The city of Boston is known for its prominence in American history, distinguished outlets for higher education and, perhaps most importantly to many of its residents, its rich background in professional sports. Much like the city itself, both the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots have illustrious historical context. Following a World Series championship just one season ago, the Boston Red Sox have been a cornerstone in Major League Baseball since the team’s inception in 1901. With notable instances such as the “Impossible Dream” of 1967 and Carlton Fisk’s homerun in the 1975 World Series along with the “Curse of the Bambino” and Bill Buckner’s famous error in the 1986 World Series, the Red Sox have been home to many of baseball’s most significant moments. Established in 1959, the Patriots have also seen incredible success in recent years, winning three Super Bowl Championships in the past 13 seasons under future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick. With such storied frameworks, it is no wonder each of New England’s professional teams will see average prices well above MLB and NFL average during their respective seasons this year.
The Red Sox entered the 2013 season as distinguished underdogs, carrying the weight of astronomical contracts to underperforming players and winning just 69 games the previous season. Playing to their strengths within a competitive AL East, the team made a deep run into the playoffs, ultimately beating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games in the World Series. Unfortunately, success has not followed in the first half of the Red Sox schedule this season as they currently sit in the basement of the division at 39-51, 10.5 games behind the first place Baltimore Orioles. Despite an abysmal first half, however, the season average for Boston Red Sox tickets is $147.61, a surprising 84.1% higher than the MLB average of $80.18. While another playoff run seems unlikely through the season’s first 90 games, the Red Sox have certainly seen success at Fenway Park on the secondary market.
Following a season that saw a team deficient in big name players outside of Tom Brady, the New England Patriots marched all the way into the Conference Championship game against the Denver Broncos, though ultimately losing 13-5. While the team lacks superstar talent, Tom Brady has shown his efficiency time and again and has cemented himself as one of professional football’s greatest players. As the season draws nearer to its September 7 opening date, home games on the Patriots schedule will have an average price well above the NFL average of $224.28. With just under nine weeks until the regular season begins, the average price for New England Patriots tickets is $363.83, 62.2% above NFL average.
The flourishing success of New England’s professional sports teams has allowed secondary ticket prices to rise in recent years. As the second half of the baseball season gets underway and the NFL season draws closer, fans can expect this success to carry over into ticket prices as they continue to pay top dollar to see their teams hit the field this season.