The calendar has flipped to April, and for many people across America, that means the start of baseball season, which often leads to warm afternoons and evenings spent at the ballpark catching a game.
Unfortunately, spending lazy afternoons and evenings at the baseball stadium can add up to a pretty big expense, even if you partake in just a game or two. Everything adds up, from transportation to tickets, food and beverages. And before you know it, your wallet is empty.
Here are seven smart strategies for keeping the cost of baseball games in check while still getting the most value out of baseball season.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
Buy tickets at the ticket window in advance. The cheapest place to consistently buy tickets is at the team ticket window ahead of the game, ideally well in advance so you don’t have to deal with sellouts. At the window, you typically pay face value, whereas if you buy elsewhere or online, you’re hit with a bunch of markups and fees. If you know you’re going to attend a few games this summer, stop by the ballpark early in the year and buy your tickets directly from the team all at once. Some teams even offer a discount if you buy a five-ticket or 10-ticket package.
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
If you must buy online, do your homework. Many teams have online ticket sale promotions where they offer a discount if you sign up for a team newsletter, or they offer some sort of discount code. You’ll want to check both the team’s official ticket sales as well as resellers such as StubHub for coupon codes and other promotions. This is usually the best option if you can’t actually get to the park.
Go to cheap games and buy cheap tickets. In general, weekday games are less expensive than weekend games, so if your schedule allows, go to weekday games. There’s less of a crowd, and you can often move into much better seats later in the game. The ushers generally don’t care after the first few innings when it’s obvious that other seats won’t get filled.
Don’t park near the ballpark. Parking near a ballpark might be convenient, but it’s also expensive. Virtually every major league ballpark (and most top-level minor league ballparks) is near a mass transit stop, so take advantage of that. If you live near mass transit, just take it directly from your house to the game. If you don’t live near public transit, consider finding a cheap place to park away from the ballpark — maybe at a friend’s home or another convenient and free place to park away from the ballpark — and take mass transit to the ballpark and home. Not only is it going to be cheaper, there’s also no risk of driving while intoxicated if you choose to have a beer or two at the park. You also don’t have to deal with post-game driving conditions, which can be disastrous, and you’ll likely save some miles on your car to boot.
Tailgate before and after the game. If you’re meeting friends at the game, consider tailgating. Meet at someone’s car and bring some food and beverages along with you to share. Grilling a few hot dogs and having a few beers before the game at someone’s car is far less expensive than doing it inside the park. This may require one person to drive and pay for an expensive parking spot, but you can simply split that person’s parking cost and consider that a “tailgating fee.” Giving someone $5 to pay for his or her tailgating spot, a couple of beers and a hot dog before the game while you hang out with friends is far cheaper than paying those costs inside the park.
[See: 10 Big Ways to Boost Your Budget — Without Skimping on Your Daily Latte.]
Bring your own food and water bottle. Many ballparks allow you to bring in some outside food items, and virtually all parks allow you to bring in an empty water bottle. Just fill the bottle at a fountain, and you have plenty of water to drink for free. Loop an empty water bottle through your belt loop to carry it easily, or put a few treats right into the empty water bottle so that the trip through security is easy. Be sure to read what the rules are at your ballpark for bringing in outside food.
Buy souvenirs online before or after the game. If you want a shirt, a jersey or a ball, buy them away from the ballpark. Purchase them beforehand if you want (or your kid wants) an autograph. Buy them later otherwise. Many online vendors offer all kinds of souvenirs at a far lower price than one would find in the ballpark.
Baseball games can be a lot of fun, but the costs can add up if you’re not smart about them. Use these strategies to keep the fun while also keeping a lot of cash in your pocket.
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How Baseball Fans Can Get the Most Value for Their Dollar at the Ballpark originally appeared on usnews.com
