2014 AL West Tickets Season Preview

In just its second year with five teams, the AL West has become one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Plenty of major moves were made in an attempt to dethrone the Oakland A’s, who have won the division for the past two seasons. If games during the regular season between these teams are as exciting as the offseason acquisitions of players like Prince Fielder and Robinson Cano, each game will be well worth the price of admission. As a whole, secondary market tickets throughout the division are the cheapest in the American League.

• Houston Astros Tickets - Season Avg: $102.20

Houston is admittedly in a rebuilding phase, with not a lot of talent on the major league roster, but plenty of young talent in the farm system. Part of the high average for Houston Astros tickets is the majority of tickets available on the secondary market are on the lower level of Minute Maid Park. Soon enough there could be more demand more Astros tickets with top prospects George Springer and Jonathan Singleton expected to see time in the majors this season.

• Texas Rangers Tickets - Season Avg: $100.99

A change in stadium name, now Globe Life Park, hasn’t shifted any demand for Texas Rangers tickets as they’re still one of the highest priced in the American League. After missing out on the playoffs last season, the Rangers made some big changes, signing Shin-Soo Choo as a free agent to play left field and trading Ian Kinsler to Detroit for first baseman Prince Fielder. The hot summer air in Arlington tends to help home runs leave the ballpark, which could lead for an exciting game day experience with some of the new additions to the lineup

• Oakland Athletics Tickets - Season Avg: $76.80

The average price drops off quite a bit when it gets to Oakland. Even after winning the division two years in a row, Oakland A’s tickets still have an average price below $80 for the whole season. With no changes to the everyday lineup, the A’s should be able be contenders again for the division title. Scott Kazmir was the only major free agent addition and will be the only starting pitcher over the age of 26 in the starting rotation at the start of the season. The success of the team can be hindered sometimes by playing in the vast space of O.co Coliseum with a high quantity of tickets available for most games.

• Seattle Mariners Tickets - Season Avg: $67.98

Seattle made a big splash in the offseason signing second baseman Robinson Cano to a massive ten-year contract. Cano brings the Mariners closer to contending in the division, but a single player can’t bring up a season’s worth of ticket prices higher. Seattle Mariners tickets are one of four averages in the American League below $70. With star players like Cano and Felix Hernandez, ticket prices could start to increase of the Mariners start the season playing well.

• Los Angeles Angels Tickets - Season Avg: $64.45

It’s surprising a team with Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols could have some of the cheapest tickets in the league, but that’s the case with Los Angeles Angels tickets this season. After a disappointing season finishing under .500 in 2013, the Angels will hope 2014 can see a turnaround. Even as the team did not live up to expectations, the Angels were still fourth in the American League for total attendance last year. The Angels made some moves in the offseason to try to set the turnaround in action by trading for third baseman David Freese and starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Four of the five teams in the division have a legitimate shot at winning the division this season. That type of competition should bring plenty of excitement any time these teams play in 2014.