WBC brings in big TV audience AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Compared to the 2006 World Baseball Classic the 2009 version is doing some very large numbers. What this probably means is love it or hate it the WBC might very well be here to stay.
Why ESPN wanted this event in the first place may be a mystery, it may be the “Evil Empire’s “only viable alternative to NCAA March madness or it may be an event that becomes more and more popular as it evolves.
What we do know is the 2009 WBC is providing ESPN with some big TV audiences. For the first round of this year’s tournament ESPN averaged 1.75 million viewers. That is up 90% compared to 2006.
The first game featuring America versus Venezuela had .6 million viewers which was dominated by the first round match up of Japan versus Korea which had some 45 million TV viewers worldwide.
Now we all have seen a few WBC games on TV where the stands looked pretty empty but the crowds are actually on the rise. Japan led the way bring 8,000 more fans to the stadiums over 2006. They also got 28,000 people out for their opener versus China.
Puerto Rico was also able to draw in 16% more fans this time around and its home opener for the tournament was sold out. While the worst bracket, Mexico City, was able to bring in 92,715 fans. That is almost 1500 more fans then watched the Phoenix bracket in 2006. When we consider that Team USA played in the bracket Mexico City really accomplished something.
Meanwhile in Toronto the opener there featuring Team USA versus Canada drew more the 42 thousand fans. Easily this was one of the best games in the tournament that was a thriller until the last pitch.
The problem though was Toronto was unable to duplicate those numbers for any of its other games. Some of this is blamed on MLB setting the ticket prices to high.
What is now clear is there is a market for the WBC, and it will keep baseball fans worldwide engaged, but MLB screwed up badly by setting ticket prices high in a down economy.
If MLB learns from its mistakes the next version of the WBC will be even more successful.
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