The Red Sox issued a press release announcing ticket prices for the 2011 season. The team said that ticket prices in 16 categories of seats would remain the same, while approximately 30 percent of seats will be increased by no more than $5 a ticket. Overall, the team announced, prices for tickets will rise by 2 percent, which the team described as the second-lowest increase of the last 16 years (trailing only 2009, when the team froze ticket prices).

Here is the complete release:

The Boston Red Sox today announced prices for tickets available to the general public at Fenway Park for the 2011 regular season, and for 2011 Spring Training games, with prices held at 2010 levels on most categories of tickets.

2011 regular season ticket prices will be held at 2010 price levels in 17 categories of Fenway Park tickets: Green Monster Seats; Budweiser Right Field Roof Deck; Pavilion Box; Left Field Pavilion Reserved; Right Field Box; Right Field Roof Box; Right Field Roof Terrace; Outfield Grandstand; Bleachers; Upper Bleachers; General Standing Room; Pavilion Standing Room; Coca-Cola Corner Pavilion Standing Room; Right Field Roof Box Standing Room; Right Field Roof Terrace Standing Room; Budweiser Right Field Roof Deck Standing Room and Green Monster Standing Room.

Approximately 30% of tickets, all of which are located in three prime infield ticket categories, will see a modest increase for the 2011 season, with no single price category increasing by more than $5. The overall average price increase for all tickets is 2%, which represents the lowest percentage increase over the past 16 seasons with the exception of the 2009 season when the team implemented a price freeze across the board in all ticket categories. In 2011, 63% of the tickets throughout Fenway Park will be $55 or less, with the lowest bleacher ticket price remaining at $12.

Designated prime infield seat locations within three categories of Fenway Park – the Field Box, Loge Box and Infield Grandstands – will undergo increases of $5, $4 and $3 respectively. Prices for more than 4,700 seats in those three sections will be held at 2010 levels.
2011 Spring Training Game prices for all tickets available to the general public will be held at 2010 levels. The Red Sox implemented an across the board freeze on all Spring Training ticket prices for games at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, FL, in 2009 and repeated the measure in 2010. 2011 marks the fifth time in six years that ticket prices for games at City of Palms Park have remained unchanged. The 2011 Spring Training schedule and ticket on-sale date will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are extremely fortunate that Red Sox Nation continues to support this team year after year, and it is because of this tremendous and consistent support that we can continue to invest at significant levels in the ballclub and on the ballpark. As we look beyond 2010 to next season, we are committed to intensifying our efforts and focusing our resources to bring post-season baseball back to Fenway Park,” said Larry Lucchino, President/CEO. “This offseason we also enter the tenth and final year of major annual improvements to Fenway Park, which have been significantly supported over the years by ticket revenue. For that, we thank our fans for their key role in preserving and improving Fenway Park. The total, overall investment to preserve and protect Fenway Park over the last decade, approximately $285 million, has greatly enhanced the fan experience and will ensure Red Sox baseball can be played at Fenway Park for future generations.”

“The Boston Red Sox fans are the most loyal in all of Major League Baseball, and we are constantly mindful of this as we make decisions that will have an impact on the Club, Fenway Park, and our fans. After considerable evaluation, we decided to implement a small increase on a limited number of prime tickets for the 2011 season – the second lowest percentage increase over the past 16 seasons,” said Sam Kennedy, Executive Vice President/COO. “Over the last few years, we have taken steps to slow the growth of season ticket and individual game ticket prices in efforts to ensure the Fenway Park experience is a viable option for as many citizens of Red Sox Nation as possible.”

Distribution methods for Green Monster and Budweiser Deck tickets will be announced after the New Year, in accordance with past practice, and will be designed to make these popular seats available to as many different people as possible. Pricing for premium seating in 2011 will vary and be based on longer term contracts entered into several years ago. The Red Sox special discount programs for Active Duty Military and Clergy will continue unchanged in 2011.

Fans’ first opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2011 season will be the annual, all-day “Christmas at Fenway” presented by Stop & Shop on Saturday, December 11. Additional details for this traditional and popular holiday event will be released in the near future.