Merchandise at the minor leagues
August 15, 2008
After visiting most of Maryland’s minor league ballparks this month, meeting with team staff, taking in the atmosphere and “testing” — purely for research purposes — the stadium fare, I feel I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the team gift shops.
Many fans I talked to pointed to the affordability of minor league games versus at the major league level. For about $150, a family of four can get tickets behind the dugout, meal platters and sodas and still probably have some change left over. At Oriole Park, $150 will get you two tickets behind the dugout (unless it’s for a “prime” game — then you’ll need $10 more), with $40 left over for a couple of beers.
But a quick glance at merchandise prices — $24 for a hat, $20 for a shirt — and the words bargain don’t exactly spring to mind. According to some of the store employees I talked to, the minor league teams deal with the same types of apparel companies as the big leagues. Same production costs, same mark-up.
They said it’s sometime a surprise to fans walking in for the first time and expecting to see merchandise as cheap as their tickets were. You might think with the money most people feel they are saving on tickets, they wouldn’t mind spending what they probably consider a little extra on that tee-shirt or baseball cap their kid wants.
One sales clerk at a Bowie Baysox game said people have complained to her about the prices or just left items on the counter and walked out of the store.
Do you think the clubs should be charging less for their merchandise? Or are you happy to support show team pride?
LIZ FARMER, Business Writer
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It’s simple economics….If you want to sell the merchabdise, price it reasonably. I am a regular at the baysox. The baseball is great but the ,erchandise in the gift shop is way over priced. I would love a jacket or jersey but the prices asked are a waste of money.