Proposing to your significant other can be one of the most exciting moments in your life. But imagine how much fun you’d have doing it at your favorite major league team’s home stadium, as you romantically get down on one knee with the scoreboard popping the big question: ‘Will you marry me?’.

With this in mind, we wanted to find out which MLB and NBA venues rank as the most affordable and accessible for future proposals, based on the cost of a scoreboard message, tickets, and an overnight stay with a romantic meal.

So, keep on reading to discover where your team ranks!

The best MLB stadiums for proposals

Taking top spot as the best MLB venue for proposals, we have PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, coming away with an overall index score of 73.495 out of 100. This includes boasting the third-cheapest scoreboard message cost, with a game-day proposal message priced at just $35.

Next up, the Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park scores 72.454, just ahead of the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ball Park (72.324). Incidentally, the Reds have among the most affordable tickets, with a couple able to watch a game for less than $50.

In fourth, we have Oriole Park at Camden Yards (71.530), home of the Baltimore Orioles, followed by the Cleveland Guardians’ (70.607) and Arizona Diamondbacks’ (70.198) home stadiums.

Of the three, the Guardians offer the best scoreboard message deal ($35), while the Diamondbacks sell the league’s cheapest tickets ($44.24 per pair), and the Orioles offer the most affordable overnight stay ($137).

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins’ Target Field takes seventh, with an index score of 67.576, trailed by the respective homes of the Miami Marlins (65.873) and Toronto Blue Jays (64.936), with the Colorado Rockies’ Coors Field (64.490) rounding out our top ten.

The most affordable scoreboard messages: How much does it cost to propose at every MLB stadium?

When we look at the cost of a scoreboard message specifically, our ranking changes slightly. First, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium is the only MLB venue to offer proposal messages for free, while it costs just $30 at the Philadelphia Eagles’ Citizens Bank Park.

Next up, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Guardians charge $35, followed by the Seattle Mariners ($40) and Cincinnati Reds ($45). Other franchises with a stadium scoreboard message cost below $75 include the Miami Marlins ($50), Los Angeles Angels ($50), and Kansas City Royals ($55).

The best NBA stadiums for proposals

Ranking top as the best NBA venue for proposals, we have Paycom Center, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, with an overall index score of 75.458 out of 100. This includes offering zero-cost scoreboard messages and being the cheapest team to visit for an overnight stay ($123).

Next up, the Memphis Grizzlies’ FedEx Forum scores 69.717, ahead of the Toronto Raptors’ Scotiabank Arena (68.8). Incidentally, alongside the City Thunder, the Raptors are the only other team to offer proposal scoreboard messages for free.

Fourth, we have the Detroit Pistons’ Little Caesars Arena (67.485), ahead of the Washington Wizards’ (67.170) and Indiana Pacers’ (66.719) home venues. Curiously, the Pistons offer the cheapest parking in the NBA, priced at just $8.90 per game, as well as having some of the league’s cheapest surrounding restaurants – the average romantic meal at a mid-priced Detroit eatery costs an extremely affordable $60.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns’ Footprint Center takes seventh, with an index score of 65.988, followed by the respective homes of the Utah Jazz (65.047) and Cleveland Cavaliers (64.675), with the Sacramento Kings (62.446) rounding out our top ten.

Which NBA venue offers the most affordable scoreboard messages?

When reviewing the cost of a scoreboard message, it’s interesting to see which teams come out on top as the cheapest!

Behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors – both offering the service free of charge - we have the Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks (all $25).

Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers all charge $50.

Featuring at the bottom of our table, the New York Knicks’ Madison Square Garden scores 27.823, joined by the Boston Celtics’ TD Garden (28.683), and Chicago Bulls’ United Center (36.156). In fact, across baseball and basketball, venues in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, and Chicago are best avoided altogether!

So, now you’re aware of which MLB and NBA home venues are the best (and worst) to propose in, you’ll have a good idea as to whether popping the question at your favorite team’s stadium is worth it or not! In the meantime, why not discover even more interesting insights on the Betway blog?

Methodology

To determine the best MLB and NBA stadiums to propose at, five different factors were considered. Once the data for each factor was collected, each team was ranked for each factor against each other MLB or NBA team, and the data was normalized to provide a score between 0-1.

The normalized values were then summed and multiplied by 20, to give each location a total score out of 100. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores. The factors considered were:

• The cost to display a proposal message on the stadium scoreboard. Stadiums that do not allow proposal messages were automatically given a score of 0. Low values get a high score.
• The cost of two single tickets to watch a game, according to the NBA and MLB fan cost index. Low values get a high score.
• The cost of parking at each stadium, according to the MLB and NBA fan cost index. Low values get a high score.
• The average daily rate to rent a property in the city of each stadium, over the previous 3 months in USD. Low values get a high score.
• The cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant, in USD. Low values get a high score.

All data is correct as of 09/27/2023. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regard to the sources provided.

Bet on NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAAB, NCAAF, Soccer and more with BetwayFind season-long sports betting odds on Betway sportsbook. You'll find all the latest spreads, totals, money lines, and parlays. Missed tip-off? No problem, Betway also offers live betting. All your sports betting needs are covered in our online sportsbook.

Visit Betway’s sports betting picks page for picks and predictions throughout the season.