Dodgers lead league in attendance, but fans will pay the price for it next year

DODGERSTake your pick of numbers spiking throughout the Dodgers’ organization this season: TV ratings are up 42 percent from last year, the payroll is a record $220 million and merchandise sales are up 50 percent from a season ago.

Attendance totals appear headed for the largest turnout for any major league team since the New York Yankees drew 3.77 million fans during the 2010 season – but Dodgers fans will pay a price for it.

Among the rising numbers next season will be ticket prices.

Included in the Dodgers’ announcement Thursday that 2014 season tickets went on sale was the fact that front-row seats between the bases will increase by $30 per game while rows two through eight will increase by $20.
Right-field pavilion tickets will increase by $2 per ticket, per game and left-field pavilion tickets will increase by either $1 or $2.

Season-ticket packages range from $9,020 to $574 but despite some increases, top-deck season tickets are available for as low as $7 per game.

“Most Dodger tickets have not increased in price in the last two seasons as we looked to first prove to our fans that this ownership group was committed to putting the best possible team on the field,” Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a news release. “We’ve made great strides in demonstrating that, and with these necessary adjustments and the support of our fans,we will continue to put all of our efforts into upgrading the team and the stadium and producing a championship-caliber organization.”

The Dodgers currently have the highest attendance in baseball, averaging 45,668 per game, nearly 4,000 more than the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.

Their 42 percent increase in ratings on Fox Sports Prime Ticket is the second-highest of any U.S.-based team this season and the 50 percent increase in merchandise sales is the fifth-largest of any team.