Cheap Dates - Minor league baseball game

Aug 3rd, 2007 by David Murphy-Colonna | Scroll down for comments

We all know being in a relationship can be pretty expensive at times. After a week of work, most of us like to relax and maybe do a little something over the weekend to unwind. Sometimes this little something with our significant other can turn into a big financial problem.

This is where CashBulge comes in with Cheap Dates, a new mini series I plan to run every weekend for a the next couple of weeks. I know it may be tough to consistently find fun and cool dates each weekend for you and your mate but I’m going to give it a try.

This week I am exploring the prices and fun factor of a Minor League Baseball Game. This date isn’t only for you and your mate, it can also be a family trip. So get your gloves and baseball hats ready because we are going to the ball park this weekend.

Being from the New York metro area I am going to compare the prices at the stadium of a Minor League Baseball team, the Newark Bears from Newark, New Jersey, and the Major League Baseball team the New York Yankees. I know using the prices Yankee Stadium as an example is an extreme, but most Major League baseball stadiums charge about the same for tickets, snacks, etc.

Tickets.

Lets start with ticket prices. Tickets for a Yankee game vary from $12 for bleachers, about $20 dollars for upper deck, and about $70 dollars from decent box seats but still not in the section closest to the field. Field level seats run for about $300. These can be quite pricey, especially if you want to get close to the field.

On the other hand the Newark Bears ticket prices are $7 dollars for bleachers, and $9 dollars for everything else including field level. So you can get right up to the action and maybe even catch a foul ball. A great deal.

Food

Food is another big expense at a ballpark.

At Yankee Stadium a hot dog is $4.75 while at Newark Bears Stadium hot dogs are $3.00.

A beer at Yankee Stadium is $8 and a Beer at the Newark Bears stadium is $5.

And finally water is $4 dollars in Yankee Stadium and $3 in the Newark Bears Stadium.

I know some of these prices aren’t a huge difference, but it can all add up after paying for tickets and all.

Click here to see all of the prices at the Newark Bears’ Stadium.

Atmosphere

Although it is obvious that Yankee Stadium probably has a more electric atmosphere then any baseball stadium in America, do not count out the Minor League ball parks for a fun and exciting atmosphere. Yes, Major League ball parks are great when they are filled with people and the roar of the crowd sweeps through the stadium. And you also get to watch some of the best players in the world.

But for a date or a family trip, a Minor League ballpark is just as fun. You can get right up to the action without having to worry about paying hundreds of dollars. The kids can get autographs and some game balls too. They may also have games, near the refresment stands for the little ones as well, most minor league ballparks I have been to do. Minor league stadiums also aren’t too cramped with people so you can comfortably enjoy a game with your significant other for a little fun date.

Travel & Parking

Depending on where you live, obviously will dictate your traveling arrangements. In most major cities you will also be able to take public transportation to many Major League ball parks. I doubt there is guaranteed transportation to minor league ball parks. In Newark there is but, in smaller cities/towns around the country there may not be.

And as far as parking, the lots around Yankee Stadium charge about $20. At the Newark Bear’s Stadium its around $5, at the most. I don’t remember exaclty how much, and they don’t have it posted on the website but most minor league stadiums I have been too have charge a low fee for parking.

Overall, I would never turn down a good ticket to a major league baseball game, but I probably wouldn’t turn down a nice day at a minor league baseball park either. Both have their perks, but have a huge difference in price. So if you are looking for something to do this weekend. Look around for a minor league baseball park within your area, you can enjoy a good game with friends, family, or your significant other an get a bang for your buck. Happy travels this weekend.

David Murphy-Colonna posted this article under Series - Cheap Dates on Friday, August 3rd, 2007 at 10:45 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment or trackback from your own site. View Technorati Linkbacks.