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Record-breaking attendance: MLB sees unprecedented fan turnout over Father’s Day weekend
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

If anyone tries to tell you that baseball is dead, show them these numbers:

Over Father’s Day weekend, Major League Baseball experienced the highest number of fans crowding into ballparks across the country since 2008. Across 45 games, over 1.5 million fans attended, averaging 37,527 fans per game. Both Sunday’s and Saturday’s games broke attendance records dating back to 2008.

Playing a role in this surge in attendance was the Arizona Diamondbacks , who saw their highest series attendance since the New York Yankees visited in early April. Chase Field hosted 37,694 fans on Father’s Day, slightly less than the over 38,000 fans who attended the game on Saturday. This turnout is even more impressive considering they were playing the Chicago White Sox, currently the worst team in baseball.

Overall, the Diamondbacks have reported a 39.23% increase in home attendance year-over-year. They are averaging over 8,000 more fans per game this season compared to 2023.

Credit: @DbackStatsInfo

This resurgence in fan interest can be attributed to several factors. Some credit the implementation of the pitch clock, which has sped up the pace of the games. Others point to the overall level of parity in baseball currently, as evidenced by the National League Wild Card race where 10 different teams are fiercely competing for three spots.

With attendance levels soaring in mid-June, we can only imagine the records that might be shattered as the 2024 season progresses and the playoff race intensifies.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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