2014 NL East Tickets Season Preview

Control of the National League East has shifted from team to team over the past few seasons. The Atlanta Braves dominated the division for years before giving way to the Philadelphia Phillies and shifting back to the Braves last season, with the Mets and Nationals taking one season at the top in between. With the usual competitive nature of the division, secondary ticket prices are usually some of the highest of any division in baseball. The results of the 2014 season averages within the NL East could be surprising for many based on the teams at the top and bottom.

• Miami Marlins Tickets - Season Avg: $138.84

It’s a shock Miami Marlins tickets would be the most expensive not only in the NL East, but in the entire National League. There’s a reason, though. Most Marlins tickets on the secondary market are located in the lower levels of the stadium and in the premium seating areas. With this price and the location of the seats, these tickets should actually be considered pretty cheap compared to the price of seats in those locations throughout the rest of the majors.

• New York Mets Tickets - Season Avg: $89.93

Over in Queens, New York Mets tickets at Citi Field continue to sell well with the second highest average in the division, but really the highest average with a full array of available tickets. The Mets haven’t had a winning season since 2008 and haven’t been to the playoffs since 2006. Still, 30 games in 2014 have an average price over $100 with the two most expensive games of the season coming against the New York Yankees.

• Philadelphia Phillies Tickets - Season Avg: $82.82

The Phillies have seen a bit of a decline since their last playoff appearance in 2011. Still, Citizens Bank Park remains one of the nicer ballparks in the National League and the price of Philadelphia Phillies tickets remain at a high average price compared to the rest of the league. Philly is a veteran squad and they look to veteran free agents this offseason in an attempt to improve. They signed 36-year-old Marlon Byrd to play right field and 37-year old A.J. Burnett and 33-year-old Roberto Hernandez to fill out the starting rotation. The Phillies help maintain their high average by not having an average price under $50 for any home game this season.

• Atlanta Braves Tickets - Season Avg: $72.11

Atlanta won the NL East by ten games last season, but have run into some problems at the start of spring training this year. Starting pitchers Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen have all have battled injuries with the possibility of Medlen having to have Tommy John surgery. The Braves then signed Ervin Santana to take a spot in the rotation, but even the Santana addition along with position players like Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward can’t raise the price of Atlanta Braves tickets. The Braves could also have just three years left in Turner Field before moving to a recently announced new location in Cobb County, Georgia.

• Washington Nationals Tickets - Season Avg: $48

The Nationals surprisingly have the lowest secondary market average price in the National League. With young stars like Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, Washington has the potential to win the division while still having some of the lowest priced tickets in the league. Washington Nationals tickets have this low average price due to 16 regular season games that feature an average price of $30 or below. There’s also just one game all season, Opening Day against the Braves, with an average price over $100.

A different team could win the division for the fourth season in a row. Even when the NL East is top heavy, there are usually great games between these teams when they play each other. With some of the highest average prices in the National League, many NL East games could be worth the price of admission this season.