Play Ball

The average baseball player started the season making $3.3 million.  The highest paid player, Alex Rodriguez  of the Yankees, will make a paltry $32 million this year. Joe Mauer of the Twins, in the first year of his eight year, $184 million contract, will earn $23 million.

I had one person tell me he would to be content to watch the Twins on television this season because he could not afford to attend a game. I considered going to a couple of Twins games last year as a “mini vacation”. One family trip to a game was nearly $500 including concessions and buying seven tickets through a broker because there were no tickets available through club sales. I remember as a child taking annual weekly summer family vacations and I have to believe  a few of those were $500 (remember, that is for a week).

I have found purchasing tickets for the second season is tougher than the opening season of Target Field last year. With dates I am able to go only standing room tickets ($23 each) are available. The other option is to buy through a ticket service and the only tickets available are on the third deck at a price considerably higher than regular Twins pricing.

I like to see the Twins be competitive and that they are drawing crowds. However, it's getting tougher to justify spending $300-$400 for a family of five to go to a game. That's spendy for a one day summer vacation!