TORONTO – You had to know this was coming.
Fresh off the heels of their most successful season in decades, playing to packed houses in the latter half of the season, the Blue Jays announced Tuesday that they’re raising ticket prices for the 2016 season.
Regular-game seats will cost $3-$6 more depending on the section, while premium tickets will increase from $4-$10.
The team is also eliminating the Ballpark Pass, which offered a 500-level seat for almost every home game for under $100.
This actually marks the second straight year of price increases.
Naturally, some Jays fans are fuming.
A team spokesman issued a statement saying “The Blue Jays continue to be the most reasonably priced ticket compared to other professional sports in Toronto.”
And it may not matter much to Jays fans, but that’s basically true.
Last year, the average Jays ticket price was approximately $33, hovering below the league average of $38, making the Jays the 20th-most expensive MLB team, out of 30. The Red Sox and Yankees are a close 1-2, with average prices around $52.
The Leafs are far and away the priciest ticket in town, consistently boasting the most expensive tickets of any NHL franchise. The team’s average ticket price is a whopping $151, far above the league average of $83.
The 2016 season will be the Blue Jays 40th season. When the team played its first game in an April 1977 snowstorm, you could get a prime seat for $6.50, or even sit up in the Exhibition Stadium nosebleeds for just $3. Adjusted for inflation, that’d be around $11 today, which isn’t much less than a normal 500-level seat at Rogers Centre.
Back in 1977, Maple Leafs ticket prices were shockingly comparable to the Jays. You could buy a gold seat at Maple Leaf Gardens for around $8 during the 1977-78 season. Nowadays, an upper-level Leafs ticket can run you $100.
The Jays will return in 2016 with a large part of last year’s juggernaut roster in place, so it’s a likely bet that the increased prices won’t keep many fans away. But if it’s too rich for your blood, there’s still a bevy of lesser-attended and lower-priced teams playing in the GTA. The Argos, Marlies, Rush, Rock and more put on a good show for less.
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