Major League Baseball games can add an extra dimension to any trip

Heading to the ballpark on vacation can be a fun and surprisingly inexpensive day out.

Division Series - Detroit Tigers v Cleveland Guardians - Game 5
Division Series - Detroit Tigers v Cleveland Guardians - Game 5 | Nick Cammett/GettyImages

It always seems like there's never enough time on vacation to do all the things you want to do. That being, said there are experiences worth finding time for, especially if it's not something you normally do. That's definitely true of Major League Baseball.

In business for 121 years, the MLB is the highest level of organized baseball in the United States and Canada. Made up of 30 teams across two countries, each team plays 162 regular season games. That adds up to 4,860 games per year, not counting exhibition, preseason, or postseason games.

If that seems like a borderline absurd number of games, you can rest assured that it is, in fact, absurd. What that means for you is that you have nearly 5,000 chances to watch professional baseball every season in 29 American cities and one Canadian city, specifically Toronto.

Manny Machado
Division Series - San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 5 | Sean M. Haffey/GettyImages

The cost of baseball

Not only does the MLB have the biggest season of any major league sports team in North America, it has the cheapest tickets at $79.00 USD on average. NBA tickets are a close second at an average of $90.00 with the NHL and NFL at $94.00 and $132.00 respectively

Keep in mind that means there are MLB tickets that cost way less than $79.00 out there. Given the 2024 season the Chicago White Sox had, the organization might be willing to pay you to go to a game in 2025. Attendance for some games was less than a hundred people. It was a rough year.

Naturally, the cost of tickets will vary dramatically based on seat location, the team's record, and what city you're in. The same is true of other costs, such as concessions and souvenirs. There will be a lot of variation across the league.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Miami Marlins v Toronto Blue Jays | Mark Blinch/GettyImages

Go to a game

Going to an MLB game is about more than the baseball being played. A ballpark experience is impossible to replicate in any other sport. There's something about the history of baseball and the passion of its fans that makes it incredibly infectious in person, even for non-fans.

Spending the afternoon enjoying a ballgame with a hotdog in one hand and a drink in the other is an incredible way to spend the day. This is especially true if you're from a place that doesn't have a team and this isn't an experience you're used to.

As far as major league sports go, the MLB is generally the most cost-effective option when you're visiting a city with a franchise. That's not the reason to do it. The best reason to go to an MLB game is because it is a unique experience that can be surprisingly relaxing and highly enjoyable.