As the All-Star Game on July 11th approaches, signaling the middle of the 2017 MLB season, we at StubHub have compiled a mid-season report, taking a look at ticket demand trends to date over the course of the season, highly in-demand teams, sales and travel trends; then we took a look ahead at what the rest of the season has in store..
If You Build It, They Will Come: Where are fans coming from for the All-Star Game?
Ticket sales on StubHub* for the All-Star game have been registered from 46 U.S. states and 13 countries:
Outside the U.S., sales registered from Mexico, Canada, and Brazil top the list from international countries.
Top Buyers by State:
- Florida – 50%
- California – 10%
- Illinois – 5%
- New York – 4.1%
- Texas – 3.8%
The game is commanding an average ticket price** of $472
*Based on total sales of tickets on StubHub as of July 5th
**Average price of all tickets that have been sold on StubHub
What has the season looked like so far?
Most Popular MLB Teams Mid-Season***:
- Chicago Cubs Started out as #2 pre-season, clinched the #1 spot
- San Francisco Giants
- New York Yankees
- Boston Red Sox
- Los Angeles Dodgers Started out as #6 pre-season, moved into the top five teams for regular season, bumping the St. Louis Cardinals to #6
***Based on highest amount of ticket sales on StubHub, to date, this season
Historically, these teams have maintained their dominance. At the mid-season point over the last four years, these very same teams have topped the list – with the exception of 2014 when the Cardinals replaced Chicago Cubs (which moved to #7 at the time).
MLB Teams That Have Gained The Most Popularity Since Pre-Season****:
****Based on highest growth in StubHub ticket sales to-date since season start
MLB Venues That Have Welcomed The Most Out Of State Fans*****:
- Fenway Park (Home of the Boston Red Sox)
- 66% of ticket sales have been generated by out of state fans; compared to 65% and 69% in 2016 and 2015, respectively
- Busch Stadium (Home of the Louis Cardinals)
- Kauffman Stadium (Home of the Kansas City Royals)
- Great American Ball Park (Home of the Cincinnati Reds)
- Oriole Park (Home of the Baltimore Orioles)
- Yankee Stadium (Home of the New York Yankees)
- Miller Park (Home of the Milwaukee Brewers)
Two Missouri Stadiums top the list: Busch and Kauffman Stadiums, homes to the Cardinals and Royals, respectively.
*****Based on the greatest percentage of ticket sales by out-of-state buyers over the course of this season. See figure below:
What’s Ahead for the Remainder of the Regular Season?
#1 CHICAGO CUBS FRANCHISE STILL HIGH OFF OF WORLD SERIES WIN
- Currently StubHub’s #1 selling MLB team (#4 mid-season 2016, #3 in 2015)
- Top three Cubs games after the All-Star Game:
- v St. Louis Cardinals (July 22nd)
- v St. Louis Cardinals (July 21st)
- v Chicago White Sox (July 24th)
- Lowest average ticket price of the top three games at $134
#2 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
- Top three Giants games after the All-Star Game:
- v Chicago Cubs (August 9th)
- v San Diego San Padres (July 22nd)
- Lowest average ticket price out of the top three games at $81
- v Chicago Cubs (August 7th)
#3 NEW YORK YANKEES
- New York Yankees are currently the #3 selling MLB team (started out #4 pre-season)
- Yankees vs Red Sox games are the three most popular MLB games overall after the All-Star Game on July 11th
- Top three Yankee home games after All-Star Game:
- v Boston Red Sox (August 12th)
- v Boston Red Sox (August 13th)
- v Tampa Bay Rays (July 29th)
- Lowest average ticket price out of the top three games at $71
#4 BOSTON RED SOX
- Top three Boston Red Sox games after the All-Star Game:
- v New York Yankees (July 14-16th)
- Least expensive average ticket price of the Yankees series at $97 on July 16th
- v New York Yankees (July 14-16th)
#5 LOS ANGELES DODGERS
- Top three Los Angeles Dodgers games after the All-Star Game:
- v San Francisco Giants (July 28-3th)
- Least expensive average ticket price of the Giants series at $68 on July 30th
- v San Francisco Giants (July 28-3th)
HOUSTON ASTROS SUCCESS AND MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR MLB IN TEXAS
- StubHub’s fifth highest growing team based on highest growth in ticket sales in the last three years; #13 in Total Sales
- Houston Astros are currently the #13 selling MLB team
- The team has gained popularity each year in the league based on ticket sales (2016 – #17, 2015 – #23, 2014 – #28)
- There has been an increase in ticket purchases by Texans season after season for the last three years
- Nearly 80% of home game ticket sales this season were purchased by Texan buyers (79% in 2016, 61% in 2015, 50% in 2014)
- Top three Houston Astros home games after the All-Star Game:
- v Minnesota Twins (July 15th)
- v Toronto Blue Jays (August 5th)
- v Minnesota Twins (July 14th)
- Lowest average ticket price out of the top three games at $70
Top Five Last Home Games Of The Regular Season:
- Toronto Blue Jays Last Home Game – (New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays – on September 24th)
- San Francisco Giants Last Home Game – (San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants – on October 1st)
- Giants also had the second most popular opening day game this season after rival team, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Chicago Cubs Last Home Game – (Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs – on October 1st)
- Lowest average ticket price out of the top five last home games at $60
- New York Yankees Last Home Game – (Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees – on October 1st)
- Boston Red Sox Last Home Game – (Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox – on October 1st)