• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

MLB Projects Full-Year Attendance Spike

  • Lift at the gate set to reverse generational low from 2022
  • Manfred offers sarcasm in response to A’s “reverse boycott”
Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball’s attendance resurgence is on track to hold for the entire 2023 season.

Following this week’s owners meetings in New York, commissioner Rob Manfred said that after the league jumped out to a strong start at the gate, internal projections point to a full-season attendance lift of 6% to 8%.

That increase would meaningfully reverse a 2022 total of 64.56 million — MLB’s lowest unrestricted figure since 1997, the league’s final season at 28 teams before adding the Tampa Bay and Arizona franchises.

Continuing to fuel the increase is strong fan reception to MLB’s new pitch clock, larger bases, and a ban on extreme defensive shifts — all of which generated an immediate, significant, and sustained reduction in average game times. Twenty-two of MLB’s 30 clubs are currently up in attendance.

“This is a nice number for us,” Manfred said.

Oakland Snark

The commissioner’s good feeling, however, didn’t extend to the Oakland A’s, who are now closer than ever to moving to Las Vegas. 

Asked about the “reverse boycott” organized by Oakland fans this week — drawing an A’s season-high announced crowd of 27,759 — Manfred’s response dripped with sarcasm.

“I mean, it was great. It is great to see what is this year almost an average Major League Baseball crowd in the facility for one night,” Manfred said. “That’s a great thing.”

The A’s rank last in the league with an per-game attendance average of 9,021, less than a third of the league average of 27,245.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

ESPN Brings Pat McAfee to Atlanta for Home Run Derby Showcase

The Disney-owned network will bring one of its top stars to Atlanta.

How Bradley Beal Buyout Would Save Suns $230M, and What’s Next

Beal has two years and $110 million remaining on his deal.

Nationals Hit Reset Button, Oust Rizzo and Martinez Before Draft

The MLB club made major leadership changes just days before the draft.

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.

Featured Today

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Breanna Stewart

WNBA Players Call League Proposal For Fixed Salary Cap Inadequate  

The league’s collective bargaining agreement expires in less than four months.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.
July 4, 2025

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Dana White (left) during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
July 7, 2025

UFC Confirms Talks to Bring Fight to White House Grounds

Discussions are underway to bring a UFC event to the White House grounds.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Michael Johnson
July 3, 2025

Grand Slam Track Still Owes Athletes $13 Million: Source

The new track league hasn’t paid athletes in full yet.
July 2, 2025

NHL to Rejoin Olympic Ice in Milan—and NBC Set to Cash In

NHL players last competed in the Olympics in 2014.
Sophie Cunningham
July 2, 2025

WNBA Expansion Decisions Show League Prioritizes North, NBA Ties

One player ripped the league for its geographic choices.
exclusive
July 2, 2025

PGA Tour Slashes FedEx Cup Winner Pay From $25M to $10M

The FedExCup is reworking how it distributes its bonus money.