Saving Money at Ballparks

[Lafferty Daniel]

All this talk about how expensive NYS & other new ballparks are, I thought it'd be interesting to hear what fans do to save money at the ballpark. Here's my story, what's yours?

I've been a Dodgers season ticket holder for the past four seasons. I spent most of my childhood attending games in the Metrodome a.k.a. Giant Inflatible Toilet, so when I moved to Los Angeles for work, I couldn't wait to experience baseball outdoors at a legendary ballpark like Dodger Stadium.

Like just about every other ballpark, Dodger Stadium can be way too expensive. Here's what I do to save my cash.

1. Purchase Top Deck tickets for $7 each. They are normally $11, but the 27 game plan that I get lowers the cost. That savings certainly adds up over the season.

I love the view from the Top Deck, and the fact that we sit behind home plate. I also love that I can walk down to the Reserved Level without anyone checking my tickets because the Dodgers want us to spend money at the many concessions in the Reserved Level. On Fireworks Fridays, I'm able to move all the way down to the field level without any workers caring. I pay for $7 seats, but often end up sitting in $100 seats by the end of the night.

2. Bring in my own food. Mrs. Lafferty & I will often bring in sandwiches so we don't have to pay for crappy overpriced food. I know some stadiums don't let you do this though.

3. Smuggle in our own beer. I'm in my twenties and enjoy having a few cold ones during the game, but I hate to pay $10 - $13 for a single beer. Here's how we do it. Like most women, Mrs. Lafferty carries a rather large purse/bag with her when she goes to Dodgers games. There's a hidden pocket on the bottom with enough room for a six pack of cans. Her brilliant idea was to put tampons on top of her stuff in her purse because the security guards don't want to go there. It works every time.

4. Don't pay for parking if you don't have to. I save $15 per game by parking on Stadium Way instead of the Dodgers parking lot. We have to walk a little farther, but it's worth it.

Feel free to share your stories. This could be helpful for those who take trips to ballparks for the first time and don't want to get ripped off.

[ChineseDemocracy]

Parking by the fire academy? :cool:

I would bring my own food too, but I love Dodger Dogs too much!

I've never really tried to move down to better seats. I remember when FOX owned the team, the ushers were very serious about their jobs. But nowadays, I can't see an usher for miles, and I have never been asked to show my ticket to anyone.

I see a lot of people coming in with outside food. More power to them, at least they came out to support the team. Concession prices are ridiculous all around.

Free parking and never having to pay face value for a ticket works for me.



OH! And never, EVER buy merchandise from the stadium!

[RichardLillard1]

Here in Phoenix, we just had the light rail completed, so it cuts down quite a bit on parking if you just drive to a "Park & Ride" location and pay your $2.50 or whatever it is to take the train. It's about time! :happy:

I usually take in a few bottles of water to the ballpark so I'll have something to drink, but I've never thought about the beer-purse thing - I'll have to give it a shot.

I usually buy the cheap, $7 seats and then wait a while before I go to the bleachers. However, I'm tempted to try the new all you can eat section.

To all of who frequent ballparks with the all you can eat, does it seem truly worth it?


Richard

[mets16]

I only cut costs at ballparks that I frequent often. Like Shea I could bring in a sandwich because I ate all their concession food, and I know what they have to offer. When I go away to another place, I have to splurge on their food just so I can say I tried their food, shopped at their store. I used to like getting a program from every place. But the programs these days at almost 10 bucks a piece, I can live without it. But I really encourage mass transit. Especially in cities you haven't been before, getting lost in a city when you have to be somewhere at a certain time is the worst. But I guess thats why we have GPS units as well. Oh well :blah:... I'm straying far from the point.

[BeatEmBucs]

I park on the North Side at a parking meter (which are free after 6 PM in Pittsburgh) I usually get to the ballpark around 5. Meters are .25 per 30 minutes so that's .50 parking most nights. All North Side lots are $10 or more, since I go to 25 games a year that's over $200 of savings there. And not too far from those meters are a McDonalds,Wendys and Subway. So I pick up something to eat there (when I don't eat at home) that saves $$ as well. I also print out my own scorecards which is better than the $2 scorecard they offer at PNC Park.

[jnakamura]

Already been said, but...

--Park for free on Stadium Way or Academy - Save $15

--Bring food, snacks and sodas from home - Save $20 per person

--Get tix when Dodgers offer promos - Save $10-20 per ticket

--Buy caps and shirts @ Walmart instead of @ Stadium - Save $40 per person

[Lafferty Daniel]

Parking by the fire academy? :cool:

I would bring my own food too, but I love Dodger Dogs too much!

I've never really tried to move down to better seats. I remember when FOX owned the team, the ushers were very serious about their jobs. But nowadays, I can't see an usher for miles, and I have never been asked to show my ticket to anyone.

I see a lot of people coming in with outside food. More power to them, at least they came out to support the team. Concession prices are ridiculous all around.

Free parking and never having to pay face value for a ticket works for me.



OH! And never, EVER buy merchandise from the stadium!

Down the street a bit, across from the Respiratory Clinic. :thumbsup:

[Lafferty Daniel]

Here in Phoenix, we just had the light rail completed, so it cuts down quite a bit on parking if you just drive to a "Park & Ride" location and pay your $2.50 or whatever it is to take the train. It's about time! :happy:

I usually take in a few bottles of water to the ballpark so I'll have something to drink, but I've never thought about the beer-purse thing - I'll have to give it a shot.

I usually buy the cheap, $7 seats and then wait a while before I go to the bleachers. However, I'm tempted to try the new all you can eat section.

To all of who frequent ballparks with the all you can eat, does it seem truly worth it?


Richard

I've heard good things about the all you can eat section at Dodger Stadium. Seems like a good value if you bring kids to the game.

I'd hate to be the guy who cleans up the bathrooms in those sections.

[Jbutta29]

Go to a Marlins game, but cheap ticket. sit whereever you want and you wont be the least bit tempted to eat any of the disgusting food they offer.
I get free tix, so any boardees that find themselves down in miami with home games being played. Let me know.

[Chevy114]

The rays give you free parking for 4 people or more and reduced for 3 (I think 10 instead of 15). They say its for going green, but its really because based on the rule of 3 we are like 10,000 spots short of the stadium capcity.

Also they let you bring in any food you want as long as its in a clear plastic bag. I have seen people bring in full subs.

You can bring in a drink as long as it's in an unopened bottle.

When they attendence sucked you could get an 8 dollar ticket and sit on the first base side 20 rows up or so because they never checked tickets.

Also go to minor league games if you can, the daytona cubs are always offering discounted beers every half inning it seems. You find yourself drinking any beer if it's only 2 dollars!

[johnfre]

Lafferty, Do they really charge $10.00 and $13.00 for a beer at Dodger Stadium? My god, that is fricking crazy.

[Spruce Moose]

i save cash at the Metrodome by purchasing souveniers for my son before the game at Kohls or a sporting goods store. i bet it will be more difficult to save my money when Target Field opens.

[babalou]

Yankee Stadium - watch the game from home:laugh

[DiggerODell]

Yankee Stadium - watch the game from home:laugh

Now this ain't braggin' . . . just fact. Before I left for Coors Field and Giants/Rockies game today, I ate a large breakfast and when I went to catch my bus and later light rail, I had $4 in my pocket. I took $20 from the ATM right next to Union Station. Paid $1 for a Rock Pile ticket (Reg $4, but the nice lady keeps charging me a buck when she sees me, I guess she thinks I'm 55 or older . .. no problem). I took near 500 photos in and around the ballpark while walking twice the perimeter of the concourse, sitting occasionaly with ushers blessing in unused HC seats, in the meantime had 3 beers.

I seen a Rockies game, took photos, drank 3 beers for essentially $19. Used to be a time I would drop $200 easy on a particular evening with high end tickets, dinner & drinks etc.. Coors Field allows me to "save money" during hard personal and nationwide financial times, and still enjoy and see a game on the cheap.


oh, pizza guy just arrived at my house, I'm not counting that as part of the expenses of the day ;-)

[mazaratirick07]

Lets see... at the dear old Dome, Me and the Gal pay the 10 bucks to park right across the street next to Huberts, but we ahve a cooler in the trunk with a 12ver...so we fill our pockts up with 2 each and walk the plaza until the beer was gone then walk back across the street to fetch more.. I have a 20 game pack of HR porch seats so i save maybe 2 bucks a ticket each...there is nothing really good to eat at the dome except for dome dogs so i usally end up getting one of those...

So not the cheapest, but i could spend alot more on 6.75 beers...If im going to a game with some buddys and wanna get a lil crazy i sneak in a 5th of brandy and we buy 2 tall pops and mix it up.. extreamly strong take s all night to drink it... but u will not buy a beer at all lol

never buy a thing from the merch tables...thats what walmart is for....

[natron20]

Also go to minor league games if you can, the daytona cubs are always offering discounted beers every half inning it seems. You find yourself drinking any beer if it's only 2 dollars!

Nice suggestion! I've been to many a Daytona Cubs game and it is a unique experience. Love going everytime I'm in town.

I have made several trips to watch my home minor league team, The Lexington Legends (Lexington, KY) instead of going all the way to Cincinnati for a Reds game. Saved me a pretty penny.

[jimmyjimjimz]

my dad usually pays for everything when I go to a game with him, so that's how I save money going to a game. I go with my dad.

[MontanaJim74]

Most ballparks give out a free soda to designated drivers. I always scout out the stand to register and get the coupon. Sometimes i cant find the stand and ask an usher. Oftentimes they dont know what i am talking about. But in the end, ive found the stand in every ballpark that ive been to that advertises it except candlestick. ill see if i can find it there this fall when i go to a 49ers game.

[MontanaJim74]

All this talk about how expensive NYS & other new ballparks are, I thought it'd be interesting to hear what fans do to save money at the ballpark. Here's my story, what's yours?

I've been a Dodgers season ticket holder for the past four seasons. I spent most of my childhood attending games in the Metrodome a.k.a. Giant Inflatible Toilet, so when I moved to Los Angeles for work, I couldn't wait to experience baseball outdoors at a legendary ballpark like Dodger Stadium.

Like just about every other ballpark, Dodger Stadium can be way too expensive. Here's what I do to save my cash.

1. Purchase Top Deck tickets for $7 each. They are normally $11, but the 27 game plan that I get lowers the cost. That savings certainly adds up over the season



I love the view from the Top Deck, and the fact that we sit behind home plate. I also love that I can walk down to the Reserved Level without anyone checking my tickets because the Dodgers want us to spend money at the many concessions in the Reserved Level. On Fireworks Fridays, I'm able to move all the way down to the field level without any workers caring. I pay for $7 seats, but often end up sitting in $100 seats by the end of the night.

2. Bring in my own food. Mrs. Lafferty & I will often bring in sandwiches so we don't have to pay for crappy overpriced food. I know some stadiums don't let you do this though.

3. Smuggle in our own beer. I'm in my twenties and enjoy having a few cold ones during the game, but I hate to pay $10 - $13 for a single beer. Here's how we do it. Like most women, Mrs. Lafferty carries a rather large purse/bag with her when she goes to Dodgers games. There's a hidden pocket on the bottom with enough room for a six pack of cans. Her brilliant idea was to put tampons on top of her stuff in her purse because the security guards don't want to go there. It works every time.

4. Don't pay for parking if you don't have to. I save $15 per game by parking on Stadium Way instead of the Dodgers parking lot. We have to walk a little farther, but it's worth it.

Feel free to share your stories. This could be helpful for those who take trips to ballparks for the first time and don't want to get ripped off.

--------------------


I thought Dodger stadium's ushers were so strict? at least thats what i heard. heard you couldnt move between levels, had to enter the stadium level where your seat is, etc.

[Mygirljess]

When I used to drink a lot more than I do now, we used to buy pint bottles of rum at the liquor store. Put it in the back of your pants between your belt and the small of your back, they won't frisk that part of you, untuck your shirt to cover the top of the bottle if you're not wearing a jacket. Once inside, just buy a Coke and you've got rum and cokes! Of course also I used to buy 2 warm six packs (Tall Boys) very cheap at the supermarket, put them in a cooler with ice, put that in the trunk of my car and drink about 8 of them in the parking lot before the game. Saved a lot of money on beer during the game. Also caused me to get way too sloshed a few times, and forget who won or lost the game! We used to save a lot of money also by knowing the right people at the stadium. I won't name which stadium, but we used to get in without tickets by handing the ticket taker a $5 bill instead of a ticket... There are ushers you can bribe to allow you to move down to much better seats... We once had a friend who was a waitress in the luxury suites. We would go see her around the second inning, and she would get us into one of the suites that was not full that day. TEN BUCKS A MAN and we'd get unlimited beer, food, private suite! It was a great deal, but again, sometimes it would turn into such a party that we forgot to pay close attention to the game!

[Gary Dunaier]

my dad usually pays for everything when I go to a game with him, so that's how I save money going to a game. I go with my dad.

I want to go to a game with someone and have them pay for everything. :pray:

[aqib]

In Cleveland the key is street parking. That will save you anywhere from $6-20. If there are multiple events going on downtown (e.g. Tribe and Cavs at the same time) the parking lots really jack up the rates but street parking is always there if you are willing to walk for 10 minutes. Then there is eating before the game. If you want to save on the actual tickets you can get upper deck seats for $6 and you can stand on home run porch or the batters eye in CF and have a good view.

Although my favorite was when there was a 4 hour rain delay I was going downtown and stopped by the stadium when they restarted and could see the game from the gates just beyond left field.

[offthewall]

with the glut of tickets on stubhub i always check there 2 days before the game. almost always get below face (sometimes way below face), plus no ticketmaster charges.

recently realized i get another 5% off if i go to stubhub through this website

http://www.cashbaq.com/?refer=480046

go under the events tab on the left hand side, click it and you will see the stubhub link. always good to check prices here before going to the team's website.

[hcorday]

At Fenway, everything is super-expensive, of course. We park at the Prudential Center garage ($16), eat dinner at the food court there, or at a restaurant on Boylston Street, then walk up to the game (it takes about 20 min). They do allow you to bring sealed water bottles in, and we refill them at a bubbler. If we get hungry during the game, ice cream is usually the "cheapest" snack.

[skobabe8]

Went to USCF on Friday and carried in a Subway footlong with a bag of chips in a see-through ziplock. No problems whatsoever.

They also have the designated driver free beverages.

[Lafferty Daniel]

--------------------


I thought Dodger stadium's ushers were so strict? at least thats what i heard. heard you couldnt move between levels, had to enter the stadium level where your seat is, etc.

You can move from the Top Deck to the Reserved Level without the ushers checking your ticket. It's also possible to move down to the field level on fireworks night, but most ushers might not let you down until the end of the game. You are correct though, you have to enter D.S. based on which level you are sitting.

[kevin in az]

I'm not much of a beer drinker but I do love to drink at ballgames. I ordered a very cool flask online a few years back. It's a pair of binoculars. There are 2 seperate compartments (left eye - right eye). Each compartment holds 8 oz of fluid. I fill one side with Captain Morgan, the other side with Crown Royal. I buy a couple of cokes at the game and I'm all set. I bring my own peanuts (you can get a huge bag for $2 at Safeway)...

Lafferty I nearly lost my morning coffee when I read about your wife's tampons...GREAT IDEA! :clapping

[MetsFanSince66]

I'm not much of a beer drinker but I do love to drink at ballgames. I ordered a very cool flask online a few years back. It's a pair of binoculars. There are 2 seperate compartments (left eye - right eye). Each compartment holds 8 oz of fluid. I fill one side with Captain Morgan, the other side with Crown Royal. I buy a couple of cokes at the game and I'm all set. I bring my own peanuts (you can get a huge bag for $2 at Safeway)...

Lafferty I nearly lost my morning coffee when I read about your wife's tampons...GREAT IDEA! :clapping


Binocular flask!!! What a great idea!!!! It's funny, I have an Aunt who is a huuuuuge bird watching fan. She loves her booze too. Maybe she's been knocking back a few drinks all these years. :rofl:

[penncentralpete]

My wife Linda and I have false cellphones (actually flasks). We fill them with scotch and bring in two sealed bottles of water...............and we're all set. Funny how we each keep getting calls during the games.

[Lafferty Daniel]

Love the flask ideas. :thumbsup:

[ChineseDemocracy]

You can move from the Top Deck to the Reserved Level without the ushers checking your ticket. It's also possible to move down to the field level on fireworks night, but most ushers might not let you down until the end of the game. You are correct though, you have to enter D.S. based on which level you are sitting.

Last Saturday, when I was moving about from the club level down to the field level, they had a security guard blocking the escalator. I had to present them my ticket to get back to the field level.

But I noticed something strange. The ushers never asked me to show them my ticket to get into certain sections. It used to be like prison before, but things have changed.

[VekterNYM]

Meh, I screwed up.

My friends and I are taking a trip to Cleveland and Pittsburgh in two weeks, and I purchased Sec 119 at PNC for roughly $32 a ticket (after fees), when I was curious later on, I checked and I could've had Section 316 for $20 a seat (after fees).

I've could've saved $12 on this trip. It is eating me up a bit, but I'll enjoy my lower level seats at PNC.

[CitiFieldIsNoShea]

One of my favorite tricks at the ballpark to put myself in the best seat while taking as little out of my 401K as possible is as follows:

Thanks to the dirty arrangement between major league teams and stubhub, a few hours before gametime, look for some of the seats in areas that are accessible to people with tickets for any seating area (basically, anywhere but club level in most parks) go all the way to the checkout page where it indicates not only the section and row, but the exact seat number. I write down a couple of seats and almost always because these seats are available so shortly before the event there is a good chance they are not going to be sold. I've employed this method four times so far at the Citi and it has not failed me yet. I've sat in seats I had no business being in but enjoyed the game for nine full innings knowing I beat the system.

Another key to pulling off landing in good seats is to mill around on the concourse until an usher begins to walk people down to their seats and just slowly make your way down the walkway as he takes them down and you can sneak into seats without being bothered.

And if nothing else, slip the usher a 10-spot and they'll watch out for you, greasing the palms is what makes society go.

[ChineseDemocracy]

I was just thinking about this very same thing.

Here's my version:

You go to a ballyard in which catching BP from the field level isn't considered a capital offense. By the time that's over, you go to the concession stands to avoid being caught by ushers, and by the time they are done conducting their sweeps, you are good to go.

[mazaratirick07]

man my silver Twins flask seems so weak now... kev i bought mine on ebay for 12 bucks used it 2 times but them i realized it did not hold enough booze to get me through a sunny day at the dome and when it was empty i had to cary the thing around all day.. so i have opted to bring in a whole bottle..

hopefully next year TF will keep me alil more sober