It is again time to analyze the annual Fan Cost Index (FCI)*, which compares the price for a family of four to attend a major league baseball game across the 30 franchises.
Comparable to their general position in annual payroll rankings, the St. Louis Cardinals hang at the bottom of the top third of the clubs, coming in at number nine, just up from tenth last year. The club’s FCI of $216.56 represents an uptick of 0.7 percent compared to 2009 and is the seventh increase in the last eight years.
| Busch III | Busch II | |||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |
| StL FCI | $216.56 | $214.72 | $217.28 | $209.23 | $207.21 | $177.66 | $170.45 | $164.04 |
| StL YTY | 0.9% | -1.2% | 3.8% | 0.8% | 10.6% | 4.2% | 0.9% | 6.6% |
| MLB rank | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| MLB avg. | $194.98 | $196.89 | $191.75 | $176.55 | $171.19 | $164.43 | $155.52 | $148.66 |
| MLB YTY | -0.7% | 3.2% | 8.3% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 5.6% | 2.0% | 3.3% |
| #1 FCI | $334.78 | $410.88 | $320.71 | $313.83 | $287.84 | $276.34 | $263.09 | $248.44 |
| Team | Boston | Yankees | Boston | Boston | Boston | Boston | Boston | Boston |
| #30 FCI | $115.24 | $114.24 | $136.91 | $123.42 | $120.35 | $119.85 | $108.83 | $94.62 |
| Team | Arizona | Arizona | TB | KC | KC | KC | Montreal | Montreal |
Overall, Cardinals FCIs have been pretty stable since the new ballpark opened in 2006. In fact, this year’s average ticket price of $30.14 is only slightly higher than the team’s average ticket price of $29.78 in 2006.
Across MLB, the average 1.5 percent ticket increase this year to $26.74 is the smallest jump since the FCI’s 1991 inception. That may have something to do with the fact that overall attendance in MLB was down 6 percent in 2009. Six teams cut their average ticket price, 13 stayed flat or showed an increase of less than one percent while 11 teams implemented increases. The Cubs rank first in average ticket price at $52.56. Moving into their new ballpark, Target Field, the Twins show the largest average ticket price increase by a huge margin, at 45 percent over 2009.
| 2010 | Avg ticket | Beer | Soft drink | Hot dog | Parking | Program | Cap | FCI |
| StL | $30.14 | $6.50 | $5.00 | $4.00 | $10.00 | $2.50 | $16.00 | $216.56 |
| MLB | $26.74 | $5.79 | $3.47 | $3.79 | $12.24 | $3.48 | $14.10 | $194.98 |
The average FCI across MLB of $194.98 represents a 0.7 percent decline compared to last year. This is the first overall drop in the average FCI since at least 2003. The best value in the game is the $115.24 it takes to see the Arizona Diamondbacks, lowest for the second year in a row.
With some high-end ticket price cuts made during last season, the New York Yankees gave up their 2009 place as having the highest FCI, dropping to third. Their AL East rival and long-time FCI leader, the Boston Red Sox, retook the top spot.
The FCIs of other teams in the NL Central rank as follows: Chicago Cubs (second, up from third), Houston Astros (12th, down from 11th), both with above-average FCIs. The other three are clustered near the bottom, but all increasing in a relative term from 2009: Milwaukee Brewers (23rd, up from 26th), Cincinnati Reds (25th, up from 27th) and Pittsburgh Pirates (28th, up from 29th).
* The FCI, developed by Team Marketing Report, is made up of the prices of two adult and two child average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two least expensive, adult-size adjustable caps.
Not every group of four would spend this much money, but it provides a consistent point of comparison across 30 teams over time.
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We often get discussion about payroll increases and whether the new stadium did bring them or should have brought them. If you look at the $10 a head jump from 2005 to 2006 that equates to $30+ million and that is before luxury suites etc. Payroll certainly didn’t keep up by that measure ( i do realizze the cards dont see a pure $30 million profit from that but its close). Add in increasing revenue from media sources (such as internet) and if the Cards owners were doing OK before they are raking it now. Easy to show “Pujols money” is available if they want to spend it.
What year did ticket surcharges and processing fees take hold – is that revenue included here?
I have no idea how Team Marketing Report assessed fees on top of ticket prices but I assume they are as consistent as they can be across the 30 teams.
I am not here to defend Cardinals ownership, but I do think it is necessary to remember they say they have an annual debt payment on the new stadium of $20 million. To focus on increased revenue without noting associated increased expense delivers a biased and incomplete view.
Having said that, to assume we understand the specifics of the team’s financial situation from the snippets we pick up from the media seems naive to me. Only WC seems able to ascertain all that!
Damn DeWallet and his cronies! What nerve they have trying to make a profit! It’s about time for some more outraged editorials in the paper to rile up the masses…
I wasn’t just looking at it from how it was addressed across the 30 teams but how it was addressed over time. If those fees weren’t present in 2003 and are now than true ticket prices have gone up even more than this chart. Whether the Cards get all or part of that I don’t know.
Don’t forget though that in addition to $20 million in debt payment they also got a $350 million asset. They never bring that up. That’s like saying my income went up 30% but not really because I bought a bigger house and my house payment went up. I think most people would say you are much better off financially in that scenario.
I dont begrudge them a profit. I only want honesty on their part.
You will never get the honesty you seek until the day (that will most likely never come) that MLB opens up their books. If that is what you want from the Cardinals, your expectations are unrealistic.
And then there the real reason, after a 30 million dollar upgrade to old Bush, that the Cardinals finance “their own stadium”…….. A real reason they stall on Cardinal village. If I were to say much more about that, in less that cryptic statements, I could earn a visit from well meaning professionals…………. I could care less. It is the foundation for some “imaginative speculations though”…….Brian.
Silva is pitching for the Cubs. The guy should be destroyed by the Reds. The Cubs are keeping the pressure on Homer and will probably out score the Reds………. 7+ runs is my guess.
Ryan batting 8th…….first base is open………pitcher on deck……..and he is looking for something to pull………… looks at two excellent chances when I’m surprised he got one. He’s wearing the demotion.
Lohse is missing his spots. Its only a matter of time before he gives it up.
Ludwick’s step in move has already been neutralized.
Is Silva revived or is Cinci that bad?
The last pitcher they saw was Motte, so Silva looks good.
Lohse’s season ERA is 7.50 as of now. Not the worst on the team. sigh.
Tied for second worst with our closer. sigh. Our 8th inning guy is at 27.00.
Lohse is thinking too much. He needs to be working the top of the Zone a little bit, maybe not money pitches, but everyone is looking down and he is crowding himself.
Holiday is at least offering a tactical deterrent, with benefits.
Pojols has nothing. They show him the inside pitch that he can’t possible stay inside, and then beat him away.
I won’t talk about Ludwick. Be interesting to see if Lohse comes out in the 6th.
A hero…………..how many think the Cardinals win this? Be honest. Frankie!!!!!!!!!!
In the bag!
The minor league teams struggling tonight. All are on the road!
Bryan Anderson slugged a homer. Glad to see him start the first two games. He has a lot more to offer than Pagnozzi.
At Quad Cities, the legend of Big Matt Adams resumes.
Good win over the Brew Crew. Not pretty, but its good to prevail anyway. Reyes worked hard and deserved the W. Holliday shows why he earns the big bucks. Good to Hoffman go down.
It defies imagination how much complaining there would be on the Internet, if Ryan Franklin had given up a dinger when just one strike away from winning.
The most highly paid Brewer is Jeff Suppan. Glad they are paying him. Hoffman, Edmonds, Suppan, the Brewers are over the hill.
That’s a huge momentum shift for both teams. If you asked Hoffman, he wouldn’t take back that pitch. That was a super human swing by Stava. A mistake yes. A bad pitch, no. Here comes their ace against our number 5. Great opportunity. I admire the hell out of Holiday for that last tough at bat. LaTroy deserves allot of credit for not missing that pitch. Great at bat by Colby. Albert’s problems are just starting unfortunately. Tony is not missing Brendan pout. He is liable to sit tomorrow as Lopez will start at 2nd Sunday.
If your 4th starter keeps you in the game through six he’s done his job. Wasn’t I just sayin the bullpen rocks.:)
I’m not worried about Brendan or Albert. We have the tools this year to live with guys having off nights or rough patches. How many runs on opening day with our leadoff hitter going Ofer?
Westie, Albert getting walked should help his psyche. Stav’s homer from the knee was awesome.
Ankiel went 4 for 4 with a HR and double, 3 two out RBI’s. Speaking of center fielders, Colby looks like one out there. He really seems like his game is on a whole new level this year. I’m afraid that if somebody doesn’t step up in the 2 hole, Colby may end up back there. We really need some OBP ahead of Abert and Matt. I just hope and pray its not Colby. Say your prayers guys. Light candles, burn incense. Have a drum circle Westy. Jumbo, do whatever they do out there in Cheneyland, crop circles or whatever.
Good stuff BB………..wish you you were right about Albert. He is going to half to break down before he allows MM to make enough of the necessary changes. He’ll make it in the end.
Brendan doesn’t hide his emotions very well BB. His pouting will aggravate Tony. He sits tomorrow I’m guessing. Lopez will bat 2nd.
Hawksworth just throws it up there. He looked good. Molina trying to crowd Weaks with two outs kind of bugged me. Yadi needs to bat 8th…..7th on a good day……never 6th. Sometimes he gets punkish calling the game, especially when he is choking at the plate.
Ludwick is becoming an easy out. It is so simple to cross up his step in move that he is lost. He fouled off two great pitches because he is swinging so hard. MM is starting to create some funny swings……..all follow through fired by the front side. Its hurt Ryan and Shu…….Luddy’s lost because he refuses to adjust his bat position. I sit him tomorrow too.
I think Sch has been working with Mac for years, made him a 300 hitter. Luddy has always been streaky, not so much in his 08 career year. Molina is the same as always, no change.
Pujols looks way better at the plate compared to end of last year. He’s fine as far as I can tell, although I think he is dealing with issues related to the arival of alpha dogs MH and MM, and also turning 30.
Ryan’s in a bit of a sophomore slump. He rocks, he’ll blow through it.
Its not every team that can bring AAA successful hitters like Stavinoha and Craig off the bench, leading to the surprise of last night. They can hit, if they get enough at bats to be sharp. Likewise David Freese has begun the season ok with the bat. All low bonus guys, who did not show up on top minor league prospect lists. They did not get Keith Law all hot and bothered.