BY SHEA CONNELL



If you’re like me (typical Yankee transplant) you fear trips to the stadium, or at least fear for your wallet. You pay sky-high prices for tickets and swear you won’t blow cash when you get there, but you always do. Your passion takes a hold of you and so does the beer.

     Major markets, major stadiums and major teams can charge whatever they want for food, drink and parking due to the demand at the events. Down here, where the people are sweet and the arenas are quaint, you can afford to splurge on a coke. Heck, you can even buy a hot dog. Here’s a look at how far your cash you can stretch at the local ballparks.

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Buy Me Some Peanuts & Cracker Jacks
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, home to New York Yankee affiliate the Charleston Riverdogs, has the best “Thirsty Thursday’s” around and even better baseball (Brett Gardner and Josh Hamilton anyone?). “The Joe” charges $5 for parking and $3 to $8 for a beer (or a whole dollar on Mondays and Thursdays). A typical hot dog starts at $3.50, but if you’re in the mood to “build your own dog,” the half-pound all beef “Homewrecker” will set you back $7.

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The Beautiful Game
There are not too many soccer arenas where you can see the whites of the players’ eyes and hear their every word. Blackbaud Stadium, home to the United Soccer League’s Charleston Battery, features Major League Soccer and Barclay’s English Premier League teams with no charge for parking. What self-confessed sports nut can turn down a $10 ticket to see Thierry Henry or Gareth Bale up close? During the regular season, an average game will cost between $7 and $12 and the Battery’s onsite English-style soccer pub, The Three Lions, has beer starting at $2.50.

 

Maroon Madness
South Carolina is a state divided by Tigers and Gamecocks, but at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena and Patriot’s Point, the Cougars are king. “The college is a special place for sports. We have the same passionate fans as any other NCAA D1 program, but our venues are much different than those at Clemson or Carolina,” says Assistant Softball Coach Jake Jury. “You won’t find another school that has this same kind of scenery. Out at Pat’s Point we play next to the [USS] Yorktown, a national landmark, and the arena is in one of the most historic downtowns in

the country. Who else can say that?” A general admission ticket is $10.

That includes sports, great scenery and maybe even a bear hug from

Clyde the Cougar.