Beer prices and a ballclubs’ records

Beer tastes better when the home team is winning. It’s colder and the Beer Man is always around when you want him. The steps don’t seem as steep and hot dogs go down like shrimp cocktail. But when the Royals are losing, the beer can be as stale as a bar floor the next morning.

There may be one saving grace to the Royals’ recent run of poor seasons — the beer is likely cheaper. The Wall Street Journal decided to see whether there was a correlation between winners and higher beer prices:

A team with a .600 winning percentage charges, on average, about $1.30 more for a 16-ounce beer than does a team with a .400 percentage.

It’s not a perfect sample. They don’t account for the fact that many winning teams are in major markets, while small-market teams are in cities with a lower cost of living. A domestic draft at Kauffman Stadium will run you $6, while premium beer is $7. And that’s for a 20 oz. beer. Compare that with a trip to Fenway Park in Boston, where you’ll pay $7.25 for a 12 oz. beer.  

You’re better off waiting until the Red Sox come to Kauffman next week (September 22-24). And regardless of the game’s outcome, you can cheer knowing that you’re beating Boston the price of suds. 
 
As the Royals’ season bleeds to a close, one can only hope that beer prices won’t go up next year. If not, consider a move to Pittsburgh. Based on the standings this morning, you’d be giving up a game in the standings and paying $1.25 less per beer.

[Image via Flickr: tony the misfit]