The yankees have priced out a large protion of their fan base for their new stadium AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
So far in 2009 MLB attendance is down 4.9% versus 2008. While that is not a huge number, it would represent the biggest year to year decline in MLB attendance over the last seven years. More disturbing than all of that is the nine clubs whose attendance has fallen by double digits so far in 2009.
Let us start with the good news though. Three clubs have seen significant increases in attendance:
Tampa Bay Rays: +41%
Florida Marlins: +36.3%
Kansas City Royals: +11.3%
The Rays attendance is up because they are coming off a very successful 2008, and the Marlins attendance is up because virtually no one shoed up lat year. On top of that Marlins fans have figured out if they don’t show up they will never get their new stadium built.
The most encouraging news here is the increase for the Royals. They got off to a hot start and have seen the return at their turnstiles. Hopefully the Royals management has figured a baseball owner must spend a little money to make a little money.
Now let us look at the bad news, the nine clubs with double digit declines in attendance:
1. Washington Nationals: -33.4%
2. Detroit Tigers: -29.4%
3. New York Mets: -22.1%
4. Atlanta Braves: -18.2%
5. San Diego Padres: -16%
6. Toronto Blue Jays: -16%
7. Colorado Rockies: -14.1%
8. Houston Astros: -13%
9. New York Yankees: -12.6%
In the case of the Mets and Yankees their new stadiums have priced out many of their fans. For the Detroit Tigers we have a perfect storm of bad economy, high unemployment and a disappointing 2008 campaign. The Nationals are just a bad club, and no one wants to pay top dollar to watch a bad team. The same could be said about the Padres, even though there is a fan revolt against the new ownership group.
In the case of the Braves, Astros, and Blue Jays no apparent reason comes to the mind, it will take more research and data to figure out why their crowds have thinned.
More Business of Baseball Stories:
• Worst owners in sports: 2009 MLB edition
• Should the Boston Red Sox buy the Boston Globe?
• MLB attendance slightly off so far in 2009
• MLB Payrolls by Rank
• Recession shrinks MLB payrolls
Comments
Is this based on dollars or numbers?
Pete
This is based on numbers. The amount of tickets sold.
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