ARLINGTON, Texas—Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and in North Texas, summer means Texas Rangers baseball.
But how affordable is it to attend in person? I decided to find out.
As I approached Globe Life Field on a recent Wednesday afternoon to watch the Texas Rangers face the New York Yankees, I was ready for an affordable night of baseball. But the cost of tickets, parking and concessions quickly added up.
While MLB hasn’t completely priced out fans with the same high cost seen in the NFL or NBA, the league isn’t immune to inflation and rising prices. A night at the ballpark is still considered one of the more accessible live sports options, but the cost of attendance has steadily increased in recent years.
To better understand how these costs add up, I tracked every expense during a recent Texas Rangers game, offering a closer look at what fans can expect to spend during the 2026 season.
First cost, the ticket
The first expense for fans and often the costliest is the ticket itself. According to Yahoo Sports, the median price for a ticket to a Ranger game in 2025 was $93, the 12th highest in the league.
For this game, I purchased one ticket from SeatGeek in section 131 for $60, a price point that represents lower-end seating options at Globe Life Field. But prices varied significantly across the stadium, with the most expensive ticket costing $1,000 for field-level suites and the cheapest ticket being an $18 seat in the 300s level, according to SeatGeek.
Ticket prices also vary based on the matchup and day of the week. Weekend games and high-profile opponents, like the Yankees, will run you more than a Monday game against the Colorado Rockies.
Getting to the game added another layer of expense. I paid $45 to park in Lot Q, which used to cost $40, a common cost for lots within walking distance of the stadium. Factor in gas, tolls and parking fees, transportation alone can add a noticeable amount to the total cost before fans step foot in the ballpark.
Kenneth Quisenberry, a fan from Wylie, said that even with a season pass that covers the cost of the ticket, the trip itself carries a cost.
“It cost me $8 in tolls, $8 in gas, $16 to park at the parking lot and get a ride over here,” Quisenberry said. “So, it still costs me at least $30 a game, just to get here.”
Food and drink add to the cost
Once inside, the spending does not end. During the game, I spent $12 on a drink and $20 on a basket of wings, adding $32 to the total. While concessions and merchandise are optional, they play a crucial part in the game day experience.
Across MLB stadiums, concession prices have risen in recent years, with the average beer costing $7 to $10, according to estimates from The Beer Thrillers. Even game-time staples like hot dogs are now around $6, according to reporting from Bleacher Report.
By the middle innings, the total cost had already climbed well beyond the initial ticket price. What began as an affordable outing was steadily becoming a more expensive night out, and that’s just for one person.
For families, the cost of attending a game can quickly get out of hand. Nick Mendez, a 33-year-old Arlington resident and lifelong Rangers fan, said he paid about $55 per ticket for himself and two of his kids since his youngest didn’t require a ticket per venue policy.
Higher costs, fewer games attended
After tickets, parking, and getting the kids some ice cream, Mendez estimated spending around $200 for the outing. That price tag, he said, only allows him to attend two to three games a year.
“When I first started coming to games, prices were like $5 a beer. It was pretty cheap. Now we’re up to $16 a beer, so they’ve jumped quite a bit,” Mendez said.
By the end of the night, the total cost of attending the game reflected more than just the initial $60 I paid to get in. Between tickets, parking, and concessions, my total cost to watch The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees was $137.
For comparison, KDFA CW 33 said the average cost to attend a Dallas Cowboys game last season was $228 per person. From experience, going to a Dallas Mavericks game alone will run you around $200 per person, depending on your seat.
Despite the rising cost, baseball remains one of the more accessible sports. Compared to leagues like the NFL or NBA, fans still have opportunities to attend games at a wide range of price points. But as inflation continues to affect everyday expenses, even a night at the ballpark is no longer as inexpensive as it once was. Long gone are the days of $5 beers and $1.50 hotdogs.
