(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
This season, Major League Baseball made the decision to implement some new rules.
Larger bases, shift restrictions, and a pitch timer were among the most prominent changes that MLB made this season.
The pitch clock seems to have made the biggest difference, as games aren’t lasting nearly as long as they did in previous years.
As such, the game is slowly regaining popularity.
Attendance is higher than it had been in previous years.
In fact, since June 1 of this year, attendance is still growing.
On Twitter, Codify posted a list featuring the percentage of attendance increase for every team since June 1.
Average attendance this year, since 6/1 vs. before 6/1:
+60% CIN
+55% OAK
+37% COL
+31% PIT CLE
+29% ARI
+23% CWS SF
+22% MIN
+18% KC
+15% TEX
+13% NYM
+12% BAL
+11% STL SEA
+10% SD WSH
+9% LAA MIL CHC NYY
+8% BOS
+5% ATL
+4% LAD
+3% HOU
+2% TB MIA
+1% PHI
-2% TOR DET
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 7, 2023
To nobody’s surprise, the Cincinnati Reds have enjoyed the largest increase, given their recent surge which has catapulted them to first place in the NL Central.
Attendance is up in Cincinnati by 60 percent.
Even the Oakland Athletics have seen an attendance increase.
Their attendance numbers are up 55 percent since the start of June.
The only two teams that have drawn less fans since the start of June are the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays.
Their attendance numbers are down by two percent.
But even the struggling St. Louis Cardinals have drawn more fans in recent weeks, despite their record being 36-52.
In short, the game of baseball is slowly regaining popularity.
More fans are interested in showing up to ballgames and watching their favorite teams play at home.
This is a stark contrast from previous years, when attendance and viewership were on the decline.
Baseball has come back stronger and is ready to regain its position as America’s favorite pastime.
The post Numbers Prove MLB Is Slowly Regaining Popularity appeared first on The Cold Wire.