The Detroit Tigers announced raises in ticket prices for the upcoming 2011 season, the first time since 2007 the team has done so.
↵The average Tigers ticket will cost fans $27.50, an average raise of 97 cents. The Tigers will be decreasing prices in some areas in the outfield, however.
↵Team sources say higher overhead is the reason for the ticket hikes. Given Detroit's 30 percent unemployment and rising costs across the county, that's a pretty fair assessment.
↵Still, with all the economic troubles in the area, the Tigers have been one of the biggest draws in the major leagues. The team has drawn at least 2.4 million fans in each of the past four seasons, and has never averaged fewer than 30,000 people per game in a ballpark that seats upwards of 43,000. If the Tigers go after big name free agents like Carl Crawford in the offseason that trend will probably continue.
↵And compared to their Central Division counterparts, going to a Tigers game is a pretty good bargain. Tigers tickets were at least 21 percent lower than Minnesota Twins or Chicago White Sox tickets.