The St. Louis Cardinals have effectively given up on the 2025 season after trading away Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton at the deadline. The future doesn’t look much brighter for 2026 either. Their struggles are evident in a major drop in attendance — once among the league’s best, the Cardinals now rank just 18th in MLB ticket sales.
There are plenty of theories for the sharp decline, including rising game-day costs and concerns about downtown St. Louis crime. But the most straightforward answer is likely the right one: the team isn’t winning, and fans aren’t willing to pay to see a losing product.
Usually, teams with poor performance lower ticket prices to attract fans — a basic economic strategy. However, the Cardinals seem to be ignoring this approach, and it’s clearly not benefiting their supporters.
The Cardinals are reportedly raising their season-ticket prices for 2026.
A St. Louis Cardinals season-ticket holder emailed the local radio show The Morning After on 101 ESPN, sharing that he received notice of a 15% increase in season-ticket prices for next year.
This news has only deepened fans’ frustrations. Many feel the organization has squandered goodwill in recent years, and the price hike feels like another slap in the face—especially since it’s not tied to a boost in payroll. In fact, payroll is expected to decrease further, with ownership blaming fans for low attendance and using that as justification to cut spending.
With contracts like Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, Phil Maton, Erick Fedde, and potentially Miles Mikolas coming off the books, the team could shed around $50 million in payroll. That makes the price increase all the more frustrating, as it seems rooted in cost-cutting rather than reinvestment.
The same email also claimed that the Cardinals are demanding ticket renewals by September 5, months earlier than the usual January deadline. Some wonder if the team is bracing for a fire sale in the offseason and trying to lock in renewals before more fans jump ship.
Once seen as the crown jewel of St. Louis sports, the Cardinals have alienated much of their fanbase with a string of poor decisions. Now, by raising prices while fielding an uncompetitive team, they’re being accused of ignorance at best—and exploitation at worst. Sadly, many fans aren’t even shocked anymore.
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