Fun Day at the Ballpark

Picture this: you are sitting on your couch on a Saturday morning contemplating what you would like to do this weekend. You think to yourself, “Hey self, I would love to go check out a baseball game.” You take out your phone with an unparalleled level of excitement, determined to have a fun and eventful afternoon or night. As you begin perusing Ticketmaster or StubHub, you remember that you notice how expensive the games are, plus you are trying to save up for a trip to Europe over New Years.

With a heavy heart, you slowly put your phone back into your pocket and settle into your couch to binge the new season of Stranger Things or Suburra. Sounds "fun", right? Well, what if I told you that you can go to baseball games at a reasonable rate? I know that you are thinking it’s impossible, but I assure you that it is possible!

Earlier this year, I was sitting on my phone and contemplating whether to go to a Phillies game, but concluded that it would cost me between $70-$100 after the ticket (with all of the fees included), parking, and food & drinks. This price range is a fairly conservative estimate for a typical ball game. I thought there must be a cost-effective way to experience the games, and there is: the Monthly Pass. The monthly passes offered by the Phillies, and many other Major League teams, offer an affordable way for you to attend multiple games throughout a specific month.

I bought two of those monthly passes this year at a total cost of $100.00, which translated to roughly $5.00 per ticket per game! While I was not guaranteed a seat at every game I attended, I was able to sit on the bleachers or on the various chairs that line the concourse at Citizens Bank Park. There was also an option to get a seating assignment on select passes where I was able to get a lower level seat without any additional fees. Now, remember that earlier $70-$100 per game I mentioned earlier? After doing the math, that is only about $35-$50 per game if you take food, drinks, and parking into account; not to mention that you should also save the environment & money by taking public transportation!

Some other tips to make your trip more cost-effective would be to eat before you go to the stadium. It is ridiculous to look at the amount vendors charge people, so I would advise you to stop at a Wawa (if you're from the mid-Atlantic) or your local Deli to get a hoagie (term for a sub or hero) before the game. The second tip is to limit yourself to one, at most two, beers in the ballpark. No vendor in the ballpark is cost-friendly when it comes to their beer, so you are better off pre-gaming or tailgating beforehand in order to get the same experience at an affordable rate. Lastly, I would recommend that you bring your own water to the game. I know from experience that Citizens Bank Park will allow you to bring in a water bottle. Make sure to check your local stadiums' rules online before bringing any liquids with you.

Your next baseball game is waiting, go enjoy it!