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.
This was the best-attended weekend across the sport since 2008.
pic.twitter.com/3mGkvPCacc
— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2024
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
#Dbacks Attendance: 37 Home Games
Attendance last night: 37,694 (-2.07% v. last game)
2023: 765,777 (20,696 avg.; games 35k+ attendance: 10)
2024: 1,066,224 (28,816 avg. | 16th in MLB; games 35k+ attendance: 9)
+39.23% YoY increase
— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) June 17, 2024
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.
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