Increasing Fuel Prices Causing Increase In Ticket Prices

This post goes hand in hand with the one that I posted about recreational racers, and the pinch they're feeling as they try to continue participating in a hobby that requires a lot of fuel. Only this time, the cost of fuel is trickling down and affecting the fans.

Many people probably don't realize how much minor league teams travel. It's not always hundreds of thousands of miles, but it does add up during the season. And when the price of fuel has increased like it has, that cost has to be covered somehow. Oftentimes, it's done by increasing ticket prices, which means that fans are feeling the effects on the way to the game and when they arrive.

Firecats tickets started at $12 or $15 in 2003. Today, they start at $17.50 or $25.
Everblades ticket prices will rise by $1 from last season, ranging from $12 to $34 for rink-side seats. In 2001, Everblades tickets ranged from $8 to $17.

Miracle tickets have risen from $3 and $5 to $5 and $7 since 2001.

However, the rise in fuel prices can also benefit the teams. Instead of having to increase ticket prices, some teams are using larger attendance numbers to offset the increasing costs. That's happening because people are searching out local events instead of driving out of their immediate area.

But the rising cost of gas might actually help the minor-league teams in terms of attendance, Gliner said.

“As we get into the summer time, people who might go away for vacations might not be doing that right now,” said Gliner, who noted a 20 percent rise in attendance this season from the last. “They’ll be looking for things to do locally.

“If we can continue to work hard on our end and keep the sponsors coming back, we can stay affordable.”

Overall, it appears that teams are doing their best to keep ticket prices from increasing. Hopefully, increased attendance and creative sponsorship deals can allow them to offer fans an affordable entertainment option.

Recreational Racers Feeling The Effects Of Higher Fuel Prices

At the present time, most of us are feeling the effects of higher fuel prices. Whether you're driving an economical four-banger, or a gas addicted SUV chances are you're paying more per fill-up than you did even a few months ago. However, some of us get hit twice, or more, because of the hobbies we enjoy. Such is the case with the people who engage in the various types of autoracing. Oftentimes, they use race fuel which at some tracks has moved up to $10 per gallon.

With the Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, many folks will be heading to local lakes and rivers.

The good news: Gas prices at various marinas are not that far out of step from what motorists pay at the pump. But if your hobby is car racing, that's a different story.

Weekend racers have to take a heavy gulp before they fill up these days, WLKY television in Louisville, Ky., reported.

Sunoco racing fuel at the Salem Speedway costs an eye-popping $7.75 a gallon.

"We've seen a pretty dramatic increase ourselves. Just in the last week we saw a 40-cent increase from our supplier," said Aaron Baum of Baum Racing Supply. "But we're still a reasonable priced gas compared to other race tracks across the country. We're seeing upwards of $10 at some race tracks."

The double hit comes when the racers trailer the car to track because they're paying to get it there and back, and also to run it at the event. Eventhough the prices seem high, they've increased in line with the way regular fuel has for the most part. Five years ago those same racers were probably paying between $3-$4 per gallon for race fuel, and $1.60-$2.00 for non-race gas. And to think that racing used to be considered an expensive hobby. Now it's become an extravagant one.