The 7 most and least expensive stadiums to watch a Major League Baseball game
By Elyssa Kirkham/GOBankingRates
The 2016 Major League Baseball season opened April 3 with exciting matchups -- including a 2015 World Series rematch between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets -- and some not-so-exciting costs for fans. Some MLB stadiums cater to baseball fans with affordable tickets and great food, but others play hardball with fans' wallets.
The average cost of spending the day at the ballpark is $77.92 for two people, according to a GOBankingRates study of MLB stadium prices. This total includes the following costs:
- Two tickets: $41.41
- Two hot dogs: $8.73
- Two beers: $11.89
- Parking: $15.89
Prices differ greatly from ballpark to ballpark, with fans who attend a game at the cheapest stadium paying about $110 less on average than fans who visit the most expensive stadium -- and that's not even considering the cost for souvenirs like baseball jerseys.
Click through to see how the stadiums rank from least to most expensive and find out whether going to a game at your local MLB stadium is a home run for your budget or a total washout.
This article was originally published by GOBankingRates.
Least expensive: Los Angeles Angels game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, $47.60
- Two tickets: $19.60
- Two hot dogs: $9
- Two beers: $9
- Parking: $10
Originally built to house the then-Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, the stadium in Anaheim was completely renovated from 1996 to 1998 for $100 million to become a baseball-only facility. Angel Stadium of Anaheim has a capacity of 45,050 seats and the lowest per-game prices on season tickets, averaging $9.80 each. These cheap tickets, along with lower prices on beer ($4.50 each) and parking, make Angel Stadium the most affordable ballpark, where catching an MLB game is less than $50 for two people.
Least expensive: Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium, $55.10
- Two tickets: $21.60
- Two hot dogs: $11
- Two beers: $12.50
- Parking: $10
Built in three years to open in 1962, Dodger Stadium cost $23 million in private financing. Dodger Stadium is the third-oldest continually used baseball stadium in Major League Baseball and the biggest. Sitting on 300 acres of land, it seats 56,000. It has also been home to some of the league's greatest pitchers, from Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax to current star Clayton Kershaw.
Dodger Stadium offers some of the lowest prices overall with cheaper season tickets averaging $10.80 a game. Refreshments cost more than average, however, with the famous Dodger Dogs among the most expensive at $5.50 apiece.
Least expensive: Arizona Diamondbacks game at Chase Field, $57.93
- Two tickets: $34.43
- Two hot dogs: $5.50
- Two beers: $8
- Parking: $10
Located in downtown Phoenix, Chase Field was constructed in 1998 and cost $354 million to build. It seats up to 48,633 and has attracted fans with athletes such as Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. Attending one Diamondbacks game averages $17.21 per person with one of the cheaper season ticket options. While taking in a game, Diamondbacks fans can also enjoy the ballpark's $4 beer prices, the lowest in this study.
Least expensive: Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field, $59.30
- Two tickets: $24.80
- Two hot dogs: $9.50
- Two beers: $12
- Parking: $13
Colorado Rockies fans pay some of the lowest admission fees, with cheaper Coors Field tickets for a season averaging $12.40 per game. Coors Field's concession prices are about average, and food options include Rocky Mountain Oysters (fried bull testicles), according to Bleacher Report.
Least expensive: Minnesota Twins game at Target Field, $60.40
- Two tickets: $30.40
- Two hot dogs: $9
- Two beers: $15
- Parking: $6
Minnesota Twins star players have included Hall of Famers Kirby Puckett and slugger Harmon Killebrew, but only newer players, such as 2015 All-Star Brian Dozier, have played at Target Field in Minneapolis, which had its inaugural season in 2010.
Target Field offers 30 percent fewer seats than the previous Twins ballpark, the Metrodome, but ticket prices are still low -- $15.20 a game on average for cheaper season tickets. The stadium has one of the highest prices per beer, $7.50, but it also has the lowest parking price, just $6, of any stadium that charges for parking.
Least expensive: Cincinnati Reds game at Great American Ball Park, $61.30
- Two tickets: $28.80
- Two hot dogs: $2
- Two beers: $10.50
- Parking: $20
The Great American Ball Park is home to the Cincinnati Reds, the first official baseball franchise, whose most famous stars have included player and manager Pete Rose, second baseman Joe Morgan, right fielder Frank Robinson, and catcher Johnny Bench.
The stadium is noted for its innovative features, beautiful views and affordable seating, according to MLB.com. Its low-cost season tickets average $14.40 a game. The Great American Ball Park charges more for parking but also has the cheapest hot dogs of any stadium at just $1.
Least expensive: Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park, $62.43
- Two tickets: $29.93
- Two hot dogs: $3.25
- Two beers: $11
- Parking: $15
Pittsburgh Pirates fans are gearing up to build on the franchise's rich history, which includes notable baseball players such as early baseball legend Honus Wagner, pitcher Willie Stargell, and the first Latin American National Baseball Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente. Fans attending games at PNC Park can get cheaper season tickets that average just under $15 a game, and beer and hot dogs are also relatively inexpensive.
Not only is PNC Park one of the cheapest baseball stadiums for fans, it's also among the best according to rankings from sports magazine Athlon. The $262 million park opened in 2001 and seats more than 38,000.
Most expensive: San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park, $90.81
- Two tickets: $44.81
- Two hot dogs: $11
- Two beers: $14
- Parking: $21
AT&T Park is considered one of the best ballparks in America because most seats have spectacular views. The San Francisco Giants ranked No. 2 for most loyal fanbase by Forbes and had the third-highest attendance per game during the 2015 season, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
The team's longtime popularity thanks to stars such as hard-hitter Barry Bonds and Giants legend Willie Mays has likely been boosted by the Giants' recent success, including World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014. In fact, the Giants have sold out the 41,503-seat AT&T Park every season since 2010, according to Forbes. The team's tickets are more expensive than most, and parking, hot dog and beer prices are among the highest charged at any MLB ballpark.
Most expensive: New York Mets game at Citi Field, $94.19
- Two tickets: $48.19
- Two hot dogs: $12.50
- Two beers: $11.50
- Parking: $22
Citi Field opened in 2009 to replace Shea Stadium, the New York Mets' home since 1964, where star players such as pitcher Tom Seaver made baseball history. Located in Queens, Citi Field offers seating for 41,800 baseball fans.
Ticket prices are on the high end, and Citi Field's concessions are among the priciest, such as its $6.25 hot dog.
Most expensive: Seattle Mariners game at Safeco Field, $94.71
- Two tickets: $53.71
- Two hot dogs: $9
- Two beers: $12
- Parking: $20
Home to the Seattle Mariners, Safeco Field has hosted great players such as Ken Griffey Jr. It has a capacity of 47,000 and is one of the most expensive places to watch a game. A hot dog at this stadium costs $4.50, but Safeco Field also offers sushi and other seafood treats, which make Safeco the second-best stadium for food, according to Bleacher Report.
Most expensive: Toronto Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre, $109.38
- Two tickets: $63.20
- Two hot dogs: $9.96
- Two beers: $13.58
- Parking: $22.64
Toronto Blue Jays tickets are pricey, and so are beer, hot dogs and parking at Rogers Centre. One of the older ballparks still in use, Rogers Centre cost $500 million to construct has been in use since 1989. Few improvements have been made to the park, making it feel outdated, according to Athlon. Even though it doesn't have the same modern features as many newer ballparks, it's still one of the most expensive places to catch an MLB game, with average season ticket prices at $31.60 a game.
Most expensive: New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium, $109.40
- Two tickets: $56.40
- Two hot dogs: $6
- Two beers: $12
- Parking: $35
The original historic Yankee Stadium stood in the Bronx from 1923 to 2008 and was the home field of some of baseball's biggest legends, including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Dave Winfield, and Derek Jeter. The new Yankee Stadium, which seats 50,287, cost $1.3 billion to build and opened in 2009. In 2014, an MLB player's poll ranked it as the No. 1 toughest stadium to play in during baseball playoffs, according to Bleacher Report.
Even with ample seating, however, ticket prices are on the high end. The stadium's cheapest season tickets average $28.20 a game. Yankees fans should opt for public transit when possible because the stadium's parking fee is one of the two most expensive in the league.
Most expensive: Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, $116.06
- Two tickets: $64.06
- Two hot dogs: $11.50
- Two beers: $15.50
- Parking: $25
Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is one of the most expensive and oldest ballparks to visit.
Nicknamed "The Friendly Confines," Wrigley Field seating can accommodate up to 41,160 fans, and the average price per game for cheaper season tickets is just over $32. Concessions are priced high as well. A single beer costs $7.75, the highest price of any baseball stadium. For something unique, try the North Side Twist, a giant pretzel that comes with three different dipping sauces.
Most expensive: Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, $157
- Two tickets: $96
- Two hot dogs: $10.50
- Two beers: $15.50
- Parking: $35
Fenway Park opened in 1912, making it the oldest baseball stadium in use today. Over the decades, Boston Red Sox legends such as pitcher Roger Clemens, left fielder Ted Williams, third baseman Wade Boggs and left fielder Carl Yastrzemski have played at Fenway. The home of the Red Sox is also one of the best and most popular ballparks because of its unique, classic atmosphere and recognizable features, such as the left field, four-story wall known as the Green Monster.
Catching a Red Sox game in the historic ballpark isn't cheap. Even the lowest-priced season tickets average $48 a game, which is the highest ticket price of any stadium surveyed. Fenway Park also has the highest prices on parking and beer. And a trip to Fenway wouldn't be complete without indulging in a distinctive Fenway Frank, even if they are $5.25 each.