Economy
10 Most Expensive World Series Tickets of Last 10 Years
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Breaking a 108-year-old curse is enough to make fans pay whatever it takes to win the World Series. And that’s just what happened in 2016, when the Chicago Cubs broke the oldest World Series curse in the second-oldest stadium in baseball.
Tickets for that World Series on the secondary market settled at an average of $6,641 for the three games at Wrigley Field, which opened in 1914, two years after Boston’s Fenway Park. That average, which included one Cubs’ win at Wrigley, is more than twice as high as the second highest and more than five times higher than the 10th most expensive World Series of the decade.
According to secondary ticket marketplace TicketIQ.com, the 10 most expensive World Series tickets of the last 10 years range in average asking price from $1,304-$6,641, and only two ballparks – Fenway and San Francisco’s AT&T Park – appear twice on the list. The chart with this story shows the average ticket prices on the secondary market for World Series games by stadium. For example, the average price for a 2016 Cubs World Series ticket on the chart reflects the price for games at Wrigley Field.
The current Red Sox-Dodgers World Series is a television dream, featuring two teams with national followings in two of the Top 10 media markets in the country — Los Angeles is the No. 2 television market and Boston is No. 9. Ticket prices for the series are no slouch, either, with seats at Fenway Park currently averaging $1,661, tying them with the 2010 San Francisco Giants for the fifth-highest since 2011 when secondary ticket marketplace TicketIQ.com began tracking data. The average asking price for seats at Dodgers Stadium is $1,145, which ranks 13th on the list.
The Red Sox and Dodgers haven’t met in a World Series since 1916, and neither team hosted a game in its current stadium. Fenway Park was in existence, but the Red Sox opted to play at Braves Field, which offered more seating, and the Dodgers were still based in Brooklyn, were known as the Robins, and played at Ebbets Field.
One thing is clear from this list of 10 most expensive World Series tickets in the last 10 years – breaking a curse or winning the first World Series in franchise history causes a spike in ticket prices.
1. Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians 2016
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago
Average price: $6,641
Winner: Chicago Cubs (4-3)
Cubs last appearance: 1945
Indians last appearance: 1997
The Cubs broke the “Curse of the Billy Goat” and along with it, the longest World Series drought in baseball history. When the Cubs last won in 1908, it was their second consecutive victory, both against Detroit. The Cubs went on to win the National League pennant and advance to the World Series seven times between 1910-45, but never won. The 2016 World Series was the Cubs first appearance in 71 years. The Cubs hosted three games in this World Series.
2. Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 2017
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston
Average price: $3,097
Winner: Houston Astros (4-3)
Astros last appearance: 2005*
Dodgers last appearance: 1988
This was the Astros first World Series title in franchise history, and it came just five years after switching from the National League to the American (2013). As an NL team, Houston won the pennant in 2005, but was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series that year. The Astros hosted three games in this World Series.
3. Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 2017
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Average price: $2,778
Winner: Houston Astros (4-3)
Astros last appearance: 2005
Dodgers last appearance: 1988
This seesaw Series went seven games after the Dodgers tied it in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium on Halloween night, but Houston was dominant in Game 7. The Dodgers have won 23 NL pennants and six World Series, the last in 1988. The Dodgers hosted four games in this World Series.
4. Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians 2016
Where: Jacobs Field, Cleveland
Average price: $2,474
Winner: Chicago Cubs (4-3)
Cubs last appearance: 1945
Indians last appearance: 1997
The Indians are currently owners of the longest World Series drought – they last won in 1948. Cleveland’s loss in this Series allowed the Cubs to snap the longest drought in baseball history (108 years). The Boston Red Sox ended the then second-longest drought, 86 years, in 2004. The Indians hosted four games in this World Series.
5. Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 2018
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Average price: $1,664
Winner: Red Sox lead series, 2-0 as of Oct. 25
Red Sox last appearance: 2013
Dodgers last appearance: 2017
When this World Series was set, it marked the first time in 102 years that the Red Sox and Dodgers met in the World Series. Baseball legends Babe Ruth (Boston) and Casey Stengel (Dodgers) were on the roster in 1916 when the teams last played. Since then, the Red Sox have won four World Series and the Dodgers six. The Red Sox have home field advantage, hosting Games 1 and 2, and Games 6 and 7, if needed, in the best-of-seven series.
6. San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers 2010
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
Average price: $1,661
Winner: San Francisco Giants (4-1)
Giants last appearance: 2002
Rangers last appearance: None
Though the Rangers lost this series, it was the first time the franchise got to the Fall Classic, and it would do so again in 2011, when Texas lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The Giants, on the other hand, have won eight World Series, including three since 2010 (they won five while they were still in New York). They have not reached the World Series since 2014. The Giants hosted only two games, winning three at Texas to secure the title.
7. New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals 2015
Where: Citi Field, New York
Average price: $1,627
Winner: Kansas City Royals (4-1)
Mets last appearance: 2000
Royals last appearance: 2014
This World Series had the distinction of being the first one to feature only expansion teams. The Royals also became the first team since 1989 to reach back-to-back World Series and win after losing the previous year. The Mets hosted three games, but won only one at Citi Field. The Mets have won two World Series (1969 and 1986).
8. Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals 2013
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Average price: $1,613
Winner: Boston Red Sox (4-2)
Red Sox last appearance: 2007
Cardinals last appearance: 2011
After snapping the 86-year World Series drought in 2004, this was the Red Sox third trip to the World Series in less than a decade. Boston won all three times, bringing its World Series titles total to eight. The Series was a rematch of the 2004 World Series, when Boston swept St. Louis. The Red Sox hosted three games and rallied from a 2-1 Series deficit to win at Fenway in Game 6.
9. San Francisco Giants vs. Kansas City Royals 2014
Where: Kaufmann Stadium, Kansas City
Average price: $1,473
Winner: San Francisco Giants (4-3)
Giants last appearance: 2012
Royals last appearance: 1985
The Royals were making their third World Series appearance in franchise history (1980, 1985, 2014), and this one was highly unlikely. Kansas City was the first team in history to go 8-0 in the postseason on its way to the World Series and the World Series was one of only two in history featuring two wild-card teams. Kansas City hosted four games, but won only two at home
10. San Francisco Giants vs. Detroit Tigers 2012
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
Average price: $1,304
Winner: San Francisco Giants (4-0)
Giants last appearance: 2010
Tigers last appearance: 2006
This World Series marked the first time since 1990 that a National League team swept, and both teams hosted only two games. The victory was one of three Giants World Series wins between 2010-14, and was notable because San Francisco became the only team in baseball history to come back from a 2-0 National League Division Series deficit to win and advance.
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