The 2009 Major League Baseball season is underway, and the Opening Day ALCS rematch between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays is a great way to get things started. However, there is concern that overall attendance will be down as the recession rages on. One shouldn’t overturn their budget to be able to afford baseball tickets, payday loans aside.

AP baseball writer Ben Walker reports that empty seats are becoming increasingly common, even for successful franchises. Players change addresses and injuries and suspensions affect teams’ plans, but concerns over the economy have increased, writes Walker. In preparation, MLB is preparing for an overall drop in attendance as high as seven percent. This is despite the fact that two-thirds of teams have lowered their average ticket price for some seats.

I think they should lower the cost of parking

Small-market teams are playing ball as the fans look to save money. The Toronto Blue Jays have offered season tickets in upper deck seating for under $1 per game. In a creative twist, the Minnesota Twins have tied the cost of 6,500 outfield seats to how the Dow Jones is performing.

But small-market teams are the ones who will feel the pinch most. New York is the largest market, and they spend accordingly. Pitching ace C.C. Sabathia signed a $161 million contract with the Yankees during the offseason. The Yankees also spent major free agent money on pitcher A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira. The taxpayers in New York even financed a $1.5 billion new Yankee Stadium. Across town, Mets fans paid a significant portion of the bill for the $800 million Citi Field. They have the television contracts to cover their spending. Small market teams don’t have the same degree of luxury.

How about them Red Sox?

Despite the economic pall, there’s still Opening Day. Here’s a quick preview of the Red Sox/Rays game by USA Today. If that kind of a matchup doesn’t draw fans, nothing will (unless the Yankees or Mets are playing).  As I write this, there is rain in the forecast, but a little rain doesn’t stop true fans from taking in the national game.

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