The Boston Red Sox play in one of the biggest markets in MLB and at one of the most coveted ballpark destinations in the country, and maybe even the world. These factors contribute to some of the most expensive ticket prices in the league.
According to a class action lawsuit filed in January, they aren't the only ones. Three Red Sox fans, Damon Campagna, Lily Rose Smith and Patrick Spaulding, are suing the Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which owns the team, over alleged false advertisement of ticket prices.
Front Office Sports reported on January 28 that the San Francisco Giants are being sued for a similar cause and mentioned the Red Sox and Washington Nationals among other teams facing legal action for alleged dishonest ticket pricing.
WCVB News Boston writes that the Red Sox are accused of using illegal junk fees and "drip pricing," which is when a company initially reports only a portion of a ticket or service's initial price, then adds more money later in the purchasing process. Drip pricing and junk fees are illegal in Massachusetts under consumer protection laws. The plaintiffs allege they were overcharged in 2022-23.
Red Sox, two other clubs, being sued for alleged dishonest ticket pricing, use of junk fees
"...the Red Sox would add mandatory fees at the last minute, such as 'Per-Ticket Fees' and 'Order Fees,' that could increase the cost of a purchase by as much as 150%," the lawsuit states.
"...It does not cost the Red Sox more to issue a ticket to a game against the Yankees than to a game against the Brewers, yet the Red Sox charged different 'Per-Ticket Fees' depending on that factor (and others.)"
Red Sox fans have had a poor relationship with team ownership since the club's most recent World Series championship. Boston has traded future Hall of Famers to keep from paying them once they reach free agency, it routinely makes underwhelming bids for top free agents, even if they're perfect for it's needs, and it traded Rafael Devers to get out from under the 10-year contract it had already signed him to — all while charging some of the most exorbitant ticket prices in MLB and putting an embarrassingly small portion of that revenue toward improving the team.
Red Sox, John Henry can't manage to stay in fans' good graces for long
Even worse, team owner John Henry has become reclusive since the club has adopted these practices. He's not available for questions from reporters or fans, like he used to be at Winter Weekend, and is therefore shielded from accountability for the failures of his club and the purported gouging of fans.
This lawsuit doesn't even account for prices when fans enter the ballpark (which isn't a Fenway-exclusive issue, but ballpark food and drink prices are highway robbery). It's not uncommon to enter any arena or ballpark and find that a bottle of water costs $5 or more, which, in any other location, would be obscene.
If Red Sox fans are tired of paying exorbitant prices to watch a middling baseball team that could be far better if ownership gave it the attention it deserves, there's always the option to boycott. Ownership won't get the message that $5 bottles of water and $10-12 mass produced beer doesn't fly if people continue to pay it. Each fan can bring one sealed 16 ounce plastic water bottle into Fenway Park, according to its security guidelines, which could save a few bucks per person.
Boston returned to fans' good graces by trading for Garrett Crochet and signing Alex Bregman last offseason, but that didn't last long for multiple reasons, this new lawsuit being one of them. The Red Sox will have to get out of their own way before the team can thrive long-term.