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Monday, February 4, 2013

Biggest ripoff at the ballpark?

My top nominee is paying four bucks for water. What's yours?

Biggest ripoff at the ballpark?

POSTED: Friday, May 7, 2010, 10:19 AM

Jeff Gelles, Inquirer Business Columnist

I was listening to Angelo Cataldi at WIP yesterday morning, and in the snippet I heard, he asked the intriguing question: What's the biggest ripoff at Citizens Bank Park?

I wasn't in the car long enough to hear any answers, or to say whether he was riffing on the Daily News' more extensive (and serious) Philly Fan Project. But I liked his question enough to pass it along here. Sports stadiums are notorious for this stuff, and we all love the Phillies. But that shouldn't let anybody off the hook for squeezing fans just a little too hard.

My nominees:

Paying $4 for a bottle of water, especially on a sweltering summer afternoon.
Paying $15 to park. Weren't those same lots $11 last year?
Paying $40 to watch Kyle Kendrick pitch - though after Wednesday night's gem, maybe I'd better take that one back.

Yours?

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Comments (66)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:32 AM, 05/07/2010

Wouldn't they sell so much more at the concession stands if the prices were reasonable? I never eat at the park, but would definitely do so if I could get a couple dogs fries and a beer for under $10. $4 for water is a crime, you can get a case for that now.

— MrBryan

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:45 AM, 05/07/2010

Since I don't go to games because of where I live, I am happy with these prices because it helps pay for a winning team! As long as there are still sellouts they can charge what they want until there are signs that fewer people are in the stands. That's business.

— ronin32

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:58 AM, 05/07/2010

$7.25 for a beer encourages people to pre-game, which is good for no one. just charge bar prices. I don't agree with ronin. if you need more for the team, charge for the ticket, not the concessions. the water is criminal. what's the ATM fee there?

— dreinterests

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:14 AM, 05/07/2010

I think $15 to park your car is outrageous. They aren't responsbile if there is damage (or theft)done to your car. There is no help from anyaone when you leave the parking lots to get on the highway. I have seen police officers sitting in their vehicles while traffic backs up to get out. I have to agree that water is ridiculous too. The Phillies (and professional sports) are making it impossible to be able to afford to go to a game as a family.

— rolenfan

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:02 PM, 05/07/2010

You can bring unopened plastic bottles inside the park. And i think food also!

— rudijules

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:02 PM, 05/07/2010

My top two would be the cost of a hot dog and the price to park. The parking has gone up, despite more spots yielded down there with parking near NovaCare and all.

— EddieMar

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:20 PM, 05/07/2010

Definitely the hot dogs. They're fast approaching $4. You can buy a whole package, plus buns, at your local food store for that amount.

— everydayguy

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:24 PM, 05/07/2010

dreinterests is right. I won't buy beer in the stadium, but we'll tailgate like hell before the game.

— sadim

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:03 PM, 05/07/2010

People would still tailgate even if the Phils offered $1 bottles. Parking is ridiculous, but thats across the board. Its $15 to park in the Wachovia lot for a stinkin Wings game for crying out loud. The $4 water is insane, but is avoidable (water fountains & unopened bottles).

— Fuzzy_Dunlop

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:13 PM, 05/07/2010

wrong...if i could get a beer for $1 inside i would not need to tailgate

— box297

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:19 PM, 05/07/2010

I would have to say water, that's pretty outrageous. I think it's sad that the average family can't afford to attend many professional sportng events these days. But it is what it is, supply and demand rule the day.

— pahawk

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:23 PM, 05/07/2010

I don't mind these high prices if the justification was that the park should pay for itself. Instead the owners make millions of dollars while the taxpayers of the city and state ponied up three hundred million dollars to get citizens park built.

— BLKMD

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:30 PM, 05/07/2010

LOL

— main liner

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:31 PM, 05/07/2010

The reason they charge such high prices for confessions is because the profit margins are insane. Upwards of 85-90% depending upon the item. People who eat at the game are crazy. The $15 fee to park is worse because they don't have people directing traffic after a game & the amount of broken glass/garbage in the lots has really increased the past 2+ years because of the larger crowds. How about sweeping the damn lots a bit more so I don't have to worry about blowing out a tire when I am leaving a game?

— MG77