The timeline depicts the average price of soft drinks, beers and hot dogs in Major League Baseball from 2010 to 2018. The average price of a hot dog was 5.01 U.S. dollars in 2018.
Major League Baseball concession prices – additional information
Hot dogs, soft drink and beer are food and beverage staples at Major League Baseball games. Along with these traditional items, concession stands at MLB games may offer local signature dishes as well. For example, spectators may find lobster rolls and clam chowder at Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox’s ballpark. In 2016, a beer at a concession stand in a MLB stadium cost an average of 5.9 U.S. dollars, a slightly lower price than the years before. Hot dogs cost, on average, 4.52 U.S. dollars at MLB games concession stands in 2016, whereas spectators would pay about 4.19 U.S. dollars for a soft drink.
In order to sell these products, concession stands need to pay for the arena fee, the product itself, employees as well as the team’s take, which varies between 40 to 50 percent of sales. This is one of the reasons concession stand prices vary greatly within the MLB. A fan at a New York Yankees game has to pay twice the price for a beer than a fan attending a Colorado Rockies game. The Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves have the most expensive beers in the league – 7.75 U.S. dollars per beverage. Hot dog prices vary from 1 to 6.25 U.S. dollars, depending on the ballpark. A hot dog purchased at the Yankee Stadium cost 3 U.S. dollar in 2016, whereas the same snack bought at a New York Mets game would set a fan back 6.25 U.S. dollars. Soft drink prices also vary significantly. While Los Angeles Dodgers spectators would pay 6 U.S. dollars for a soft drink in 2016, Los Angeles Angels spectators pay 2.75 U.S. dollars for the beverage.
