2014 AL East Tickets Season Preview

Long considered the toughest division in baseball, the American League East has no signs of forfeiting that title this season. The AL East had four teams win 85 games last season and could feature the same amount again in 2014. The average price for tickets on the secondary market across the AL East are the most expensive of any division in baseball. It’s the only division to have three teams with a season average over $100.

• New York Yankees Tickets - Season Avg: $165.05

New York Yankees tickets are always expensive, but the retirement announcement of Derek Jeter has boosted the prices for this season even more. There is not a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium this season with an average price lower than $72, higher than the season average for four American League teams. The Yankees missed the playoffs last season and if that is set to happen again, the prices of Yankees tickets would go up with a finite date for Jeter’s last game, which is currently September 25 with an average price of $555.91.

• Boston Red Sox Tickets - Season Avg: $153.49

Winning the World Series usually helps increase the price and demand of tickets the following season. Boston Red Sox tickets have seen both of those effects so far leading up to the start of the season. Prices for games at Fenway Park trail on the Yankees for the highest average price in baseball. The Red Sox are actually aided by the Yankees, with their most expensive game coming with an average price of $523.76 for the regular season finale against New York.

• Toronto Blue Jays Tickets - Season Avg: $112.76

Toronto Blue Jays tickets have the fourth highest average price in the American League. Toronto will hope they can match the high ticket prices with a high total of wins, turning around from the disappointment last season. Last season’s acquisitions of Jose Reyes and R.A. Dickey need to match the production of their pre-Toronto seasons. The Blue Jays benefit with ticket prices by being the only major league team in Canada.

• Tampa Bay Rays Tickets - Season Avg: $78.66

Tampa Bay hasn’t won less than 84 games since 2007. Even with all the success, the lackluster stadium and undesirable location keep Tampa Bay Rays tickets at a relatively low average. Because of that low price and the production on the field, Rays tickets end up being one of the best values in baseball for those who want to attend games at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay was last in the American League for total attendance last season while they were winning 92 games. With a great pitching staff featuring David Price, Alex Cobb, Matt Moore and Chris Archer, the Rays are likely to be playoff contenders again in 2014.

• Baltimore Orioles Tickets - Season Avg: $75.72

For most of the offseason the Orioles sat quiet, but made two moves before spring training started that should help their chances of hopping back into contending for the division title this season. Signing Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez should be much needed improvements to a lineup and starting rotation that needed a boost from last season. It should also lead to another year of competitive baseball in Baltimore, which features one of the best ballparks in the majors. Baltimore Orioles tickets are another bargain for fans heading to Camden Yards at any time during the 2014 season.

While the Red Sox are the favorites to repeat as division champions, all five teams could conceivably finish atop the AL East in 2014. The games between these teams are rarely dull and should be worth the premium prices tickets will likely see on the secondary market.