachos, sodas, popcorn and peanuts you can eat. Not too bad considering the same seats at Wrigley Field are $32-42 WITHOUT food.

[RichardLillard1]

For $35 at Dodger Stadium you get a RF ticket and all the Dodger Dogs, nachos, sodas, popcorn and peanuts you can eat. Not too bad considering the same seats at Wrigley Field are $32-42 WITHOUT food.

All you can eat, eh? Let's take a big group and eat them into chapter 11. :laugh


Richard

[dgarza]

All you can eat, eh? Let's take a big group and eat them into chapter 11. :laugh


Don't fopget to bring a "doggie-bag"

[JeepingBaseball]

About 6 bucks for a beer, 5 bucks for a dog, 4 bucks for some cracker jacks, and your seat is about 40 bucks and parking is an additional 20 bucks. A day at the ballpark is a minimum 100 bucks

[Mr. Red]

I don't understand how people afford season tickets.

[Doug Miller]

I don't understand how people afford season tickets.

Honestly, I don't understand where people find the time for season tickets. There are plenty of affordable season ticket plans -- Affordable, I mean around $1,600 a pair at $10/ish a game. I just can't find 81 days that I can go to a ballgame -- I maxed out at 20 home games a few years back (not counting out of towns,) and it was a lot of work coordinating my work schedule and games.

Doug

[rockin500]

I don't understand how people afford season tickets.
its expensive and time consuming, true but i am a single man who lives near the ballpark (I generally walk or take the EL) and my package is 55 games. Its my disposable income for the year. this is my 5th year with them.

[redbuck]

Prices in Cincinnati:

1970 2006
Hot dog $.45 $3.75
Peanuts $.25 $4.00
Popcorn $.30
Soft drink $.30 $4.00
Beer $.50 $6.00

1970 1995 2006
Price of ticket $3.50 $11.50 $30.00
Adjusted for inflation $17.50 $14.75 $30.00

Prices in Los Angeles:

1970 1983 2006
Field level tickets behind home plate $3.50 $6.00 $75.00
Reserved Level tickets behind home plate $2.50 $5.00 $20.00
Bleacher seats $1.50 $3.00 $8.00
Upper deck tickets $1.50 $3.00 $6.00

1983 2006
Dodger dogs $1.50 $4.00
Parking $2.00 $10.00

Prices at old Comiskey Park:

1947 1958 1968 1975 1979 1984 1990
Lower deck box seats $1.80 $2.50 $3.50 $4.50 $6.00 $7.50 $9.50

Prices at Wrigley Field:

1984 1989 1997 2002
Field box ticket $8.00 $9.50 $21.00 $32.00

Prices in St. Louis:

1982 1986 1997 1998 2002 2003
Field box ticket $7.00 $9.50 $16.00 $22.00 $31.00 $34.00

1965 1966 1975 1988
12 oz. beer $0.30 $0.50 $0.80 $2.50

Postseason prices:

Event City Cost
2004 World Series field box St. Louis $185.00
2002 NLDS Upper deck seat St. Louis $25.00
1996 NLDS Upper deck seat St. Louis $15.00
1976 NLCS Program Cincinnati $1.50
1976 World Series Program Cincinnati $2.00
1976 Cincinnati Reds' earings Cincinnati $80.00
1972 World Series box seat Cincinnati $15.00
1966 All Star Game loge seat St. Louis $6.00

Prices in Toronto:

2006 Game vs. NY Regular game
Club level 200 tickets $67.42 $61.47
Outfield lower deck $25.77 $22.81
Field level near bases $41.64 $38.66

Prices in Toledo (The Mud Hens are a AAA-team in the International League and are affiliated with the Detroit Tigers):
2006
All non-reserved seats $8.00
Soft Pretzel $3.50
Souvenir cup soda w/ free refills $6.00
Large cotton candy $3.50
Mini-bat $10.95

[ElHalo]

Honestly, I don't understand where people find the time for season tickets.

Ding ding ding. I know people who shell out the $50K every year for season tickets and actually head to the Bronx maybe 15 times. Spare tickets get passed around like water.

[ElHalo]

I neither eat nor drink at games... I can hold off on feeding myself for three hours. But if I recall correctly, the last time I got a beer at the Stadium it was $14 (admittedly, for a pretty large beer), and a hot dog was $8. But this is what really gets me:


Prices in Los Angeles:
1983 2006
Parking $2.00 $10.00


Now, of course, nobody drives to Yankee Stadium for a game. That would just be silly. But I used to drive there every morning when I used to do litigation at the Bronx County courthouse two blocks from the Stadium, and I'd park in the YS parking garages. For me it was $15 as long as I was out by 1 PM. But for games... well, parking for a game started at $45 for a weekday game, went to $60 for a weeknight game, $80 for a weekend day game, and $95 for a weekend night game. But the kicker was for the playoffs... if you decided that you absolutely had to drive to the Stadium for a playoff game, you had to be prepared to shell out $240 (plus the customary 20% tip to the valet on all of these, of course). And this was a couple of years ago; I'm sure it's gone up since then.

Oh, and you have to be sure to get there early. I believe that the sum total of parking spots available at all local garages (for a stadium that seats over 50,000) is less than five hundred.

[rrhersh]

I was flabbergasted when I moved to Maryland and discovered that at Camden Yards they let you bring in food and drinks. There are vendors lined up for a block as you walk to the stadium. The food is pretty generic ballpark food, but since there is actual free market competition the prices are reasonable. You can't buy beer this way, of course. But when I go to an Orioles game I expect to be fully supplied for under $10. If only the product on the field were worth buying...

[hellborn]

...
Now, of course, nobody drives to Yankee Stadium for a game. That would just be silly. But I used to drive there every morning when I used to do litigation at the Bronx County courthouse two blocks from the Stadium, and I'd park in the YS parking garages. For me it was $15 as long as I was out by 1 PM. But for games... well, parking for a game started at $45 for a weekday game, went to $60 for a weeknight game, $80 for a weekend day game, and $95 for a weekend night game. But the kicker was for the playoffs... if you decided that you absolutely had to drive to the Stadium for a playoff game, you had to be prepared to shell out $240 (plus the customary 20% tip to the valet on all of these, of course). And this was a couple of years ago; I'm sure it's gone up since then.

Oh, and you have to be sure to get there early. I believe that the sum total of parking spots available at all local garages (for a stadium that seats over 50,000) is less than five hundred.
:noidea
I've only been to Yankee twice, but drove both times and parked in lots that were easy to get to and within a few minutes walk of the stadium for less than $15. Didn't get parked in, either. I guess if you're insisting on a covered garage, things are a lot different. Parking near YS is a breeze compared to Fenway....that's always over $30 for anywhere near the park, you get parked in, and can't move for an hour after the game due to the crowd.

I used to get the D'Angelo steak n cheese at Fenway, but then they changed the recipe and I hate them now. These days, I catch a Cuban at Tiant's stand or an Italian from Best Sausage outside the park for $8-10, then get a couple of slices of pizza for about $4 each inside the park later. I'll snatch up whatever kind of dessert is handy in the aisles to top it off. My friends swear by the shish kabob steak heroes from Hilltop Steak House, but they don't do it for me. Legal's chowder is TERRIBLE at the park, watch out.
Eating at the park is an integral part of the game experience for me, and I don't really care what it costs. The best ballpark food I've ever had is the grilled fish sandwich sold by a Muslim community group at the Oakland Colisseum...had it on two different visits, and they were both just unbelievably good.

[Mr. Red]

Parking at both Fenway and Wrigley is ridiculous, but I've never been to Yankee. We walked to Fenway, but we bought a $40 pass for Wrigley. My dad was pretty upset about the price, but we were across the street from Wrigley right next to a fire station (I'm sure a Cubs fan knows which one I'm talking about).

As for food, I like the sausages outside of Fenway, the Fenway Franks, sausages in Wrigley, Skyline chili dogs at GABP, frosty malts at GABP, Montgomery Inn BBQ at GABP, and I love the ice cream sundaes in a helmet at any park.

[Doug Miller]

[QUOTE=hellborn]:noidea
I used to get the D'Angelo steak n cheese at Fenway, but then they changed the recipe and I hate them now. These days, I catch a Cuban at Tiant's stand or an Italian from Best Sausage outside the park for $8-10, then get a couple of slices of pizza for about $4 each inside the park later. I'll snatch up whatever kind of dessert is handy in the aisles to top it off. My friends swear by the shish kabob steak heroes from Hilltop Steak House, but they don't do it for me. Legal's chowder is TERRIBLE at the park, watch out.
Eating at the park is an integral part of the game experience for me, and I don't really care what it costs. QUOTE]

Legal's chowder is terrible period. I've had few chowders as bland as Legal's. (And that was at their restaurants.) I wish that I could find the "New England Style Rolls" (Wonder Bread style) that they put their hot dogs in at Fenway, here in Seattle. Yum.

Safeco also lets you bring food in from outside. The food in the park is actually pretty good and OK for prices. The best "value" is the Kidd Valley burgers and Garlic Fries. I'm more a dog guy myself. You can get a great brisket sandwich outside the park during the summer months.

Doug

[ElHalo]

:noidea
I've only been to Yankee twice, but drove both times and parked in lots that were easy to get to and within a few minutes walk of the stadium for less than $15. Didn't get parked in, either. I guess if you're insisting on a covered garage, things are a lot different. Parking near YS is a breeze compared to Fenway....that's always over $30 for anywhere near the park, you get parked in, and can't move for an hour after the game due to the crowd.

Not sure how long ago it was that you drove, but $15 is a pretty standard minimum for parking pretty much anywhere in the city (unless it's some real remote part of the outer boroughs, I guess). If you're talking open lots, then you're talking a relatively remote area (just by dint of the fact that parking cars only one high (as opposed to parking cars eight or ten on top of each other) is a horrendous waste of real estate if you're in a prime location), so that's possible to get a $15 spot. But if you want one of the garages right at the stadium (the two I used to use were both within a hundred yards of the outside facade), you better be prepared to pony up.

Much, much easier to take a subway. If you're coming from New England, you take a train into Grand Central and the 4 up to YS. If you're coming from Philly / Jersey, you take a train into Penn Station, walk a block to Herald Square, and take the D up to YS. Much simpler.

[Rockhound]

Well if you know you're going to be paying over $50 just on food at a ballpark....why don't you just go and eat at a restaurant before going to a game. You'll get more food, better food, and you won't feel as guilty about dishing out the bucks. Sure you wanna keep a couple dollars on hand when you get thursty, but the prices are ridiculous. It's this same reason why a friend of mine doesn't go see pro sports live anymore. He says it's cheaper to watch the games on tv or online. Can't blame the guy. I used to like it when we were able to sneek food and drinks in the ballpark....ahh yes the good ole days.

[Elvis]

For what it's worth, most ML teams allow outside food. I randomly picked about 10 MLB teams sites and they all allow outside food to be brought in. Some allowed sodas, some only water, and one allowed only juice boxes and empty bottles to "fill at the water fountains". I didn't check the yankees because I already knew they banned food, but all the others did allow food including the Angels, Dodgers, Orioles, Mariners, Blue Jays, Brewers, Giants, Tigers, White Sox and Rays.

Edit: Just checked some more: Cubs, Cards, D-Backs and Indians all allow food. Twins don't.

[trueblue37]

if you're on a budget go to kauffman stadium in kansas city.
tix start at $7 and you can move around..
and the best deal is to go on buck night.. all soda's and hot dog's are only $1! Greatest deal in baseball

[rockin500]

For what it's worth, most ML teams allow outside food. I randomly picked about 10 MLB teams sites and they all allow outside food to be brought in. Some allowed sodas, some only water, and one allowed only juice boxes and empty bottles to "fill at the water fountains". I didn't check the yankees because I already knew they banned food, but all the others did allow food including the Angels, Dodgers, Orioles, Mariners, Blue Jays, Brewers, Giants, Tigers, White Sox and Rays.

Edit: Just checked some more: Cubs, Cards, D-Backs and Indians all allow food. Twins don't.
if i want peanuts, i get them outside since they are the same price as inside, yet are twice the size.

[Glasgow Red Sox/Giants Fan]

If you're a Scotsman, like me, those prices don't seem that bad, because soccer stadium prices are about the same (take into account that soccer is the most popular sport in Scotland).

Take for instance Celtic Park, the home ground of my beloved Glasgow Celtic. Estimate prices;

My Season ticket (approx. 20 home games) - $970.89 (£500)
Rollover hot dog (inside the stadium) - $4.85 (£2.50)
Medium coke (inside the stadium) - $3.50 (£1.80)
Fries (outside the stadium) - $3.88 (£2.00)
Large bag of M&Ms - $2.54 (£1.30)
Bottle of Bud (local bar - beer is prohibited in stadiums) - $2.91 (£1.50, may cost more)

Some of the prices are a massive drop from what you get at some ballparks, but in general they're around the same.

[NineWorldSeries]

About 6 bucks for a beer, 5 bucks for a dog, 4 bucks for some cracker jacks, and your seat is about 40 bucks and parking is an additional 20 bucks. A day at the ballpark is a minimum 100 bucks

I went to about 75 games at GABP over the last two years, and I had it down to a science: :cap:

Right Field ticket: $5
Parking: Free (down Pete Rose Way next to Montgomery Inn)
Beers: $1 each at Gameday Cafe (5 for $5)
Cooler full of snacks/water: $0

Total cost: $10 !!!

Seeing the Reds lose over and over again: Priceless !!!

[gman5431]

About 6 bucks for a beer, 5 bucks for a dog, 4 bucks for some cracker jacks, and your seat is about 40 bucks and parking is an additional 20 bucks. A day at the ballpark is a minimum 100 bucks

The worst is the beer. $ 6 for a beer, cmon people. And then sometimes its worse, Yankee Stadium it was $9 if i remember correctly. It is to the point that you cant drink at games unless you take a a second mortgage. This is one of the main reasons i love minor league ball way more, its cheaper! you can sit on the field level for $7 bucks or so and drink and love life.

G Man

[stlfan]

If I get beer, I just get 1. At Busch the large is $8.50. I think the smaller size is like $6.50. Minor league ball is the way to go. We have 2 frontier league teams in the St. Louis area. The price of a $8.50 size beer at Busch is around $4.50 at GCS Stadium where the Gateway Grizzlies play.

[philipthegreat]

The best food plan is Dodger Stadium. I've been there twice and it was just excelent.

The worst from what I've heard is Minute Maid Park.

Yankee Stdium is decent because of that convienient train.

It's easy to sneak food in.

The cost is like this.

Getting Italian Bread and cold cuts out of my refrigerator 0 $ (at the time).

Driving to the nearset train station: 2.25 $ worth of gas.

The train is something like 7-20$ depending on what time.

The seats: depends where I sit- bleachers can be 12$ if I'm feeling a little more thrifty I'll get better seats.

[St. Louis 093]

I spent 7.50 for a ''large'' nachos at minute maid park in '03

[nymdan]

What bugs me the most is the $4 bottled water at Shea.

Sure, everything there is expensive, but at least something like a hot dog or Italian sausage has to be prepared. But with the water, it really bothers me knowing that I'm paying $4 for one bottle when I can go to the supermarket and buy a case of 12 of the same item for the same $4. (And the fact that they take the cap off of the water, so half the time my $4 water spills before I finish it? I won't go there.)

I try to remember to bring my own bottle as much as I can when I go now, but inevitably there will be times where I don't bring one and end up buying one.

[Stray Cat]

if you're on a budget go to kauffman stadium in kansas city.
tix start at $7 and you can move around..
and the best deal is to go on buck night.. all soda's and hot dog's are only $1! Greatest deal in baseball

They give discounts for veterans also.

[gman5431]

If I get beer, I just get 1. At Busch the large is $8.50. I think the smaller size is like $6.50. Minor league ball is the way to go. We have 2 frontier league teams in the St. Louis area. The price of a $8.50 size beer at Busch is around $4.50 at GCS Stadium where the Gateway Grizzlies play.

I love the Frontier League, being in Cincy, we got the Florence Freedom about 25 minutes down the road. Love their games!! $1 12 oz beers ($2 for 24 oz.) every Thursday home game. Went to about 4 last year. Plus you can walk up and get seats in the first row for like $7 or sometimes we bring lawn chairs and sit down the line and its a buck cheaper. Great times, a totally different experience than Major league ball, much more intimate, i have talked to players, umps, managers and gotten to know them. And you dont feel like you are getting raped via your wallet when you are there either.

G Man

[gman5431]

What bugs me the most is the $4 bottled water at Shea.

Sure, everything there is expensive, but at least something like a hot dog or Italian sausage has to be prepared. But with the water, it really bothers me knowing that I'm paying $4 for one bottle when I can go to the supermarket and buy a case of 12 of the same item for the same $4. (And the fact that they take the cap off of the water, so half the time my $4 water spills before I finish it? I won't go there.)

I try to remember to bring my own bottle as much as I can when I go now, but inevitably there will be times where I don't bring one and end up buying one.

Yeah, that is my same problem with buying beer at Major League games. When im out of town i temper myself by saying "well i may never be back here again, might as well live it up" but it still sucks buying one beer for the same price i know i can get a case back home.

G