After routing the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the World Series, the Washington Nationals find themselves a heavy favorite to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy. They now face the possibility of sweeping the series at home. Tickets for Games 3 and 4 in Washington are the hottest (and highest) sellers in the market. And while 2019 World Series tickets aren’t quite at a historic cost, Nationals ticket prices follow a familiar trend.
Nats World Series tickets were bound to be in high demand as soon as they swept the pennant. Given that this is their first appearance in the Fall Classic, the chance of seeing them make history has drove up Nationals ticket prices, just as it has for other markets in recent years. In the past six World Series, teams who were either in their first appearance or first in decades resulted in some of the highest-priced tickets.
World Series Average Ticket Prices Year-Over-Year
Average ticket prices across the entire series topped $1,000 in 2016, 2017 and again this year. All three occasions featured teams playing for their first title, or their first in over 25 years. In other years, teams making repeat appearances caused prices to tumble hundreds of dollars. It’s a recurring trend that has not only been evident in baseball, but other sports leagues.
NBA Finals ticket prices steadily declined by the time the Warriors and Cavaliers met for the fourth consecutive time in 2018. However, series tickets nearly doubled in cost this year when the Raptors claimed their first championship. Hockey enthusiasts are especially familiar with the cost that comes with a sweet first victory. In the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals, fans dished out over $1,200 per ticket when the Washington Capitals skated to victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. That series set pricing records given both teams were vying for their first Stanley Cup. As they did with the Capitals, DC locals are sparing no expense to soak in another potential championship. But what does that mean for Nationals ticket prices going forward?
Predicting Washington Nationals Ticket Prices Moving Forward
For the remainder of the World Series, expect tickets to be on the rise. Games 3 and 4, as well as a potential Game 5 in DC see tickets currently starting over $1,000. Should the series return to Houston, get-in prices fall below $700. Fans can likely expect Nationals ticket prices to jump in 2020 if they nab their first title. The city previously experienced a price increase when the Capitals’ post-championship season sold tickets for nearly 16 percent higher than the prior year.
No matter what the series brings, it’s clear that first-time winners and underdogs bring out the best in sports and their victories are priceless.