Biggest ripoff at the ballpark?
My top nominee is paying four bucks for water. What's yours?
Biggest ripoff at the ballpark?
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?
Comments (66)
Free parking at FDR park. Go in on 20th Street. Its city tax payer land.- The prices don't bother me. I don't pack any food with me or take the train but if the prices are bothersome those options are available.— sailbag
$40 for handicapped parking in the garage - with access to wheelchair service.- Remyy couldnt agree more. Everytime I hear Cataldi's voice I wanna jerk my steering wheel into oncoming traffic. Guy is the worst sports radio host ever. I wish ESPN would get rid of Mike and Mike and replace with some local voices to give that moron some local competition. As for the biggest jip at the Bank......Wheeler's hair piece. Hands down.— Thornton Mellon
- If there is a winning product on the field then no one really cares whereas paying that same bloated prices for a beer at a Sixers game has to hurt more.— davekrieg
- I'm sure the city gets the biggest chunk of the money from everything; probably 50% or more with ARA getting 25% and the Phillies getting the other 25%. ARA actually has to buy the hot dog, buns, mustard, napkins, refrigerators and cooking equipment and pay the help. So on your $4 hot dog, the city gets $2 for doing nothing, the Phillies get $1 for doing nothing and ARA gets $1 to cover all of its costs.— JoeC.
- I love going to Citizens Park, it is a beautiful place to watch a game. Also a lot of fun. However to take my family to a game (5 me,wife,3 kids) is a budget buster. 5 decent seats $18 ea. = $90, $15 to park, Hot afternoon game 5 bottles of water, $20. Total $125 for a 3 1/2 day. Forget eating at the park. A dog & soda $7, $35 more.— puddydawg
- I would agree. What is up with the $15 to park. Up $4 in one year is highway robbery! We already park at Nova Care and walk 10 mins to the park. I think we need to find a free place to park and walk!!— ajcoia
- The price to park your car is ridiculous. If public transportation was closer to my house I would take it. At least you can bring in water bottles.— jsaiia
- I went to the game on thursday and nobody got tased. What a ripoff!— pic man
Comment removed.- Sounds like it would be great if the complainers would just stay home and eat your home-made dogs, get your own cheap Bud Light. That way there would be more seats available for us who don't care about paying a few extra dollars for a great experience. I hate cheap people.— my3cents
- Definitely the parking. A few years ago, it was $10. They've been raising rates every year even though we're in a recession. I'm waiting for $20 parking by the fall. Of course, if you don't mind walking through the stations, you can park in Center City for much less and take the subway.— MASTERNC
- The parking. At least with water, people have alternatives like bringing their own. Other than taking mass transit (another ripoff), I have no choice but to drive and park my car. It's not like it costs a lot of money to maintain a parking lot or pay people minimum wage to collect money. But I guess we should consider ourselves lucky. Cities like Boston charge $50 to park.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Comment removed.
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About this blog
The Inquiring Consumer blog takes a broad look at issues affecting consumers. Jeff Gelles, who also writes The Inquirer's weekly Consumer 13.0 and Tech Life columns, welcomes calls and e-mails about readers' concerns. Contact him at 215-854-2776 or jgelles@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffgelles.
Reach Jeff at jgelles@phillynews.com.
Jeff Gelles
Inquirer Business Columnist
Reach Jeff at jgelles@phillynews.com.
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