While the Yankees are the most notorious for high-priced tickets, most major league teams have been steadily hiking ticket prices, not to mention concession prices, parking prices, and just about everything else.
But there are alternatives. Minor league baseball features many players who will go on to the “show”, At a fraction of the price. The San Jose Giants, for example, a single A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, have ticket prices ranging from $7 to $15, along with $5 beer. With great barbecue, which for real bargain hunters is sold at a discount in the late innings.
And depending where you are in North America, there are many summer teams and tournaments featuring mostly college players, at prices that make minor league ball look expensive.
I just spent the weekend in Kamloops, British Columbia. At the 37th Annual Kamloops International Baseball Tournament. (And OK, my son was pitching for the Midnight Sun Alaska Goldpanners.) But the whole weekend with a super saver plane ticket from San Francisco and three nights hotel was still a fraction of the cost of one of those Yankee box seats. With friendly, knowledgeable fans and a great view of the nearby mountains.
As to the caliber of players, it varied, but you never know. Four years ago, the Seattle Studs, one of the participants, showed up with a kid named Tim Lincecum. As to the prices…$5 for admission, $5 for a beef sandwich, $2.50 for a hot dog, $1.25 for a soda. And $4 for a beer. Canadian.
Plus there was room for children to run around, even on the field after the tournament was over,and I didn’t see a player refuse an autograph.
The Kamloops Tournament won’t happen again until next year, but the point of this post is that these tournaments are happening all over, all summer. And there are summer college leagues everywhere. The Cape Cod League is probably the most renowned, but others include the Northwoods League (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Ontario, Canada,) and the Alaska League
Minor league teams are even more numerous. While the Durham Bulls might be the most famous, it’s hard to imagine being more than a short drive from some stadium. These days too, if you’re traveling, it’s an easy matter to Google local teams.
Besides saving money, watching fun baseball, you and your kids might get the chance to say something like, “yeah, so and so, I knew he was going to be an major league All-Star when I saw him in Kamloops.”
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
