Major League Soccer continues to grow rapidly across North America — but how affordable is it for families to attend matches in 2026?
A new Canada Sports Betting analysis ranks MLS stadiums based on the average total cost for a family of four to attend a match. By combining ticket prices, concessions, and parking costs, we identified which clubs offer the most accessible match-day experiences — and which markets demand a premium.
The study highlights significant differences across the league, showing how ticket demand and local market dynamics shape affordability for supporters.
The league-wide average cost for a family of four to attend an MLS match is approximately $413.
Key Findings
- Los Angeles FC is the most expensive MLS game-day experience for families, with a total cost of $876.56 for a family of four.
- The second-most expensive match-day experience is St. Louis CITY SC ($643.87), reinforcing how high-demand markets are driving up family costs.
- The league-wide average cost for a family of four to attend an MLS match is approximately $413.
- The affordability gap is massive: LAFC ($876.56) costs about 3.5x more than Orlando City SC ($247.26) — the league’s most affordable option.
- Five MLS teams offer a full family match-day experience for under $300, showing that affordability still exists in several markets.
- Among the most expensive markets, tickets drive the vast majority of total spending, accounting for roughly 79%–87% of total game-day costs across the top five teams.
- In contrast, at the league’s most affordable venues, concessions and parking make up a much larger share of total costs — accounting for roughly 30%–41% of match-day spending.
Most Expensive MLS Stadiums for Families
While MLS is often viewed as a more accessible alternative to other North American sports leagues, some clubs now command premium pricing driven by rising demand and limited ticket availability.
1. Los Angeles FC — BMO Stadium ($876.56)
LAFC ranks as the most expensive MLS experience for families. Ticket prices average $761.60, accounting for approximately 87% of the total match-day cost.
Concessions contribute $62.23 (7%), while parking averages $52.74 (6%), showing that ticket demand overwhelmingly drives overall pricing in Los Angeles.
2. St. Louis CITY SC — Energizer Park (CITYPARK) ($643.87)
St. Louis ranks second, driven largely by strong early demand following the club’s rapid rise in popularity. Ticket prices average $524.16, representing approximately 81% of total match-day spending.
Concessions contribute $82.79 (13%), while parking averages $36.92 (6%), indicating that although tickets dominate, food and beverage costs form a slightly larger share compared to LAFC.
3. Inter Miami CF — Chase Stadium / Miami Freedom Park ($569.64)
Inter Miami’s global visibility has pushed ticket demand significantly higher, with Messi’s arrival widely seen as a major driver of interest. Tickets average $453.96, accounting for approximately 80% of the total match-day expense.
Concessions contribute $66.12 (12%), while parking averages $49.57 (9%), reflecting a more balanced contribution from non-ticket costs compared to higher-priced markets.
4. Austin FC — Q2 Stadium ($549.73)
Austin’s passionate fan base and consistent sellouts continue to elevate ticket prices. Tickets average $456.96, representing approximately 83% of total match-day spending.
Concessions contribute $66.40 (12%), while parking averages $26.37 (5%), reinforcing that seating demand remains the primary driver of overall affordability.
5. FC Cincinnati — TQL Stadium ($501.61)
Cincinnati rounds out the top five, where ticket prices average $395.08, accounting for approximately 79% of total costs.
Concessions contribute $72.78 (15%), while parking averages $33.75 (7%), showing that food and beverage expenses make up a slightly higher share compared to other top-tier markets.
Cheapest MLS Stadiums for Families
Despite rising costs in some markets, several MLS teams still provide highly affordable experiences compared to the league average.
1. Orlando City SC — Inter&Co Stadium ($247.26)
Orlando offers the most affordable MLS match-day experience. Tickets average $159.72, accounting for approximately 64.6% of the total cost.
Concessions contribute $46.40 (18.8%), while parking averages $41.13 (16.6%), meaning nearly one-third of total spending comes from non-ticket expenses — one of the highest proportional splits among MLS clubs.
2. Houston Dynamo — Shell Energy Stadium ($258.95)
Houston ranks second, combining accessible ticket pricing with moderately higher food and beverage costs. Tickets average $152.42, representing 58.9% of total match-day spending — the lowest ticket share among the bottom five.
Concessions total $66.44 (25.7%), while parking averages $40.08 (15.5%), indicating that food and beverage costs play a significantly larger role in overall affordability compared to higher-priced markets.
3. Chicago Fire — Soldier Field ($290.30)
Chicago remains one of MLS’s more affordable experiences, with tickets averaging $205.92, accounting for 70.9% of total cost.
Concessions contribute $65.39 (22.5%), while parking averages $18.98 (6.5%), keeping total match-day spending below the league average despite a major-market location.
4. New York Red Bulls — Red Bull Arena ($301.74)
The Red Bulls provide a relatively accessible option within a major metropolitan area. Tickets average $220.00, representing 72.9% of total cost.
Concessions total $65.92 (21.8%), while parking averages $15.82 (5.2%), maintaining a balanced cost structure compared to other Northeast markets.
5. Philadelphia Union — Subaru Park ($328.30)
Philadelphia rounds out the bottom five, with tickets averaging $232.32, accounting for 70.8% of total match-day spending.
Concessions contribute $73.83 (22.5%), while parking averages $22.15 (6.7%), showing that food and beverage pricing makes up a larger proportion of overall costs compared to premium MLS markets.
Among the league’s most affordable MLS markets, concessions and parking account for between 30–41% of total match-day spending — a significantly larger share than in premium markets, where ticket prices dominate overall costs.
How Canadian MLS Teams Compare to the League Average
With the league-wide average family cost at $413, Canada’s three MLS clubs mostly land on the affordable side of the league — two are in the top 10 cheapest overall.
Vancouver Whitecaps — BC Place
- Total family cost: $336.24
- Vs. league average ($413): $76.76 cheaper (18.6% below average)
- League rank: 6th of 30 teams by total match-day cost
CF Montréal — Stade Saputo
- Total family cost: $345.47
- Vs. league average ($413): $67.53 cheaper (16.4% below average)
- League rank: 9th of 30 teams by total match-day cost
Toronto FC — BMO Field
- Total family cost: $429.80
- Vs. league average ($413): $16.80 higher (4.1% above average)
- League rank: 20th of 30 teams by total match-day cost
Takeaway: Vancouver and Montréal both rate as clearly below-average (more affordable) match-day experiences, while Toronto sits slightly above the league midpoint, reflecting a more typical big-market cost profile.
How Concession Prices Compare Across MLS in the 2026 Season
While ticket prices drive overall match-day affordability, food and beverage pricing varies significantly across MLS stadiums. Below we rank the cheapest and most expensive venues for popular concession items.
For readers tracking MLS both on and off the field, we’ve also analyzed leading betting apps for the 2026 season, including a comprehensive bet365 review outlining platform features and market coverage.
Methodology
What We Measured
To estimate the true cost of attending an MLS match, we calculated what a family of four would typically spend on:
- Four tickets
- Concessions (two beers, two soft drinks, four hot dogs)
- Parking (one vehicle)
Each team was then ranked based on the total estimated game-day cost.
Which Teams Were Included
This study covers 30 MLS teams from the 2026 season where complete pricing data was available.
Ticket Price Data
We collected ticket pricing from official and verified sources:
- Primary source: Ticketmaster (all available home-game ticket listings by team)
- Metric used: Median ticket price (chosen to reduce distortion from VIP seats and resale outliers)
For CF Montréal and New York Red Bulls, where Ticketmaster data was incomplete, we used Vivid Seats listings to fill gaps and maintain league coverage.
In total, we collected and analyzed 74,004 ticket listings, using Python tools including playwright, pandas, and numpy.
Concessions and Parking Data
Average concession and parking prices were sourced from:
- Scarves and Spikes — “The Cost of Being an MLS Fan” (2024)
To make comparisons consistent across the league, we used the same “basket” of typical expenses for every team:
- Four hot dogs
- Two beers
- Two soft drinks
- Parking for one vehicle
Adjusting Costs to Reflect 2026 Prices
Because concession and parking figures were originally published in 2024, we inflation-adjusted these costs so they better reflect 2026 price levels.
We used the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, applying a two-year adjustment so 2024 values align with 2026 pricing.
In simple terms:
2024 concession + parking prices were scaled up to estimated 2026 prices using CPI inflation.
How We Calculated Total Cost
For each team, the total estimated cost was calculated as:
- Ticket cost for four people (Median Ticket Price × 4)
plus - Concessions bundle (inflation-adjusted)
plus - Parking (inflation-adjusted)
How Teams Were Ranked
Teams were ranked from most expensive to least expensive based on their total estimated game-day cost.
Note: Because ticket pricing fluctuates game-to-game, totals should be interpreted as average estimates, and may vary depending on opponent, demand, and seat availability.