Astros Haters Willing to Pay Premium Prices to Boo Them So Far in Spring Training
By Will Coleman
The never-ending sign-stealing drama that will follow the Houston Astros through this regular season couldn't possibly be good for business, right?
Apparently, we were wrong. Spring Training ticket sales have increased marginally across the MLB, but no team has seen a bigger jump in its cost of admission than, you guessed it, the Astros. Baseball fans everywhere are salivating at the chance to heckle the Houston ball club up close and personally, and they're willing to pay whatever it takes to do so.
Spring Training prices overall increased 18% year-over-year on @TickPick in the month of February but the Astros doubled that number with a 36% increase. TickPick execs believe Astros haters are paying a premium to boo them. pic.twitter.com/ZNrO4089zU
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 2, 2020
According to TickPick, league-wide Spring Training ticket prices are up 18% from last season while the Astros alone have endured a 36% increase. A good amount of baseball fans aren't necessarily there to root for Houston, and yet they're still willing to cooperate with the high ticket prices.
A similar effect could take form throughout the regular season when the Astros hit the road for their 81 away games.
Gonna be a long year for the Astros pic.twitter.com/e3ZDEBfvrp
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) February 29, 2020
There's no telling how Houston will perform on the field in response to all this negativity, but ticket prices for any game involving the Astros will surely continue to rise so long as they keep filling the stands.