Going to a baseball game is a fun experience for many fans. The excitement of watching your favorite team play in person can’t be beat. However, baseball tickets aren’t always cheap, especially if you want good seats. This leads many fans to wonder if it’s less expensive to buy tickets at the stadium on game day rather than purchasing them in advance online or from a ticket broker.
Ticket Prices at the Stadium vs Online
In general, buying tickets on game day at the stadium box office is more expensive than getting them in advance online. Here are some of the main reasons why:
- Convenience fees – Online ticket sellers like Ticketmaster often charge service, processing, or convenience fees for each ticket purchased. This can add a significant amount per ticket. At the stadium box office, there are no extra convenience fees.
- Dynamic pricing – Many MLB teams now use dynamic pricing, meaning ticket prices fluctuate based on demand. As game day approaches and fewer tickets are available, prices typically go up. Buying early locks in a lower price.
- Box office staff – The box office at the stadium needs to employ ticket sellers. This labor cost gets built into the ticket price. Online sellers have lower overhead.
There can be some exceptions where same day tickets are cheaper such as for low demand games or last minute ticket releases. However, generally you’ll pay more at the gate.
Average Ticket Price Data
Here is some data on average 2021 regular season MLB ticket prices from Statista comparing the stadium box office to online resellers:
Buy Location | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Online reseller | $89 |
Stadium box office | $92 |
On average, tickets bought online were $3 cheaper. This likely underestimates the full difference in costs since it excludes convenience fees charged by many online ticket companies.
When Buying at the Stadium Makes Sense
While generally more expensive, there are some situations where buying baseball tickets on game day at the ballpark can be the better option:
Last Minute Deals
As game time gets closer, especially if bad weather is forecasted, some teams will discount select tickets just to get more fans in the seats. Dynamic pricing results in dropping prices as demand decreases. If you live close by and can wait until the last minute, big discounts can sometimes be found at the box office.
Sold Out Games
For the biggest games and rivalry matchups, tickets often sell out far in advance. If it’s a game you really want to attend, the box office may have standing room only tickets or seats that were held back from online sales available. The prices will still be high due to immense demand, but it may be your only option.
Avoiding Fees
This was touched on earlier, but bypassing all the extra fees online ticket companies charge is a big factor. You’ll pay face value at the stadium box office. Depending on the number and size of fees for an online purchase, this can result in major savings.
Ticket Upgrades
Sometimes stadium workers will upgrade seats for free if better ones are still available near game time. They want to fill in seats towards the front to make the stadium look more full on TV. Asking nicely at the box office if any upgrades are available can score you a spontaneous deal.
Tips for Buying at the Ballpark
If you do plan to buy tickets on game day at the stadium, here are some tips to get the best value and experience:
- Arrive early – Get to the box office at least 1-2 hours before first pitch to take advantage of early deals and availability before sell outs.
- Ask about standing room only tickets – These tickets are not always advertised but allow you to get in the door cheaply.
- Be flexible on seat location – Take whatever seats are open instead of being picky. Moving down later is sometimes an option.
- Check online prices first – Compare the online prices including fees to the box office prices listed to determine the better deal.
- Inspect tickets before leaving – Make sure you received what you paid for. Also check for any seat upgrades.
Other Ways to Get Cheap Baseball Tickets
Beyond buying at the stadium box office, here are some other ways to get discounted baseball tickets:
Ticket Resale Sites
Sites like StubHub let fans resell tickets they can’t use. As game day approaches, prices typically drop as sellers want to offload unused tickets.
Team Partner Sites
Many teams partner with ticketing sites and offer special fan appreciation discounts or coupon codes just for using their platform.
Group Tickets
Getting a group of 10-20 people together can unlock bulk ticket discounts. This is a popular option for youth sport teams, schools, and community groups.
Season Tickets
For the most diehard fans, season tickets offer entry to every home game at the lowest average cost per ticket. Teams offer payment plans to make this more affordable.
The Cheapest Day to Buy Tickets
Based on aggregated online ticket price data analysis, the cheapest days and times to purchase MLB tickets are:
- Cheapest Day: Tuesday afternoons around 1-2pm local time for the home team.
- Cheapest Time: The hours leading up to midnight tend to have the lowest prices as seller urgency increases.
For even better deals, look for Tuesday afternoon games the day before the game when demand is lowest.
Paying in Cash
Another potential way to save a little extra on baseball tickets is paying in cash at the stadium box office. Some teams charge slightly higher prices for using a credit card to offset merchant processing fees.
The difference is usually only a dollar or two at most per ticket. But for a large group, the savings can add up. Just be sure to hit the ATM on the way to ensure you have enough cash on hand to cover your purchase.
Conclusion
Baseball fans love to see their favorite team play live, but ticket costs can add up quickly. Getting the best deals involves advance planning and being flexible.
Buying tickets online, especially well in advance of the game, is typically the most affordable option thanks to lower prices and avoiding extra fees. But for last minute deals or hard to find tickets, the stadium box office is worth checking even if you’ll pay more overall.
With dynamic pricing and surcharges continuing to rise, take advantage of every strategy you can to keep seeing MLB games without breaking the bank!