A giant American flag is unfurled before a baseball game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals on opening day at Citi Field, Monday, March 31, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Major League Baseball's average ticket price rose 2% this season to $27.93, the steepest rise since a 5% hike in 2009, according to the Team Marketing Report's annual survey.
The average rose 1.8% last year after remaining flat in 2012.
World Series champion Boston had the highest average, rising 4.8% to $52.32. The New York Yankees, who missed the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years, kept their average flat and remained second at $51.55.
The Chicago Cubs were third at $44.16 following a 0.9% decrease. The Cubs are coming off their fourth straight season with a losing record and are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field.
The Dodgers' average rose 15.3% to $25.80 as Los Angeles hiked its opening-day payroll to $234 million and ended the Yankees' 15-year streak as baseball's biggest spender.
San Diego had the lowest average at $16.37, and Arizona was just above the Padres at $17.98. After its third straight season of 100 or more losses, Houston dropped its average 13.6% to $27.98.
Kansas City had the highest rise, going up 24.7% to $24.73 after its first winning season since 2003.
The average NFL ticket price was $81.54 last season, TMR said. The NBA average is $52.50 this season and the NHL average is $61.62.
TMR's Fan Cost Index, which includes four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs and two adult-size caps, rose 2.3% to $212.46. The Red Sox were the high team at $350.78 and Arizona the low at $126.89.
