How to Save Money at a Major League Baseball Game

A phenomenal friend of mine, Matthew Stewart, so sweetly agreed to do a guest post on one of his favorite activities - heading to a summer baseball game!  And because he knows that we don't do anything at full price, he offered to share a few "pro tips" for how to save a little money when you head out the ball park this summer!

As the weather warms up (finally!) and families are beginning to plan summer outings, many plans might include visiting a Major League Ballpark. After all, what says summer more than a hot dog, sunshine and the national pastime?

Going to a game, especially with a family can be expensive. Even going to games as a 20-something with friends can sometimes be pricey. Whatever situation you are in, there are several ways to save when you head to the ball park.


Tickets:

Tickets are the most important thing for a baseball game, because, let’s face it, without a ticket you can’t get in. Here are some money saving tips to save big on tickets

• Buy tickets in person

Buying tickets in person saves the added fees when purchasing on your favorite team;s website. These fees, usually, processing fees, convenience fees and possibility a printing fee are typically between $3 - $10 and add up quickly. In some cases, these fees might cost more than the face value of your ticket.

• Visit Stubhub.com

If buying tickets the day of the game isn’t in your plans, visit Stubhub.com. Most tickets are usually under face value (minus marquee games). Although you pay a slight fee & a delivery fee, in most cases this route is cheaper than buying on your team's site. Stubhub is an industry leader in safety and security for tickets, and offering a fan protect guarantee there is no worry about receiving counterfeit tickets.

• Sit in the cheap seats!

Cheap seats don’t always mean a bad view, especially in many of the brand new ballparks.  The cheap seats in newer ballparks, are in some cases, closer to the more expensive seats in older ballparks. With ticket prices usually costing less than $15 and some under $10, it’s a deal that can’t be beat. As an additional bonus there are generally less people in the upper deck so you can sit a seat or two apart - & many of the newer stadiums offer panoramic views of downtown cities. (think PNC Park in Pittsburgh)

• Look for ticket discounts

Have a college ID? How about a AAA card? Senior Citizen? Active Military? Many teams offer special discounts on tickets to different groups. Check out your favorite team's website to see what offers are available and when you can take advantage of them.


Parking:

Another easy way to save some money when planning a trip to the ballpark is parking.

• Use Public Transportation if available

Not only will it be cheaper than paying to park, it will also save you money when you go to fill up your car.

• Park a couple blocks away

Parking across the ballpark might be good for convenience but it’s always more expensive. I’ve seen spots cost as much as $50 to be a few footsteps from the ballpark.  Parking a few blocks away is always cheaper and in most cases is less than $20; the farther away you go, the cheaper it is. Plus it gives you a chance for some exercise, perfect before & after sitting in a seat for 3 hours.


Food:

Concession sales on game day are the biggest source of income, so obviously whatever the teams can do to limit the outside food, they are going to do. Many stadiums do allow unopened water and bags of peanuts purchased outside the stadium to be brought in. Traditionally, these products are cheaper outside the gates than inside. Many teams are now offering all you can eat seats, which gets you a game ticket and all you can eat hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, soda, & ice cream.

Another great way to save on food is to tailgate before the game. Although tailgating isn’t as popular as it is during football season, it is still popular in many areas (Philadelphia, for one). Having a full stomach on items you’ve purchased and brought from home will save on the cost of eating food once you get inside the stadium. As a caution: some parking lots don’t allow tailgating (open grills), be sure to ask before you park.


Go to a Minor League game:

With over 200 teams in the United States, there is a good chance that there is a team in your area. Minor League Baseball is geared more toward families and is therefore, easier on the budget. Many tickets to these games are less than $15 and teams are always offering exciting promotions. Parking & concessions are much cheaper than their Major League counterparts. While the level of talent is below the major leagues, -players are much more fan-friendly & the opportunity to see a major league player who may be rehabbing an injury is always a possibility.

As has been mentioned on this blog, Kraft is offering a B1G1 ticket deal on all Tuesday home games. All you need to do is bring a Kraft Singles wrapper to the ticket window. Some teams don’t take part in this promotion, so be sure to check if your team does.

Going to a baseball game doesn’t have to break the bank this summer. Hopefully some of these ideas are useful and will help you hit a home run this summer at the ballpark!

To read more insightful thoughts about baseball during baseball season, follow Matthew Stewart on twitter @stewmj