How to increase attendance at Major League Baseball games

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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 24: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies signs autographs for fans before a game against the San Diego Padres during Players Weekend at Coors Field on August 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Players are wearing special jerseys with their nicknames on them during Players’ Weekend. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The topic of “how to fix baseball” is a contentious one, and one that I’m not going to get into. I’m only here to suggest some ideas about how to get people to the ballpark in general and boost Major League Baseball attendance.

In a recent article from Yahoo! Sports written by Jeff Passan, it’s highlighted that Major League Baseball will “fail to reach the 70 million-fan threshold for the first time since 2003.” Not good.

Now, of course, there are still teams that have no problem drawing fans to the ballpark, i.e. the Red Sox, Yankees, and Giants, but one team that you wouldn’t expect has consistently found itself in the top 15 in total and per game attendance over the last 10 years. That team is the Colorado Rockies.

According to ESPN.com, in 2018, the Rockies currently sit at seventh in total attendance at approximately 2.4 million fans, and sixth in average attendance at approximately 37,500 per game. It’s awesome! The Rockies sit at the big kids table when it comes to drawing fans, and it makes perfect sense that, after a year in 2017 that saw massive improvements and a Wild Card Game appearance, that the team should have excellent attendance.

But how do you explain the attendance numbers being what they have been over the last 10 years? And what can teams with poor attendance numbers do to replicate what the Rockies have been able to do in drawing fans, even when the team is struggling? Let’s take a look…

DENVER, CO – JUNE 25: A general view of the Colorado Rockies “The Rooftop” during the Colorado Rockies v the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on June 25, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 11-6. (Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images) /

1. A Rooftop-esque scene

There are a number of beautiful ballparks across Major League Baseball, but often times a beautiful ballpark isn’t enough.

For example, the Pittsburgh Pirates play at PNC Park and it’s widely considered one of the best stadiums in baseball, and over the last six or so years the Pirates have been a pretty good team. However, in 2018, they sit at 26th out of 30 teams in total attendance and per game attendance.

2. More promotional events

This sort of goes hand in hand with the Rockies and Yankees Party Deck scene. The rich get richer in those scenarios … but for teams with excellent ballparks who just can’t seem to draw fans, the fan experience needs to be bumped a bit.

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No more of these weird in-game competitions, like throwing empty Coors bottles into a box or guessing how much the electric bill costs. No. We need more promo nights like the Minor League teams do. Crazy uniforms to go with a giveaway or even pregame events at the stadium. Market them like crazy and it can work.

For example, the Portland Sea Dogs had a Field Of Dreams Night beginning back in 2014. They set up a makeshift cornfield and had the players wear throwback uniforms. That’s much better than giving the first 5,000 fans at the stadium a cheap hat. Now that’s a real baseball-y promo night, but it’s easy to find other excellent examples.

The Fresno Grizzlies hold an annual Taco Truck Throwdown-themed night every season that began back in 2016, and it’s brilliant. Everybody loves tacos and, if my memory serves me correctly, Rockies fans have a very warm spot for the Mexican delicacy. The Grizzlies have special uniforms for the day and it has widely been considered one of the best Minor League promos in recent memory.

CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: General view of action between the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox as Hispanic Heritage Night is celebrated during a game at Great American Ball Park on September 22, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Red Sox defeated the Reds 5-4. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. International reach

Baseball is America’s pastime, but there’s no denying the international aspect of this great game.

According to SABR.org 36.7% of Major League Baseball is non-white, compared to less than 2% in 1947. Some of the greatest players in the history of the game have been minorities and they are not appreciated enough.

I understand that some cities, like Kansas City and St. Louis, have done great tributes to Negro League players, but I think really honoring the great Latin, Asian, and African-American players could bring wonders to the game.

I’m definitely not saying that teams fail to honor these players and leagues … but if teams and stadiums could turn it up a few notches, I really believe the diversity of crowds would increase and the shear number of fans would increase.

Even teams with not much history (like the Rockies and Diamondbacks) have had some unbelievable African-American and Latin players on their rosters. If Major League Baseball had league-wide Negro League and Latin American nights with historical exhibits set up around the park with early entry, the growth and knowledge of the game would easily expand beyond just the hardcore baseball fans.

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I also understand that baseball does have a Hispanic Heritage Night late in September, but I think the league can do much better than just making T-shirts with an accent over the MLB logo. I’m talking special uniforms, hats, patches and celebrating the unbelievable influence that minorities have had on the game of baseball, and celebrating it. That is the least that baseball could do.

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The topic of “how to fix baseball” is a contentious one, and one that I’m not going to get into. I’m only here to suggest some ideas about how to get people to the ballpark in general and boost Major League Baseball attendance.

1. A Rooftop-esque scene

2. More promotional events

More from Rox Pile

3. International reach

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