Is Michigan Really Home of America’s Cheapest Sports Tickets?

Between the Bad Boys and the 'Goin' to Work' era for the Pistons, the '84 Tigers, and the incredible run beginning in '96 for the Red Wings, I've been fortunate to see all but one of those teams win their sports' top prize (on TV, never in person), and the remaining championship win hasn't been witnessed by anyone—ever (looking at you, Dan Campbell). You'd think with credentials like that Michigan sports tickets would be pricier, but according to Remitly's recent analysis, we are home to the cheapest average sporting event ticket price in America.

Related: What Are Your Odds of Going Pro If You're Born in Michigan?

Looking at the big five professional sports—football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer—the math doesn't lie. And before you say, "Michigan doesn't have a soccer team!" That's been considered. Of the 20 cities in the Remitly study, several only have three or four of the five professional teams.

Comparing Michigan's Sporting Event Ticket Prices to the Rest of the US

The professional sports mecca is Detroit for our fine state, but it wasn't always that way for Michigan. All four of its professional teams have played within the Detroit city limits since the Pistons moved from Auburn Hills at the beginning of the 2017-18 season (and the Lions in Pontiac before 2002).

With the Red Wings and the Pistons now calling Little Caesar's Arena home, the Lions' Ford Field, and the Tigers' Comerica Park all downtown, getting from game to game has never been easier and apparently affordable for Michiganders. Here's a closer look at Michigan's average ticket price for all sporting events and each of the four professional teams.