Increased Staff Salaries Result in Higher Ticket Costs for Dodger Stadium Spectators
Rewritten Article:
Title: Beyond Your Wildest Dreams: The Steep Cost of Being a Dodgers Fan
Catching a game at Dodger Stadium isn't a walk in the park - especially for your wallet!
The Los Angeles Dodgers, determined to defend their 2024 World Series title, boast the highest ticket prices among all 30 major league teams, according to a study published in The Los Angeles Times.
The study, released before Opening Day, paints a not-so-cheerful picture for a family of four, estimating the cost of attending a Dodger home game this year at an eye-watering $399.68. This isn't your run-of-the-mill price tag - it includes parking, four discounted tickets, four hot dogs, two beers, and two sodas, but it's a jaw-dropping figure far exceeding the league average of $208 for the same package.
Ominously, this hefty sum seems to mirror the team's whopping player payroll, projected to reach an all-time high of $399 million by Roster Resource.
Defending the crown one more time would be quite a feat, as no team has managed to do so since the Yankees won their third straight in 2001. A successful defense would not only mean bragging rights but also a healthy financial boost for the team and its players.
The Golden Triumvirate
With a seating capacity of 56,000, Dodger Stadium remains the major leagues' largest stadium, often hosting a sell-out crowd, thanks in part to its triple-MVP lineup - Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. All three carry hefty contracts with significant deferred payments.
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Juan Soto of the New York Mets is the only player with a contract as large as Ohtani's.
Ohtani made headlines by signing a 10-year, $700 million contract as a free agent before the 2024 season, then claimed his second straight MVP trophy, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only men to win the award in both leagues.
The team later bolstered its international image by signing two more stars from the Japanese majors - starting pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaski. Yamamoto's contract stands as the largest ever given to a pitcher, a whopping $325 million for 12 seasons.
In addition, nearly a dozen high-profile free agents, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, joined the team on the heels of its 2024 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
Naturally, ticket prices have soared into orbit alongside the payroll.
According to Team Marketing Report, the Dodgers had an average ticket price of just $29 as recently as 2015. Now, their cheapest prices range from $38 to $156, according to Team Marketing Report, and that's just for one ticket - not an entire family-friendly package with food and parking.
Manfred's Commentary
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred isn't surprised by these developments.
"The Dodgers have made a significant financial investment in their players, and they need to operate a business that can support that massive financial commitment," Manfred acknowledged to Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times.
Manfred insists there's no affordability issue - at least outside of Dodger Stadium. He notes that tickets for $20 or less were available for 70% of all games last year, but no Dodgers tickets are available at that price in 2025.
Overall, attendance at baseball games has increased every year since the pandemic season of 2020, and the teams combined to sell 71 million seats last season.
"If we had an affordability problem, I think you would see it in terms of those numbers," Manfred said. "The numbers tell you the opposite."
On the other hand, the three big spenders last winter - the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets - shelled out more than the other 27 teams combined. This discrepancy has raised questions about whether the have-nots might join forces to lock out players when the current Basic Agreement between labor and management expires on Dec. 1, 2026.
For all teams, ticket prices adjust according to supply and demand. There's even one game at Dodger Stadium priced at $38, but that's a midweek afternoon matchup against the Florida Marlins, one of the league's weakest teams, and when schools are still in session.
Four seats for that game would still cost $249.96, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Discounted Tickets
According to team president Stan Kasten, the Dodgers work with Major League Baseball to distribute free or discounted tickets to fans who can't afford the typical sky-high prices. Through the Commissioner's Community Initiative, the Dodgers Foundation distributes 64,000 tickets annually.
"We've managed to grow and even maintain our fan base," Kasten said. "We're proud of that and put great effort into it."
However, Dodger Stadium remains an expensive destination. Even the cost of a hot dog is more expensive there ($7.99) than it is at the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field in Phoenix ($2.99).
The Los Angeles Times suggests that Southern California baseball fans have a less pricey alternative at nearby Anaheim, where the Los Angeles Angels play. They offer a $44 family package, including four tickets, four hot dogs, and four drinks, for more than half their 81 home games. Parking costs just $20 there, about half the price at Dodger Stadium.
Unlike the Dodgers, who've consistently made the postseason, the Angels have missed it for 11 straight years. But owner Arte Moreno is determined to keep costs reasonable, saying, "I firmly believe there should be affordability. We want everyone to have access to the stadium."
Affordability isn't dead at selected Yankee games either, where corporate sponsors sometimes offer half-price tickets depending on supply and demand.
MLB maintains a dedicated fan value page on their website, featuring discounts, deals, and promotions. While many offers exist, bobbleheads, which have become highly sought-after collectibles, can lead to long lines and increased prices.
One Dodgers bobblehead even features Ohtani with his dog, Decoy.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers, with their high ticket prices, present a significant financial challenge for fans, especially those attending with a family.
- The Dodgers' steep ticket prices reflect their high player payroll, with players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman each carrying hefty contracts.
- Dodger Stadium, the largest stadium in the major leagues, continues to attract sell-out crowds, contributing to the high costs of attendance.
- Despite the high costs, teams across the MLB, including the Dodgers, have seen increasing attendance at baseball games in recent years, indicating a growing interest in the sport.
- Affordability remains a concern for some fans, with fewer affordable ticket options available for Dodgers games compared to other teams, but initiatives like the Commissioner's Community Initiative and discounted ticket programs aim to make sports more accessible to a wider audience.
