April 3, 2015
With rich history, 27 titles and countless number of iconic players to don pinstripes, it’s not surprising that the New York Yankees own the largest fan base in Major League Baseball. According to the 2015 Facebook Fandom map, not only do the Bronx Bombers skate past the Mets as the most popular team in New York State, but also dominate the Like Button in several other regions in the U.S.
With that wide fandom, the team has also posted solid numbers on the secondary ticket market a week prior to Opening Day. The average price for Yankees tickets on TicketIQ is $110.41, trailing just the Red Sox and their $129.41 average as the most expensive team in the Majors at season start.
The Yankees are just one of several teams that have shown up as fan favorites across the country in 2015. In a period where hope springs eternal as ballparks open around the league, it’s worth taking a look at how the highest-priced teams at home this season fare in terms of popularity around the U.S.
Equipped with new stars Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez and Rick Porcello, the Red Sox serve as the most expensive home team in the Majors this year. The club is New England’s sweetheart, with everyone from Maine to Worcester rooting them on this season. Following a forgettable 2014 that saw them win just 71 games, the Red Sox are back with new faces and the hope to make waves in the American League East against the defending division champion Orioles.
With the Yankees cementing the second most expensive home ticket in 2015, it’s the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants who follow closely behind. Giants tickets on TicketIQ average a $110.01 ticket at AT&T Park this season, just 40 cents cheaper than the Yankees. The team owns the most Facebook likes in Northern California and dominates through Sacramento before passing the torch to the Dodgers. It is also has a significant following in Nevada.
Serving as the MLB’s only Canadian-based team, the Blue Jays boast the fourth highest-priced ticket at home on the secondary market this season. Blue Jays tickets at Rogers Centre in 2015 average at $108.69. Somewhat predictably, each region of Canada favors the Blue Jays as its team on the Facebook Fandom Map.
Years of torment have plagued Mets fans since 2006’s NLCS run, but this season could be the year the franchise turns its luck around. Poised to contend for a playoff spot through the summer, the Amazin’s own the fifth most expensive average at home this season, with Mets tickets on TicketIQ averaging at $105.42. Not one state calls them their own in terms of Facebook likes, but the Mets will still post big secondary ticket numbers at Citi Field this season. Matt Harvey is back to pick up where he left in 2013, leading a young and talented pitching staff in Queens.
Perhaps the biggest deal in the MLB this year is the Braves, who third-lowest average at home on the secondary market at $60.82. The team controls the largest amount of likes in a number of southern states, including its native Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
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