Game Changers: The Most Wallet-Friendly Owners in U.S. Sports

While some NFL teams have hiked fan costs by over 500% since 1991, others have lowered them in real dollars.

From the NFL and NBA to MLB and NHL, owners of the Big Four often find themselves under fire for the rising costs of attending games. But it’s not just about ticket prices, as even the cost of hot dogs, jerseys and foam fingers seems to be constantly on the rise.

And if we’re being honest, it’s true that fans across the country are feeling the pinch, and recent headlines like the Buffalo Bills’ 12% season ticket hike only add fuel to the fire. But is this increase in cost really driven by greed, or is it part of a broader economic trend?

To find out, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture, and more importantly, shine a light on the owners who are actually doing right by their fans.

By comparing the Fan Cost Index (a measurement that combines ticket prices, food and drink, and merchandise) across football, basketball, baseball and hockey from 1991 to 2024, we can explore how gameday costs have tracked against U.S. inflation in recent years.

Which owners have kept gameday costs fair despite decades of inflation?

While prices have undoubtedly risen, our analysis identifies which owners have kept increases in line with inflation or even below it, offering fans better value in tough times. In a climate of criticism, this is a chance to celebrate those who’ve stayed grounded (and even been pretty generous) in an industry that’s only getting more expensive.

When you take into account that the cumulative inflation rate between 2015 and 2024 was 26.7%, you’d expect to see some pretty hefty price increases in the sports world. However, prepare to be surprised (and perhaps even proud), as many Big Four owners have managed to keep the Fan Cost Index (FCI) impressively low.

1. Bruce Sherman – Miami Marlins

Bruce Sherman, owner of the MLB’s Miami Marlins since 2017, is the number one most generous owner in the Big Four. The Fan Cost Index was $79.12 in 1991, which increased to $224.83 in 2015. Despite high levels of inflation, in 2024, the FCI for Miami Marlins fans was only $184.90, which is an 18% decrease over nine years for the Florida based franchise.

2. Francesco Aquilini – Vancouver Canucks

Francesco Aquilini owns the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks in British Columbia. This team had a Fan Cost Index of $139.94 in 1991 and $456.35 in 2015. By 2024, this had gone down by 7% to $424.39, helping fans to save a few dollars compared to nine years ago. This is the only NHL team to appear in the top 10 list of generous Big Four owners, so props to Aquilini!

3. Ted Leonsis – Washington Wizards

Ted Leonsis of the NBA’s Washington Wizards is another generous owner. A Fan Cost Index of $123.50 in 1991 and $322.82 in 2015 went down to $300.36 in 2024, which is a drop of 7% over nine years.

4. Micky Arison – Miami Heat

Another Florida team that has seen lower fan costs is the NBA’s Miami Heat, owned by Micky Arison. A Fan Cost Index of $118.20 in 1991 and $465.92 in 2015 reduced to $449.36 in 2024, which is a decrease of 4% over nine years.

5. Jim Pohlad – Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins in MLB, owned by Jim Pohlad, had a Fan Cost Index of $74.17 in 1991 and $229.36 in 2015. In 2024, this had dropped to $228.86, which is a 0% change over nine years but still a few cents less at a time when everything else is becoming more expensive.

6. John Mara & Steve Tisch – New York Giants

The NFL’s New York Giants are owned by John Mara and Steve Tisch. These two owners have kept prices low, too, as the Fan Cost Index was $151.80 in 1991, $629.62 in 2015, and only $655.06 in 2024, which is only a 4% increase over nine years.

7. Jerry Jones – Dallas Cowboys

Everything is bigger in Texas, except the cost for fans to attend games for ‘America’s Team’ – the Dallas Cowboys. American Businessman Jerry Jones, known for helping reshape the business of sport through sponsorship rights and elevating franchise valuations league-wide, is one of the Big Four owners who has overseen a relative price stability in the last 9 years. In 1991, the Fan Cost Index was $184.32; in 2015, it was $634.80, and since then it’s increased by just 5% to $665.60 in 2024.

8. Ilitch Family – Detroit Tigers

Christopher Ilitch, the owner of the MLB’s Detroit Tigers, has also ensured that the Fan Cost Index has only increased by 5% over nine years. It was $83.49 in 1991, $213.03 in 2015, and $224.74 in 2024.

9. Rogers Communications – Toronto Blue Jays

Ontario’s Toronto Blue Jays are an MLB team owned by Rogers Communications. Their Fan Cost Index went from $106.69 in 1991 to $208.23 in 2015, but then only increased by 6% over nine years, becoming $220.70 in 2024.

10. Glen Taylor – Minnesota Timberwolves

Last but not least, Glen Taylor is another Minnesota-based Big Four owner who looks after his team’s fans. The Fan Cost Index for the Minnesota Timberwolves was $121.74 in 1991, then $281.06 in 2015, and increased by just 6% to $298.80 by 2024. Taylor sold his stake in the Timberwolves in 2025, so we’ll see if the new ownership group, including former MLB star Alex Rodriguez, continues this fan-friendly trend.

The most generous franchises of the last three decades

Moving on to the franchises themselves, rather than their owners, some have been more generous than others. It’s safe to say that prices have skyrocketed across the board over 33 years, but some franchises have managed to keep the costs down so that fans can still afford to attend games in person.

The Charlotte Hornets (NBA) saw the Fan Cost Index go from $125.26 in 1991 to $237.55 in 2024. This is just a 90% increase in 33 years, which is quite the achievement, compared to the cumulative rate of inflation surpassing 120.8%

Also in our list of franchises that are considered the most generous over the last 33 years are the NBA’s Detroit Pistons (98%), the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays (107%), NBA’s Atlanta Hawks (121%), and San Antonio Spurs (134%).

These are followed by the Washington Wizards (143%) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (145%). With the Indiana Pacers (158%), this brings the total to seven NBA teams in the top 10, for three MLB teams. Interestingly, no NHL or NFL rank in the Top 15.

All of these franchises have managed to keep their FCI relatively low between 1991 and 2024, which is great news for fans who love the excitement of being in the audience for a live game.

For reference, the worst 33-year increase recorded in our study is an NFL franchise that saw a 543% price hike, which goes to show just how generous these top 15 franchises have been over the years.

Ticket inflation: which league’s prices have skyrocketed?

As for the Big Four leagues in general, the Fan Cost Index has, unsurprisingly, risen quite a lot over the years. The NBA has seen the smallest Fan Cost Index increase of the four, going from $141.91 in 1991 to $339.02 in 2015 and $448.61 in 2024. This is a rise of 216% over 33 years and just 2% in the last nine years.

Next up, MLB went from $79.41 in 1991 to $211.89 in 2015 and $266.56 in 2024, which is a 236% rise overall and a 10% increase over the last nine years. Meanwhile, the NHL had a Fan Cost Index of $139.94 in 1991, then $387.72 in 2015, and $498.04 in 2024. That’s an increase of 256% since 1991 and 13% since 2015.

Finally, we then have the NFL, which has seen the largest increases. The Fan Cost Index went from $151.33 in 1991 to $480.89 in 2015 and $631.63 in 2024. This is a 317% increase over 33 years but only a 14% increase over the last 9-year period.

These price hikes have been similar across major events in the Big Four leagues over the past decade, with average Super Bowl ticket prices rising by 215%, World Series tickets up 150%, and Stanley Cup Final tickets now averaging $2,324, a 132% increase since 2015. More details on these findings can be found onsite: Top Sports Events in the U.S. Experiencing Shocking Ticket Inflation.

However, though these sound like sharp rises, bear in mind that all areas of the economy have seen major cost increases over the last 33 years. While inflation has pushed prices up across the board, teams that prioritize fan experience, accessibility, and value through thoughtful pricing, game-day experiences, or community engagement can maintain strong connections with their base. Smart ownership decisions aren’t just about maximizing revenue; they’re about nurturing long-term loyalty in an era where fans are increasingly selective about where they spend their money.

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Methodology

This study ranks all current NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL franchises based on how generous their owners are. To do so, the Fan Cost Index for each year between 1991 and 2024 was taken into account to find out how it varied throughout the years. The Fan Cost Index differences were then compared to cumulative inflation rates in the last 9 years (2015-2024) and 33 years (1991-2024). The owners were then ranked from most generous to least generous based on the percentage increase of fan cost over the years. Data is accurate as of 16/05/2025.

Sources:

Fan Cost Index: https://teammarketing.com/fci/
Inflation rate: https://www.investopedia.com/inflation-rate-by-year-7253832