It is officially summer, and what better way to spend a summertime afternoon or evening then at a baseball game with your kids. As American as apple pie and country music, a baseball game offers families an affordable experience that harkens back to a simpler time when kids and their parents huddled around the family radio to catch the broadcast of their hometown heroes. These days, each Major League Baseball club offer specials, promotions, and giveaways to attract young fans and their families to the ballpark. From bobble-heads, player t-shirts, hats, lunchboxes and more, teams are eagerly handing out fun and free stuff at the gate (usually to kid's 14 and under). Most clubs with open-air parks also offer Fireworks (some just around the 4th of July holiday while others, like the Detroit Tigers, offer these shows more frequently through the season) after select games and some allow kid's on to the field to run the bases after certain games.
Tickets to MLB games were once very cheap, but with the number of new ballparks that have been built in the last decade, prices have risen. It is still the most affordable professional sport to see live, but seats close to the field in most cities will cost $40 or more. Don't let the high price tag for premium seats keep you from the game though. Every ballpark has ticket offers and discounted ticket areas, bleachers, standing room (and in many of these new parks you are going to want to spend a lot of time walking around and watching the game from the open-air concourses anyway). You could always try to win an eBay auction for a group of premium tickets to save some money if being close to the action is a priority.
Another great option is Minor League Baseball which is readily available in many small towns and cities across the country and provides an inexpensive way for a family to enjoy our national pastime. Minor League games typically offer a smaller, more intimate fan experience with smaller ballparks and more access to the players. Tickets and concession stand prices are often far less than their Major League counterparts, which will allow a family to enjoy a day or night of baseball without breaking the bank.
Here are some current MLB promotions to consider:
MasterCard MLB Grand Slam Ticket Pack
Good value with these ticket deals available for selected games when you pay with your Mastercard. Some examples include:
- Lower deck Reserve seat and a Boog Pit Beef sandwich (these are excellent!) for $15 @ The Baltimore Orioles ballpark Camden Yards, near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, MD.
- Four (4) Upper deck tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas, and 4 bags of chips for $50 @ The World Series Champion Chicago White Sox ballpark U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago's South Side. (I have personally sat in the upper deck here and can assure you that these are quality seats with a great view of Chicago)
Like the White Sox, the Washington Nationals also offer 4 for $50 (their version is $49) promotion called the Pepsi Family Four Pack, which is available every Sunday. The San Diego Padres offer a 4 for $50 package for any Saturday or Sunday game which will get you four tickets, dogs, and sodas (Coke, not Pepsi at their brand new Petco Park). The L.A. Dodgers offer a several ticket promotions on their official website.
Also, be aware that AAA members may be eligible for discounts on tickets throughout the league. Be sure to inquire about such discounts if you are an AAA member.
Check with the local Major and/or Minor league ball club in your area and discover what discounts are available and head out with your kids to witness our Nation's pastime this Summer.
Jeff
Out With The Kids
http://www.outwiththekids.com
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