MLB Stadiums

In 2004 I took my son and his Grandmother to a game at Dodger Stadium in which the atmosphere was completely family friendly. Loved every minute of it.

On a recent trip, however, the lower level seating has skyrocketed to more than $250 a ticket. Fans were not allowed to approach the field to get autographs unless you had a ticket for these areas. Additionally, these $250 seats were only 1/4 filled. What gives in four years.

I know Major League Baseball has gone corporate. Practically every team has sold their existence to the corporate power without giving families the ability to recover from this loss. Only a few stadiums still have the family at its core (McAfee, Busch, Tropicana, Minute Maid, Coors to name a few). But what about Shea, Dodger, Yankee, Fenway etc.

If you go to a game most families are seated up on the upper deck trying to stuff themselves within the not so friendly confines. Plus the prices of concessions has not allowed the average family to even approach season tickets.

What I have seen is throughout the 26 stadiums I have visited over 4 years is a tide turning to the point where people go to baseball stadiums as an occasional trip. With most of these people fans of the away team. Unless the family is seated in the top deck, the usual baseball season ticket holder has gone.

Let's just say hypothetically that the corporate deduction is taken away for entertainment such as baseball... what will happen to the fans? As those who have gone to a Yankee game. The bleachers and upper deck are full. Lower field regions are practically empty.

So what gives? Maybe the Dodgers will eventually dodge the average fan out of existence.

Cheers