parks started in Baltimore in 1992 when the Oriole opened Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It was an instant success that has sold out more than eighty percent of the games that have been played there, and the ballpark has revitalized that entire downtown area of Baltimore. Similar results have been seen in cities like Cleveland Ohio, Houston Texas, Arlington Texas, Detroit Michigan, Seattle Washington and San Francisco California which have all opened new ballparks in the last few years. Between 1995 and 1999 the San Francisco Giants have had aggregate operating losses of $97 million. Last year they moved into Pac Bell Park and the value of the franchise rose 12 percent to $237 million, and their stadium revenues increased by 250 percent over the previous year. All of these new stadiums have helped these teams to become more competitive by raising their revenues and creating excitement for the fans and the city the team plays in. Other cities like Milwaukee Wisconsin and Cincinnati Ohio are opening new ballparks this season and hope to enjoy the same renaissance that other cities have enjoyed. However, all is not just roses for the teams with the highest revenues and the newest ballparks. Baseball has mortgaged its future with $3.7 billion worth of guaranteed players salaries over the next six years. Last season 18 Major League teams lost money, and two-thirds are expected to lose money this year. One of the major ways teams have decided to try to stem the tide of player’s salaries and operating costs is to raise the price of tickets. Every Major League team has raised ticket prices at least once in the past three years, and eighteen teams have raised them more than once during that time. The price for the players continues to get higher and that subsequently affects the price of the tickets that are purchased by the consumers, but the consumers are becoming increasingly resentful of the paychecks received by the players, because the...
