New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox Head 2009 Sports Fan Misery Index

In economics, the Misery Index is calculated by adding the inflation rate to the unemployment rate. The Sports Fan Misery Index, developed by the Boston Sports Group, calculates the financial pain experienced by a devoted team follower when he watches his club lose at home.

Using research available from Team Marketing Report, the Sports Fan Misery Index is computed by adding three numbers: 1) the cost of an average ticket (premium seating is not included in this calculation); 2) the cost of parking; and 3) the cost of consolation, or two small beers.

The 2009 Misery Index for New York Yankees fans is a steep $101.97. The figure includes a ticket @ $72.97; parking @ $23.00; and beers @ 6.00.

The Misery Index for Boston Red Sox fans is somewhat easier to bear. They pay $50.24 for their ticket; $27.00 for parking; and $7.25 for beer for a total of $84.49.

Watching Tampa Bay at home is relatively painless. You spend $18.35 for a ticket and $8.00 for beer, and there is no parking fee. And in case you're thinking the Rays overcharge for consolation, they use  20-ounce cups instead of the dainty 12-ounce version favored in New York and Boston.

The average Misery Index for Major League baseball is $44.06. The Yankees have the most miserable fans in the game while Rays supporters, with a Misery Index of just $26.35, get off the cheapest.

Red Sox partisans beat out Cubs fans by a margin of $5.74 for the dubious distinction of placing second behind the Yankees.

Yankees fans should not pity themselves too much. At least they do not have to root for the New England Patriots who boast the highest Misery Index in professional sports. The whopping figure of $165.34 includes a ticket @ $117.84; parking @ $40.00; and beers @ $7.50.

Now that is something to cry about.