Payrolls have nothing to do with it. In fact, ticket revenue is peanuts compared to concessions and merchandise.
Ummm, get a clue. At least research your opinion before you shoot off about it. Ticket prices are 95% of the revenue generated at the stadiums. Take a look at this table. The Yankees have one of the highest average ticket price, and it's just coincedence that they have the highest payroll, too?
<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom>[SIZE=-1]
Team [/SIZE]</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=right>[SIZE=-1]
Regular season
game receipts [/SIZE]</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=right>[SIZE=-1]
Home
attendance [/SIZE]</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=right>[SIZE=-1]
Revenue
per ticket [/SIZE]</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=right>[SIZE=-1]
Average
ticket price [/SIZE]</TD><TD vAlign=bottom align=right>[SIZE=-1]
Difference [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Yankees [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]$98,000,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,264,907 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]$30.02 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]$28.90 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]$1.12 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Boston [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]89,743,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,593,084 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]34.61 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]36.08 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.47) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Seattle [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]76,570,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,507,326 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]21.83 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]22.87 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.04) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Mets [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]73,971,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,658,330 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]27.83 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]26.53 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1.30 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Cleveland [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]69,470,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,175,523 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]21.88 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]22.33 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](0.45) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]San Francisco [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]67,173,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,311,958 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]20.28 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]23.38 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](3.10) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]St. Louis [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]67,084,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,109,578 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]21.57 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]21.66 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](0.09) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Atlanta [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]62,141,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,736,451 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]22.71 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]22.05 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]0.66 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Colorado [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]54,015,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,121,560 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.30 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]16.50 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]0.80 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Baltimore [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]53,216,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,976,939 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.88 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]19.78 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.90) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Cubs [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]51,189,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,779,465 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]18.42 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]20.41 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.99) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Los Angeles [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]50,764,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]3,017,143 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]16.83 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]15.43 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1.40 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Texas [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]50,664,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,831,021 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.90 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]19.81 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.91) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Houston [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]49,161,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,904,277 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]16.93 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]20.03 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](3.10) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Pittsburgh [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]48,610,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,402,890 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]20.23 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]21.48 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.25) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Arizona [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]46,509,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,736,451 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.00 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.09 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](0.09) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Milwaukee [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]46,021,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,811,041 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]16.37 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]18.12 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.75) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Detroit [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]42,299,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,878,862 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]22.51 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]23.90 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.39) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]San Diego [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]34,381,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,378,128 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]14.46 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]14.09 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]0.37 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Cincinnati [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]32,102,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,879,757 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.08 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]15.40 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1.68 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]White Sox [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]30,898,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,766,172 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.49 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]19.19 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.70) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Philadelphia [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]30,435,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,782,054 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17.08 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]14.63 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2.45 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Anaheim [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]30,208,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,000,919 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]15.10 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]13.36 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1.74 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Toronto [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]25,363,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,915,438 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]13.24 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]18.04 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](4.80) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Oakland [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]24,992,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]2,133,277 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]11.72 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]13.96 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](2.24) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Kansas City [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]19,520,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,536,371 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]12.71 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]12.61 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]0.10 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Tampa Bay [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]18,193,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,298,365 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]14.01 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]18.41 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](4.40) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Minnesota [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]17,605,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,782,926 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]9.87 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]9.55 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]0.32 [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Florida [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]16,756,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]1,261,226 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]13.29 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]14.37 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1](1.08) [/SIZE]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[SIZE=-1]Washington [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]6,405,000 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]642,945 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]9.96 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]9.70 [/SIZE]</TD><TD align=right>[SIZE=-1]0.26 [/SIZE]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[SIZE=-1]Sources: Receipts: MLB financial disclosures.
Attendance: STATS, Inc.
Average ticket price: Team Marketing Report 2006 "Fan Cost Index" survey.[/SIZE]
Don't try to tell me that you can run a business, by paying employees more & more every year, without having to raise prices somewhere. And since the overwhelming amount of income comes in the form of admission tickets, that's the sensible area to target increases.
As for raising prices, but reducing demand.... Well, you tell me when Yankees or Red Sox have not sold out a playoff game. Raising prices will not reduce demand..... that is... as long as a city demands it's team signs the top talents. You can't bitch, piss & moan about your team not trying to sign the huge names, then also bitch, piss & moan about high ticket prices.