The changes MLB made to its product heading into this season are apparently paying dividends with younger audiences.
During media availability with the Baseball Writers of Association before the 2023 All-Star Game, commissioner Rob Manfred said that the median age of MLB ticket-buyers this season is 43 years old — a three-year drop from last season (46) and a six-year drop from 2021 (49).
“I think that’s really important,” Manfred said of the numbers.
Reaching younger fans has been a priority for MLB in recent years, leading the league to implement expansive rule changes to increase scoring and decrease game duration.
It seems to be working, as through the first month of the season, game duration decreased from 3:05 to 2:36. In turn, attendance and viewership were up through the first month of the season, and the league projects a full-season spike in attendance.
Critically, the rule changes have been popular among the players: Among 103 MLB players surveyed in June, a majority rated the new rule changes a four out of five. Many players said the league should increase the time on the pitch clock for the postseason — which Manfred said he’s “open-minded” to.
