I’m not disagreeing with you, but the Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Center Outfield District costs only $20 per person with great views, seating anywhere, restaurants/bars, games, etc.
@@JaydenWillem You're going to bring a family of 4, for instance, to the Outfield district at $80, plus parking (or go train which is even more expensive than parking), plus the food approaches $100 minimum throughout the course of the game...
Many people are already priced out due to new stadiums plus MLB is not cultivating new fans due to games being broadcast in exclusive paid channels. Short term vision and greed is killing baseball.
When I was in high school I went to 4 or 5 games a year because I could afford it. Since then I’ve gone to maybe 10, and I’m 72. They overcharge to get in and for parking
And no salary cap. I live in Pittsburgh. The owner of the Pirates owns multiple businesses. He didn’t buy the club to make money. It’s just a hobby for him. Shorten the games and the season will help with attendance. I think it’s what 180 games now. Stupid!
I quit watching sports, 15 years ago, everything is about money, not about the sport. Owners, players, are just looking to line their pockets with money--guess who pays--the fans. Try taking out a family of 4 to a game today--and see what it costs--it is ridicolous. I do not feel for the owners or players, maybe it is time to go to the unemployment line.
Amusement and Theme Parks are the same bullshit!! A family of 4 to Six Flags costs about $3500 dollars these days for the park,admission,parking,food other unmentioned caveats,an overnight at a hotel. This doesn’t include travel expenses such as driving in with a car or train or plane.
@@michaelquinn8618 I went to a Yankees game 3 weeks ago. Its an event, you dont do it often. I paid $20 for 1 beer. Hot dogs were $8. so today two beers and 2 hots would be $56.
Tickets reflect only part of the costs. Add in parking, concessions, etc... I love going to games, however it is no longer affordable for the common person.
Explains the slight decrease in attendance at Dodgers Stadium -4.5% even with Ohtani. Or it could have been the rare rainy games in the beginning of April?
@@danram247 Why don’t more professional stadiums have roofs then? Especially knowing the crazy weather that occurs in California anymore. Hell, So Fi is the one that comes to mind for one’s that do have a roof.
@@RB01.10 Rain during baseball season in Southern California is very rare... especially heavy rain...Sofi Stadium's glass roof was done so that it can host other events like concerts and Superbowls without any rain interruptions.
Was a sports nut as a kid in the early 70s…gradually disillusioned, by 2010 I was a casual fan to now I don’t watch any Pro sports at all. I used to go to games all the time…now I couldn’t care less. I’m not giving any of my hard earned money to these oligarchs while getting rap3d in the process.
It’s fun to go every so often for me, but yeah spending money on season tickets or going to multiple (more than 2 or 3) games in a season for a team I couldn’t do. Especially considering so many sites have fees stacked on top of the ticket cost that sometimes are more than the tickets themselves, yeah it’s a special occasion if I do go.
Yep, I basically am the same. College football is in the same boat as pro sports now. Too much greed and it’s all about the almighty $. Doesn’t matter if you win or lose.
I went to a Ranger’s game 2 years ago and large drink was $11. That was it for me. I bet it’s worse now. This is in a rip-off territory. How about their poor quality t shirts for $40. I refuse to throw away my hard earned money so that these owners turn around and offer $30M to Corey Seager, who doesn’t even care for me. I am not funding that. Nah uh.
I just don’t understand why I don’t take my family of five to see the White Sox and spend $300 to watch a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2008 and is the worst team in MLB.
I think the bigger problem is the owners putting most games behind paywalls. Not too many years ago you could watch your home team virtually every night over BASIC cable. Now that those days are gone, kids and adults rarely see their teams and favorite players. So, you lose OVERALL interest in your team - not just on TV but you lose interest to go to a few games each year too. Unless, I'm willing to shell out a few hundred dollars for streaming (that still blacks out all home games), I don't have the incentive to follow the team or attend a game in person. Owners are killing the golden goose by being greedy. When I was younger, most kids talked baseball. Today, few do.
The Yankees only had 2 games on their channel(YES network) last week. The rest were on some streaming services. If the 12 yo me could only watch 2 games a week instead of making it a habbit to watch every day I doubt I'd be as big a fan that I am now.
You're absolutely right. You have to buy all these seperate stupid streaming services now. That said, we're about the cancel our cable and do that cuz our cable is WAY high but I'm not happy about it. There's also the fact that today's kids seem more interested in video games and watching streamers online than sports. Young kids aren't as interested in sports or even playing outside anymore. It's crazy
@@ryandouglas8382 Yeah, I see my grandsons on their iPads playing video games. I ask them if they want to watch a baseball game on TV (the few there are) and they look at me like I have 3 heads! Once you lose the youth, "TILT, GAME OVER!"
SPOT ON 100%!!!!! I grew up watching the Cubs on WGN. I became a huge Cubs fan. My Dad loved the Braves because TBS showed the Braves. More n more n more, you have to pay even more to watch. I'm NOT gonna do it. I casual check scores on line but that is it.
Its the economy. Plain and simple. Our son took us to a Yankees/ Guardians game in April. Parking was a ripoff. I didn't buy one drink and only ate one measly little hotdog. I'm not a tightwad but I do draw the line when it comes to live sports venues. Best place to watch a game is on TV at home.
"Guardians" LOL.... that pretty much sums it up....what a f-ing joke!!!! Besides all of the dumb ass changes they brought to the game from the pitch clock, to limited throws to 1st base to keep runners from leading too far and stealing bases and putting a runner on base in extra innings, WTF? You want a reason why people aren't going to games, pressure from a-holes that would never, have never and will never attend a game causing the game to change. "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
The obscene prices of tickets, parking and food notwithstanding,.....how did they get to when the game is tied put a runner on second base,.....that is pure insanity.
Been a fan of baseball 55 years. The past 10 have been some of the most boring baseball I have seen. The only strategy is swing for the fence and pitch 100mph. DH has ruined the game in my opinion but prolonged careers. There is no bunting, sacrificing, stealing bases, hit and run, all base to base running thus no strategy. Most pitchers are washed out in 4-5 then they follow the script. Hitters have no idea how to make contact which is why strikeouts are so high. See it everyday a runner on third no outs and batters can’t figure out how to put the ball in play and sacrifice themselves for the run. Tickets and everything associated with attending has skyrocketed and on top it billionaire owners want tax payers to pay for the stadiums. People are not going to pay out money to see teams that are losers when they can spend it elsewhere.
In the NFL I believe it’s recorded by how many tickets are actually scanned in that day and in the building, not just by tickets sold. The MLB should use that same metric, but they likely don’t because of how poor a lot of teams’ attendance have been recently, they don’t want it to look even worse as you said.
It’s called a sell out not an attend out. While I’m sure more butts in seats would transfer to more concessions and mercy sold, once they’ve got your money the team is happy.
When they use tickets sold they can make up any number that can fool the fans. Notice how they scatter ticket sales online to make the stadium look fuller. Imagine if all the fans in attendance moved down and filled up the closet seats first. A sight the teams don't want you to see.
Baseball is in decline, the TV ratings will tell you that. People don't watch the World Series in the numbers they used to. Plus the ticket prices for good seats, (not the nose bleed section), parking, concessions, souvenirs ($100+ for a jersey 😳) are ridiculous.
Another big reason the Blue Jays attendance is never good in the Spring is because of HOCKEY. The Maple Leafs are religion in Toronto and as long as they are in the playoffs, the entire sports world in Toronto revolves around the Leafs. Now that the Leafs have done their annual flop in the first round of the playoffs, the Jays should get more attention.
It also depends on matchups. So far the Jays have hosted the Mariners, Rockies, Yankees, Dodgers, and Royals with the numbers we see here. The Rockies being a weekend series and the Yankees a weekday series definitely messes with the numbers, but the Dodgers and Mariners series were packed and the Royals series was maybe saved by giveaways and promotions. Given time I expect the numbers to normalize
MLB just doesn’t get it. The schedule is freaking awful. There is zero reason to be playing April baseball. Anywhere. The weather is miserable. Season is too long. It’s just ridiculous
I have some bones to pick myself. First off, I'd really like it if home-field in the World Series would alternate year-by-year. As it stands, the league champion with the better record has the extra game if it goes the limit. Have home-field in the League playoffs, but let the American League have it in either even- (or odd-) numbered years and alternate with the NL. Also, do away with haveing a runner on second to lead off extra innings. And finally, reserve interleague play for the World Series. Not that my recommendations have much chance of being adopted, but so glad to vent. Posting 5-14-24.
my brother has fulfilled the American dream. Starting off as a laborer he saved his money and was able to start his own business working out of a battered van. He is now successful with a shop, vehicles and several employees. He did not rely on any handouts along the way. Why should multi-billionaires expect people like my brother (and I) who have earned their way in the world to provide them with funding for a new place of business when they have the means to do it themselves like everybody else has to? Why do the over strained taxpayers take on phenomenal debt and interest to provide facilities for those who can manifestly finance it themselves?
It's just crazy to me as well! I've been to several stadiums that the team owner are screaming "this stadium is out dated we need to build a new one" and everytime the stadium seems great like it could go another 100 years! Why can't we just keep good maintenance and updates on out existing stadiums?
Fuck. The. Owners. There is precisely ONE pro sports team in the US where the public has any input whatsoever in the team's operations: the Green Bay Packers. Every other franchise, including those I love, are a private business. They are owned and operated for profit and contribute little to none of that profit to the community that hosts them. And no, the 1% they 'give back' donating shit to Make-A-Wish or other non-profits doesn't count. If an owner wants a new stadium, let THEM pony up for it. We, the fans, are beyond tired of trying to fund our schools and police and then having to pay for a stadium that's named after yet another multi-nat company. And since the only way we can make ourselves heard is by how much money we spend, we're voting with the only ballot that counts.
Not just that, but looking at it from a completely economic standpoint, there are careful studies that have concluded that contrary to conventional wisdom, a new stadium does NOT benefit the neighborhood economically speaking. If these are true (and intuitively they do), then why should I pony up money which will not benefit me or my community? I can justify my taxes going to keep the police and fire departments going as well as the water running. But not for a stadium.
@@DaDitka So, I'm from the Puget Sound area in Washington State, though not from Seattle. We got an ugly education about professional league 'financing' and ownership decisions back in the 90s with all three of our professional teams... the Seahawks, the Mariners, and Sonics [now the Oklahoma City Bombers - - yeah, that's what we call them, anybody with a problem with that can take it up with the Association]. So needless to say I'm more than a bit jaded about this. People can't afford housing, teachers are paying for school supplies out of their own pocket, there are cuts in police, fire, and EMS services and some billionaire wants me to pony up a billion dollars AND a sweetheart tax deal? Um, NO.
@carlhicksjr8401 I don't blame you at all. I really don't. What we are seeing is just another chapter of the story of how the super wealthy are abusing their wealth to the harm of others. As recently as around ten years ago, I might- MIGHT- have continued my support for publicly funded arenas like ballparks and such. Not anymore, especially with the flippant attitudes of these owners (and many of the players, but they don't make these decisions). By the way, I'm curious- what is the story behind you guys calling the OKC team the "Bombers"? I'm curious to know.
@@DaDitka About the 'Bombers' nickname... The Mariners and Seahawks originally played in the old Kingdome, a multi-use domed stadium that made absolutely **nobody** happy, not football, not soccer, not baseball, not concert promoters, nobody. So during the tech boom in the '90s the M's hustled the city of Seattle and the State legislature into funding a new stadium. This went down fairly well, there was a little grumbling but the M's were still owned by Nordstrom's, a local company, so people were kinda-sorta alright with it. Then the Seahawks came around looking for the same sweetheart deal and, since the K-dome had started falling apart, that was grudgingly approved. Now, the owner of the 'Hawks at the time was an asshole named Ken Behring... he wanted to move the team to LA and used the threat to get the funding though. It took some pretty suspect 'midnight legislating' to get it done, but it got done. Then the tech bubble burst. The state went from doing alright financially to damned near flat broke with major bills almost overnight. And that's when the Sonics came around looking funding for a new basketball-only arena. What a lot of people don't know is that the Sonics venue was Key Arena, a venue built for when Seattle held the World's Fair back in '62. It's in the same complex as the Space Needle. There was a lot of push-back about tearing the arena down because it was on the National Registry. But the Key had been unsatisfactory for at least 10 years before that. It didn't seat enough, there were no luxury box seats, and many of the courtside seats were taken by Sonics season ticket holders who'd been paying for those seats for decades. With NBA salaries rising in every department, even filling the house nearly every night was not making the Sonics profitable enough. With all that, Charles Schultz [founder of Starbucks] sold the team to Clay Bennett, an Oklahoma City booster. Now, the agreement was that Bennett was to make every reasonable effort to keep the team in Seattle. He fulfilled that agreement to its exact contractual requirement and then packed the team up and moved them OKC. The fans were **furious** . The fans of the Supersonics had done their job... they filled the venue almost every game. They bought the merch, they supported the team on road games. They did all the stuff everybody says 'real fans' are supposed to do. But because the state was in a recession as bad as California the NBA moved the team to a more profitable venue the instant they could, and Seattle fans felt like they had gotten the short end of a very dirty stick. What the state and the fans were able to do is force the Association to allow Seattle to keep the Sonics history and identity... including the NBA Championship the team won in '77. Because of all this, there as been bad blood between Seattle, the NBA, and OKC pretty much ever since. And because of that bad blood, the locals looked for the most disrespectful and offensive nickname they could find. And 'Oklahoma City Bombers' fit the bill.
TV contracts and potential expansion fees far outweigh gate attendance which is why they want to expand (I disagree with expansion FWIW). Teams like the Marlins have found ways to make money without gate attendance and a large investment into player salaries and many other teams have copied that blueprint. More cities means more revenue for the league overall (which is why the MLS keeps expanding despite many legacy clubs having less fans year over year).
Not to mention economy aside, every team on the list is either at .500 or below lol. Why would you want to spend a lot of money to goto a game right now if your team isn’t even good or struggling? I know the blue jays will pick it up throughout the year but cmon, who wants to goto a White Sox or Rockies game rn in their given state. The Rays have a terrible stadium along with the A’s. The A’s attendance has been bad ever since the owner major leagued the team so they can move. All things this guy failed to mention. And to put into economy perspective back into it as well. 5 of these teams live in expensive ass areas with 2 in Cali, 1 NY, 1 Chicago, and Toronto.
It all began with getting married. Plus one added to his contract along with plenty of other pro athletes declining in production following the big day.
Between the NBA playoffs in the late spring and early summer and the start of the NFL schedule in early fall, the time that belongs exclusively to the MLB is shorter than ever. The sport also suffers from being a game of anticipation rather than action (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS). I love game, but worry about its future.
Expand to 32 teams, get rid of interleague play and have a balanced schedule. I miss when all the American League teams visited Detroit two series each season.
Too expensive to go to games now. I was a minnesota twins fans. you could buy tickest for $3 a ticket parking was $5 years ago. now youre lucky to spend $200 for a family of 4 at a game
6:30 start for Anaheim games is ridiculous. Rush hour is still going strong until at least 6:30. So to get to the stadium, you have to either leave work early or rush rush rush which does not equate to a nice relaxing evening in the ball park. Also right field and the right field bars are blasted by the sun. Which would not happen with a 7 or later start. Also, we do not dislike Anaheim Stadium out here. So please stop with that narrative.
No Ohtani to pair with a perpetually subpar club equals bad attendance. SoCal is a baseball factory for producing players so demand for the sport will always be there, but unfortunately in Orange County people have plenty of amazing options for entertainment. No Ohtani & injured Trout don’t provide incentive to show up
Yes! This is probably the biggest reason for the decline. I was driving down the 57 the other day, and you should’ve seen the big ass lines on the freeway to exit off Orangewood and Katella. The game was about to start too. Whoever decided to have games start before 7 is stupid. Most people don’t get out of work until 5 or after, and the traffic is horrendous so even traveling 5 miles takes at least half an hour on any freeway. If they restore the 705 or even 735pm start like they used to have back in the day, the attendance will increase.
Honestly, it feels like most Angels fans, as messed up as it sounds, are simply waiting for Arte to die before returning. Selling would be preferable but we aren't going to get our hopes up for that again.
Teams should pay 100 percent for new ballparks. We pay yet get nothing for it! Also, the Rays are in Yankees territory of fans so nothing will happen in St. Pete.
The weather in n.y has been horrible Rain and cold almost every day Plus the mets parking and concessions prices are ridiculous. With a mediocre team to boot.
Just went to a Rangers game after a long time since the last time. Tickets for 2 were about $55. Cheapest parking was $27. Passed on refreshments.Great ballpark but didnt really enjoy the NBA music track . That was probably my last game i will attend.
As a Padres fan who lived through some horrific years, man is it nice to be up near the top of attendance nowadays. The atmosphere for games are incredible
I’m surprised at how high their attendance is, considering they’ve (unfortunately) never had real success and still haven’t gotten over the hump. Not to mention the Dodgers have always been a thorn in their side.
@@gnielsen07 I see. Didn’t the Chargers leave due to money reasons and San Diego not wanting to pay for a new stadium? I don’t live there but I’ve heard Qualcomm Stadium was in bad shape in the end.
@@RB01.10 Yes, there was a last chance ballot measure back in 2016 for a new stadium (after the NFL forced the parties to negotiate) but it failed badly. Qualcomm was in bad shape but the Chargers ownership had always had eyes on LA. They purposefully let it rot so they’d have an exit to LA.
@@RB01.10 yes that’s correct with Qualcomm, it was a dump and they tried to get the city to pay for a new stadium for 15 years. Eventually the owner just wanted his team with the LA brand and location to boost the value of the franchise. Made no sense cause Los Angeles has no Chargers fans lol there’s way more Raiders fans. They couldn’t even sell out a soccer stadium when they moved to Los Angeles
Earlier in the video you mentioned that April might not be the most representative month, which tipped me off to a different variable: several of the cities mentioned had teams playing in the NHL and/or NBA playoffs (LA, NY, Tampa, Denver, and Toronto)
People cannot afford to go to the games. It's that simple. That, and they don't want to pay $20 for a beer and hot dog to watch a team that's not the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, or Red Sox. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
Entertainment money is being spent in many other ways and it's just as expensive. The problem is baseball has alienated their faithful fans, and it's only a matter of time until they really feel the pain. This is only the beginning.
@@georgehenan853 I'lll start with having a DH in the NL and putting a runner on 2nd base in the 10th inning. I could go on and on with some of these awful rule changes. They've tried to change the game to get more fans that have an attention span like a gerbil and it's not working.
If anything the renovations at Rogers Centre are even more significant of a change than last year's. The stadium looks completely different, much more open than before. The reason for the decrease in attendance is more straightforward - the team is brutal to watch.
@@MarkLewis-qe4pj There's nothing boring at all about baseball. It's the best sport, and baseball enthusiasts love it. People who think it's boring just don't know anything about baseball. Rogers Centre really isn't that bad for baseball anymore.
@@stephanechamberland8486 It's also a smaller stadium this year isn't it, along with price increases? The key is if the attendance stays low through the summer months. No one really goes to games in April.
But let’s face it , once gambling was allowed to enter the picture ( MORE fixed games / scores ) and the new jacka$$ “ pitch clock “ was implemented , and the absolute HORRENDOUS HORRENDOUS umpiring thrown into the picture , it is even enjoyable to go to a game anymore ? ?
It’s not our fault Fisher fucked up our franchise in Oakland, every time we started attending they put in more of an effort to make it harder for us to attend. If you have great ownership and a team that you actually get to see develop and lock in players for their entire careers, you don’t realize how much of a blessing that is😭
I was able to get A's playoff tickets for less than face value during their "glory" years of Money Ball. Fans have never been there regardless of who owned the team. MLB chooses to allow several teams to be run like a minor league team to feed the other bigger teams players when they need them. Until the league gets contracted, this will never change and it will be a detriment to the product on the field and the year to year competitiveness that the fans crave. The owners don't care about parity, they only care about how to maximize profit amongst themselves.
@@roland7584it wasn’t like that when the Hass family owned the team !!! Why because they had one the highest payrolls in MLB they invested in good players
@@Savi80 You're going back to a time before the baseball strike of 1994. The owners didn't look at competing in the same way ever since. Before the strike the owners were competing to win. After the strike, they realized it was them against everyone else (players, fans, local governments) and the only way they win is when profits are maximized between themselves. They haven't cared about the fans or the players or the local cities since then.
The Oakland Coliseum is Football stadium. Which doesn't help. Plus bad owner. Never sigh any great free agent or retain the great they drafted. it Oakland City mayor choice the Raiders and Warriors and now A all left. I think it might work out instead giving the billionaires money. Pay for better schools and run the city better.
Attendance is down for several reasons. First the cost, Attending one game starts at 150 dollars. That for a Dodger game with the coat if living going up most families cant afford to go. A recent article said that two out of three families couldn't afford to go to a single game. Oh and before the NFL fans bad mouth baseball take a look at thier game day cost.
I never liked the New Comiskey Park. But with all the changes plus the green seats it is now not that bad. What is STILL killing it for me is the across the street location and it now being faced southeast orientation. If this new park was built in the same footprint and field orientation as old Comiskey I thik it would have been actually pretty nice.
Been a lifelong Cubs fan. You don’t know what misery is. Things are looking up for the Pirates. Good young pitchers. And better than serviceable hitters. They will make the playoffs this year and will be dangerous in the postseason. Unlike the cellar-dwelling Cubs, who don’t even have a MLB lineup.
Once upon a time the average person could afford to go with family and friends - Not anymore. This spring in Phoenix I went to a Spring training game and the batters started out with a 1 and 1 count on them !! All these rules they are making are just "Killing" the game..... And I have not watched a single inning of the last 2 World Series. A use to be baseball fan - A sad goodbye
Here’s my Situation I’m retired and live in south Florida November-April so going to Game in Florida not going to happen nobody’s living there in the summer months. I go back home to San Francisco for the summer but I’m not a Giants fan but a long time Oakland A’s fan Unfortunately I’m so pissed at Fisher and MLB that baseball is dead to me 🤦🏻
Toronto fan. The entire lower bowl excluding outfield renovated this year. Seating capacity was reduced. Ticket prices were dramatically increased for these. Many lifelong season ticket holders were alienated. While attendance may be down the organization has more than made up with massive ticket price increases for premium seats.
I feel like when Steve Cohen traded Scherzer & Verlander at the deadline last year and it came out that he said that the team was going to be competitive in 2-3 years that he basically set the tone for the upcoming season. The fans that started to come to more games because the Mets had high hopes are now gone and won’t be coming back until the team gets better or makes a splash in free agency or trades
I love Baseball & MLB. But I love paying my bills more! Unless someone has a spare ticket to offer, I'd rather spend my money at minor league games. When I lived in Brooklyn, I went to Coney Island to see the Cyclones. Now I live near Philly. I have a choice of 3 minor league teams (Lehigh Valley, Reading & Wilmington). Everything is cheaper, smaller crowds, closer to the field. Laid back & fun atmosphere. And still the great game that we love. Pro sports is in danger of pricing the average fan out!
MLB is the best. I might go to 1 MLB game a year & watch plenty on RUclips TV. So I'm already paying there. Long ago I reached the point when it became too expensive to attend. Have to eat/pay bills. I can watch any game and get enjoyment from it. There are plenty of good players at the lower levels. Nice to see them before they make it.
The Mets will be ok long term. I’m a Cubs fan who grew up in NYC. The Mets problem for 50 years has been to overpay for aging stars on their way down. It’s insane.
Tampa Bay's new stadium will be in the same area as Tropicana Field. It is well known that the area is not safe and there is still lingering resentment about the number of homes that had to be demolished to build Tropicana Field in the first place. And Tropicana Field (and the proposed new stadium) is a long way from downtown Tampa Bay and it is a hassle to get there.
Downtown Tampa Bay? Crime in the area isn’t the problem as it was years ago, the area is growing which is why the team wants to stay put because they see the potential. Also ownership is a big reason as to why attendance is the way it is despite recent success. Just a few years ago the owner hung a sign “Tampa Bay-Montreal” during postseason. That turned a lot of fans off. Traffic and accessibility also plays factors but that’s an issue no matter where the team is located. We also compete with beaches and many MLB teams have their spring training here so it’s hard for us to grow a base with transplants sticking with their home teams
Turns out changing a bunch of rules doesn’t make it more watchable. Went to a game this year for the first time in years and the amount of commercialism these days is crazy. 3 ceremonial first pitches!? What!?!
The A's situation is not remedied. The team is abandoning their fan base and moving to a nearby town bc of a friendship between the two owners. The Rivercats stadium is not a solution and there is no plan to build in Vegas yet. The whole thing is a joke, a sad joke
It's because most families are struggling to survive with all the high prices. Gas, food, electric bills and so much more. Going to the games are just not an option.
Guys getting $30mil a year... $40mil a year to plat baseball now. Tv money. Corporate. And inflation is wrecking the average family's discretionary income as it is.... most people just aren't going to pay for it any more. Why should they? Why pay $500 to a thou to take your family to a ball game.... when these guys are making mega millions? It doesn't make much sense. Sad, really. I am still a HUGE baseball fan. I'm a baseball guy. But c'mon. And they want us to fund the ball parks too, in many cases.
Went to Rays Met game end of April in Tampa. There was 19K people there I would consider fun experience. Did not eat or drink anything at game went out to club afterward had a good meal. I would do this again.
Jays lower bowl changes this year lowered capacity by 2,000 so sell out dates like the home opener or big weekend games with keep the average lower, not to fear though ticket prices went way up with a huge increase in the number of premium seats. Even with a lower attendance revenue from tickets is almost certainly up.
I heard something that the Chicago White Sox are supposed to sell the team and relocate to Mexico City Mexico. The stumbling block is the alignment of the AAA minor league teams holding this back.This was mentioned in 2007.
On the Blue Jays you struck out on three pitches. Fans don't pay to attend multiple games just to admire the remodeled architecture (BTW they made the outfield foul zones so narrow that the walls are a hazard to the players). Despite having a fantastic paper lineup the Jays have simply played awful and are the biggest underachievers in MLB. Their starting pitchers are fantastic, but what is the point when the bullpen consistently fails, and when batters refuse to hit with runners in scoring position? It has gotten painful to watch batters take perfectly hittable pitches, then strike out chasing sliders a mile out of the zone. They have one of the best fan bases in MLB, and they deserve better. Cost is also an issue. I don't go to many games, but when I do, it is at Detroit, which is closer, has better prices, and lets me avoid the awful trip to TO, a city I don't recognize anymore.
Lower prices. Make it affordable for a family to go. Promote your game. Take notes how the NFL markets their teams and players. Make it fun to go to the ballpark.
I was at last week’s Tampa Bay Rays game against the Red Sox and it was embarrassing how few people were at the game. Usually Red Sox games are fairly well attended but not this year. Honestly, I think the Rays should be moved because they aren’t going to succeed in St. Pete.
Every year attendance numbers are overanalyzed in April and May and every year the MLB still generates a ton of revenue and teams swindle cities and counties into paying for a lot of the upgrades and other costs needed. Even before the pandemic took away gate revenue for a year these MLB teams found ways to spend less on a competitive team and still make tons of revenue without fans showing up (See the Miami Marlins). They will expand because additional TV contracts and expansion revenue will help the league get more money and a lot of season tickets even in failing markets are paid for by other corporations.
Fortunately I live in Michigan. I can go to a Lansing Lugnuts game. Or Battle Creek Battle Jacks, Kalamazoo Growlers, Toledo Mudhens, Michigan White Caps or even Traverse City Pit Spitters games for a lot less money and enjoy it more. When I lived in Cleveland I visited Columbus, Akron, Lake County, Lake Erie Crushers and Mahoning Valley to see all the stadiums and enjoy the games.
Nats park sells $5 dollar seats for Dc residents. (Stupid change , used to not have a residency requirement) but given you can bring sandwiches, snacks and water it doesn’t break the bank. The problem is beer prices, and I can’t seem to go a game and not get one or two.
Not only do baseball games cost too much to get into, the stadium is usually only about 50-60 percent of capacity. Seeing seas of empty seats makes it feel like we are watching a high school game in an mlb stadium. Most other sporting events feel like it’s an event because the arena or stadium is full.
At times the tickets are listed at 6 dollars. But, then the fees and taxes are added. So, the total ends up being 12 dollars for nosebleed sections. What is going on?
April was not great weather wise for rockies, i went to a good weather game, and i thought there was a good amount of people there... for a last place team that is....
I think that Tampa Bay itself is experiencing a lot of other problems. Part of it is that Florida's homeowners insurance rates have skyrocketed so much that people cannot afford tickets, and many are moving out of state as the result.
I remember the good ole days going to a Ranger game in 1973. $1 bleacher sets were great and low drink prices. Best ever beer deal was June 4th with 10 cent beer night when the Rangers played a Cleveland with Billy Carter cracking open the first keg of "Billy Beer". Game was called after 7 innings with drunk fans on the field giving the Rangers the win.
Actually the second Jays renovation completely redid the lower bowl, which lowered the capacity there. Quick Google search shows capacity went down approx 5% from 41,500 to 39,150. Also, the team has been a trainwreck which might perhaps give some reason to some decrease.
My regional team, Colorado Rockies, are a terrible team with an out of touch owner. No way am I going to spend hard earned money on this team. Since 2017, I'm a Red Sox fan...... Oakland is all John Fisher and his intentional distruction of the A's....love the A's but won't support them either.....
There are more then 7 more likely at least 15 to 20. A lot of people have given up on baseball at least going to games. It just not something people want to spend money on anymore. I catch a game on TV in the afternoon after work but I don't go much anymore. Used to be a season ticket holder.
Back in the day when the Oakland Coliseum had Mt Davis open and the third deck, that stadium would fill up to 65k max and those early/ mid 00s we’re the games to go to, we had the fucken squads but could never see a damn win out of the first post game series just because Detroit and Verlander would kick our ass everytime
Im surprised that the Dodgers have a slight decrease in attendance...-4.5% when they got Ohtani now...The only reason I can think about is the rare rainy games they got in the beginning of April...
It has become so expensive to take a family of four and get decent seats to a major league baseball game. A beer and a hotdog will now cost you $26. Decent seeds will cost you anywhere between $90 and $250 apiece. I take my family to a Cubs game once a year and get seats within the first 20 rows it cost me almost $1000. Not worth a $1000 for three hours of fun. Once a year is enough.
Спорт
No mention of the huge increase in cost of living. $300-$400 to take your family to a game, is just not worth it.
I’m not disagreeing with you, but the Toronto Blue Jays Rogers Center Outfield District costs only $20 per person with great views, seating anywhere, restaurants/bars, games, etc.
But then you’d have to watch a Blue Jays game so…
@@JaydenWillem I guess that's fine if you don't have to eat, drink, or park.
@@JaydenWillem You're going to bring a family of 4, for instance, to the Outfield district at $80, plus parking (or go train which is even more expensive than parking), plus the food approaches $100 minimum throughout the course of the game...
@@scottg9855 you’re right
Many people are already priced out due to new stadiums plus MLB is not cultivating new fans due to games being broadcast in exclusive paid channels. Short term vision and greed is killing baseball.
The younger generation aren't attending.
When I was in high school I went to 4 or 5 games a year because I could afford it. Since then I’ve gone to maybe 10, and I’m 72. They overcharge to get in and for parking
Well when you lose nobody wants to attend the games
And no salary cap. I live in Pittsburgh. The owner of the Pirates owns multiple businesses. He didn’t buy the club to make money. It’s just a hobby for him. Shorten the games and the season will help with attendance. I think it’s what 180 games now. Stupid!
I quit watching sports, 15 years ago, everything is about money, not about the sport. Owners, players, are just looking to line their pockets with money--guess who pays--the fans. Try taking out a family of 4 to a game today--and see what it costs--it is ridicolous. I do not feel for the owners or players, maybe it is time to go to the unemployment line.
Angels 😮
Amusement and Theme Parks are the same bullshit!! A family of 4 to Six Flags costs about $3500 dollars these days for the park,admission,parking,food other unmentioned caveats,an overnight at a hotel. This doesn’t include travel expenses such as driving in with a car or train or plane.
Your knowledge of punctuation marks is non-existent.
@@mikegarippo7815no one cares, professor Grammar.
Come join us in Indycar and Imsa Sports car racing. Both volunteer and salaried openings. You definitely never go back to stick and ball sports
It is weird that Hockey is actually more popular in Florida than Baseball.
Florida 😢😊
Their two teams are currently winners.
it's a better harder sport...
You can make a case to add soccer with hockey too since Messi arrived in Miami.
Not weird ... it's a better game.
My wife snd I went to a Yankees game in NY. Cost us $34.00 for 2 hot dogs and 2 beers. Plus what ever she paid for 2 tickets. Ridiculous.
Two beers and 2 dogs for $34 was a good deal, I was at the stadium for the white Sox game last week and the Yankees lager was $20 a can.
This kind of thing is going on across America. Average folks can't afford to pay the owners to pay the high flying salaries of bsllplayers.
It’s disgusting the high prices you must be rich to go to any ball game 😅
@@michaelquinn8618 I went to a Yankees game 3 weeks ago. Its an event, you dont do it often. I paid $20 for 1 beer. Hot dogs were $8. so today two beers and 2 hots would be $56.
@@michaelnobles6774 Its way mopre than that in NYC. Everything is up up up in price.
Tickets reflect only part of the costs. Add in parking, concessions, etc... I love going to games, however it is no longer affordable for the common person.
I often think of how a family of four & how they could afford a "trip to the ballpark". Shame.
Better off supporting the minor & independent leagues
@@yoholmes273The “family of fours” that do go probably are the well off ones.
Explains the slight decrease in attendance at Dodgers Stadium -4.5% even with Ohtani. Or it could have been the rare rainy games in the beginning of April?
@@danram247 Why don’t more professional stadiums have roofs then? Especially knowing the crazy weather that occurs in California anymore.
Hell, So Fi is the one that comes to mind for one’s that do have a roof.
@@RB01.10 Rain during baseball season in Southern California is very rare... especially heavy rain...Sofi Stadium's glass roof was done so that it can host other events like concerts and Superbowls without any rain interruptions.
Was a sports nut as a kid in the early 70s…gradually disillusioned, by 2010 I was a casual fan to now I don’t watch any
Pro sports at all. I used to go to games all the time…now I couldn’t care less. I’m not giving any of my hard earned money to these oligarchs while getting rap3d in the process.
I pretty much followed the same pattern. I think I’ll find some minor league teams to watch.
Actually who cares who wins & loses? It just doesn’t matter.
It’s fun to go every so often for me, but yeah spending money on season tickets or going to multiple (more than 2 or 3) games in a season for a team I couldn’t do. Especially considering so many sites have fees stacked on top of the ticket cost that sometimes are more than the tickets themselves, yeah it’s a special occasion if I do go.
Similar here except I no longer follow teams. Salaries, increases in cost of games and general disillusionment
Yep, I basically am the same. College football is in the same boat as pro sports now. Too much greed and it’s all about the almighty $. Doesn’t matter if you win or lose.
I went to a Ranger’s game 2 years ago and large drink was $11. That was it for me. I bet it’s worse now. This is in a rip-off territory. How about their poor quality t shirts for $40. I refuse to throw away my hard earned money so that these owners turn around and offer $30M to Corey Seager, who doesn’t even care for me. I am not funding that. Nah uh.
my problem at the M's T Mobile Park is that they DONT accept cash anywhere.
Your paying the billionaire owners first and foremost.
@@luigivincenz3843 I hate having use my credit or debit cards. I rather take 25 or 30 bucks in cash. I spend that I'm done for night 😊
@@jamesroof6150 Exactly. And same owners that want new or renovation stadiums subsidized by taxpayers.
@@mrg8581 Yep the rich stealing from the taxpayers. The American way. And many taxpayers dont even follow baseball.
I just don’t understand why I don’t take my family of five to see the White Sox and spend $300 to watch a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2008 and is the worst team in MLB.
MLB gotta go to 150 games and add a round for 2 more teams
$3 tickets where tf you spending $300 at?? The strip club afterwords? 😂
White Sox ranked about 17th in the league for attendance in 2005. They just aren’t relevant in Chicago.
@@ericfriendzoned1303 who did you blow for $3 tickets? This is the Chicago White Sox, not the Berwyn little league.
@@Trumpetjoe40 lmao you can literally find tickets on any site for $3 to a White Sox game in the hood lmao
Inflation is eating away at discretionary income.....
Yep.
That has a lot to do with it.
100%
NFL attendance is fine. Maybe the teams on this list are disappointing, except for the Rays whose fanbase is non-existent.
I commented this a month ago and was ridiculed in the comments. Glad others see it too
I think the bigger problem is the owners putting most games behind paywalls. Not too many years ago you could watch your home team virtually every night over BASIC cable. Now that those days are gone, kids and adults rarely see their teams and favorite players. So, you lose OVERALL interest in your team - not just on TV but you lose interest to go to a few games each year too. Unless, I'm willing to shell out a few hundred dollars for streaming (that still blacks out all home games), I don't have the incentive to follow the team or attend a game in person. Owners are killing the golden goose by being greedy. When I was younger, most kids talked baseball. Today, few do.
The Yankees only had 2 games on their channel(YES network) last week. The rest were on some streaming services. If the 12 yo me could only watch 2 games a week instead of making it a habbit to watch every day I doubt I'd be as big a fan that I am now.
You're absolutely right. You have to buy all these seperate stupid streaming services now. That said, we're about the cancel our cable and do that cuz our cable is WAY high but I'm not happy about it.
There's also the fact that today's kids seem more interested in video games and watching streamers online than sports. Young kids aren't as interested in sports or even playing outside anymore. It's crazy
@@ryandouglas8382 Yeah, I see my grandsons on their iPads playing video games. I ask them if they want to watch a baseball game on TV (the few there are) and they look at me like I have 3 heads! Once you lose the youth, "TILT, GAME OVER!"
💯
SPOT ON 100%!!!!! I grew up watching the Cubs on WGN. I became a huge Cubs fan. My Dad loved the Braves because TBS showed the Braves. More n more n more, you have to pay even more to watch. I'm NOT gonna do it. I casual check scores on line but that is it.
Its the economy. Plain and simple. Our son took us to a Yankees/ Guardians game in April. Parking was a ripoff. I didn't buy one drink and only ate one measly little hotdog. I'm not a tightwad but I do draw the line when it comes to live sports venues. Best place to watch a game is on TV at home.
Absolutely! I decided to draw the line a few years ago. This whole thing is ridiculous, period!
"Guardians" LOL.... that pretty much sums it up....what a f-ing joke!!!! Besides all of the dumb ass changes they brought to the game from the pitch clock, to limited throws to 1st base to keep runners from leading too far and stealing bases and putting a runner on base in extra innings, WTF? You want a reason why people aren't going to games, pressure from a-holes that would never, have never and will never attend a game causing the game to change. "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
The obscene prices of tickets, parking and food notwithstanding,.....how did they get to when the game is tied put a runner on second base,.....that is pure insanity.
On pay per view, lmao
Been a fan of baseball 55 years. The past 10 have been some of the most boring baseball I have seen. The only strategy is swing for the fence and pitch 100mph. DH has ruined the game in my opinion but prolonged careers. There is no bunting, sacrificing, stealing bases, hit and run, all base to base running thus no strategy. Most pitchers are washed out in 4-5 then they follow the script. Hitters have no idea how to make contact which is why strikeouts are so high. See it everyday a runner on third no outs and batters can’t figure out how to put the ball in play and sacrifice themselves for the run. Tickets and everything associated with attending has skyrocketed and on top it billionaire owners want tax payers to pay for the stadiums. People are not going to pay out money to see teams that are losers when they can spend it elsewhere.
Good comment
You just described White Sox baseball to a tee! 😁
Im with you. The quality of play doesn't match the pricing.
so don't watch and don't go crybaby - i skipped baseball for 19 years didn't miss it one fucking bit
Very well said.
keep in mind attendance only means tickets sold. if the turnstile data was available it would paint a grimmer picture.
In the NFL I believe it’s recorded by how many tickets are actually scanned in that day and in the building, not just by tickets sold. The MLB should use that same metric, but they likely don’t because of how poor a lot of teams’ attendance have been recently, they don’t want it to look even worse as you said.
It’s called a sell out not an attend out. While I’m sure more butts in seats would transfer to more concessions and mercy sold, once they’ve got your money the team is happy.
@@donkeysaurusrex7881 if they give away the tickets for free, do they count toward attendance, or only if the people show up?
Tickets sold is the only number that really matters.
When they use tickets sold they can make up any number that can fool the fans. Notice how they scatter ticket sales online to make the stadium look fuller. Imagine if all the fans in attendance moved down and filled up the closet seats first. A sight the teams don't want you to see.
Baseball is in decline, the TV ratings will tell you that. People don't watch the World Series in the numbers they used to. Plus the ticket prices for good seats, (not the nose bleed section), parking, concessions, souvenirs ($100+ for a jersey 😳) are ridiculous.
Let it go broke!
Go to the local small college games. Free parking, sit on the grass, take your own snacks and drinks. Admission $5-$10
The Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla
The Mets need Bobby Bonilla.
Another big reason the Blue Jays attendance is never good in the Spring is because of HOCKEY. The Maple Leafs are religion in Toronto and as long as they are in the playoffs, the entire sports world in Toronto revolves around the Leafs.
Now that the Leafs have done their annual flop in the first round of the playoffs, the Jays should get more attention.
Or have the blue jays play in buffalo again then they will get some fans even though I know it's a minor league stadium
It also depends on matchups. So far the Jays have hosted the Mariners, Rockies, Yankees, Dodgers, and Royals with the numbers we see here. The Rockies being a weekend series and the Yankees a weekday series definitely messes with the numbers, but the Dodgers and Mariners series were packed and the Royals series was maybe saved by giveaways and promotions. Given time I expect the numbers to normalize
@@Mallyumansky they are still top 10 in the league for attendance lol, they are averaging more than double a sold out Bisons game
Toronto Blue Jay's 😂
Let’s face it, the Maple Leafs always have a quick exit from the playoffs so that only accounts for about a week of the baseball season. 😂
It's almost like baseball should have just focused on baseball.
What did they focus on?
Yea what are they focusing on then
What are you implying?
Yep, go woke go broke.
Yapper who thinks he’s smart I already know.
No public money for sports owners.
Baseball needs a cap. Not a tax. Teams like the Yankees don't care about the tax
Good luck with that because the baseball players association doesn’t want a salary cap
@@effend446they also didn't want PED testing and look how that turned out
What?! Baseball players wear caps. Do you want them to wear two caps? 😅
MLB just doesn’t get it. The schedule is freaking awful. There is zero reason to be playing April baseball. Anywhere. The weather is miserable. Season is too long. It’s just ridiculous
Exactly. No baseball before mid April. No baseball after mid October. Baseball is meant to be played in warm weather.
Where the hell do you live? Here in SoCal, our weather is perfect for baseball in April and in October
@@jdspreestDetroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, etc
April’s pretty much the only regular season month where the weather isn’t miserably hot and humid. Most teams don’t have domes with air conditioning.
I have some bones to pick myself. First off, I'd really like it if home-field in the World Series would alternate year-by-year. As it stands, the league champion with the better record has the extra game if it goes the limit. Have home-field in the League playoffs, but let the American League have it in either even- (or odd-) numbered years and alternate with the NL. Also, do away with haveing a runner on second to lead off extra innings. And finally, reserve interleague play for the World Series. Not that my recommendations have much chance of being adopted, but so glad to vent. Posting 5-14-24.
my brother has fulfilled the American dream. Starting off as a laborer he saved his money and was able to start his own business working out of a battered van. He is now successful with a shop, vehicles and several employees. He did not rely on any handouts along the way. Why should multi-billionaires expect people like my brother (and I) who have earned their way in the world to provide them with funding for a new place of business when they have the means to do it themselves like everybody else has to? Why do the over strained taxpayers take on phenomenal debt and interest to provide facilities for those who can manifestly finance it themselves?
It's just crazy to me as well! I've been to several stadiums that the team owner are screaming "this stadium is out dated we need to build a new one" and everytime the stadium seems great like it could go another 100 years! Why can't we just keep good maintenance and updates on out existing stadiums?
Its a way for politicians to fill their own pockets and get the support of very influential people to help keep them in office.
Don't care
Why would I spend entertainment dollars to get lectured on social and political issues?
Maybe MLB should shrink the number of teams, rather than expand.
Why do they want new stadiums? Don't care about the fans that sit in them. Parking should always be free!
They’d get a lot more attendees with free parking.
Free 😮
@@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563 No they wouldn't.
Fuck. The. Owners.
There is precisely ONE pro sports team in the US where the public has any input whatsoever in the team's operations: the Green Bay Packers. Every other franchise, including those I love, are a private business. They are owned and operated for profit and contribute little to none of that profit to the community that hosts them. And no, the 1% they 'give back' donating shit to Make-A-Wish or other non-profits doesn't count.
If an owner wants a new stadium, let THEM pony up for it. We, the fans, are beyond tired of trying to fund our schools and police and then having to pay for a stadium that's named after yet another multi-nat company. And since the only way we can make ourselves heard is by how much money we spend, we're voting with the only ballot that counts.
Not just that, but looking at it from a completely economic standpoint, there are careful studies that have concluded that contrary to conventional wisdom, a new stadium does NOT benefit the neighborhood economically speaking.
If these are true (and intuitively they do), then why should I pony up money which will not benefit me or my community? I can justify my taxes going to keep the police and fire departments going as well as the water running. But not for a stadium.
@@DaDitka So, I'm from the Puget Sound area in Washington State, though not from Seattle. We got an ugly education about professional league 'financing' and ownership decisions back in the 90s with all three of our professional teams... the Seahawks, the Mariners, and Sonics [now the Oklahoma City Bombers - - yeah, that's what we call them, anybody with a problem with that can take it up with the Association]. So needless to say I'm more than a bit jaded about this.
People can't afford housing, teachers are paying for school supplies out of their own pocket, there are cuts in police, fire, and EMS services and some billionaire wants me to pony up a billion dollars AND a sweetheart tax deal? Um, NO.
@carlhicksjr8401 I don't blame you at all. I really don't. What we are seeing is just another chapter of the story of how the super wealthy are abusing their wealth to the harm of others.
As recently as around ten years ago, I might- MIGHT- have continued my support for publicly funded arenas like ballparks and such. Not anymore, especially with the flippant attitudes of these owners (and many of the players, but they don't make these decisions).
By the way, I'm curious- what is the story behind you guys calling the OKC team the "Bombers"? I'm curious to know.
@@DaDitka About the 'Bombers' nickname...
The Mariners and Seahawks originally played in the old Kingdome, a multi-use domed stadium that made absolutely **nobody** happy, not football, not soccer, not baseball, not concert promoters, nobody. So during the tech boom in the '90s the M's hustled the city of Seattle and the State legislature into funding a new stadium. This went down fairly well, there was a little grumbling but the M's were still owned by Nordstrom's, a local company, so people were kinda-sorta alright with it. Then the Seahawks came around looking for the same sweetheart deal and, since the K-dome had started falling apart, that was grudgingly approved. Now, the owner of the 'Hawks at the time was an asshole named Ken Behring... he wanted to move the team to LA and used the threat to get the funding though. It took some pretty suspect 'midnight legislating' to get it done, but it got done.
Then the tech bubble burst. The state went from doing alright financially to damned near flat broke with major bills almost overnight.
And that's when the Sonics came around looking funding for a new basketball-only arena.
What a lot of people don't know is that the Sonics venue was Key Arena, a venue built for when Seattle held the World's Fair back in '62. It's in the same complex as the Space Needle. There was a lot of push-back about tearing the arena down because it was on the National Registry. But the Key had been unsatisfactory for at least 10 years before that. It didn't seat enough, there were no luxury box seats, and many of the courtside seats were taken by Sonics season ticket holders who'd been paying for those seats for decades. With NBA salaries rising in every department, even filling the house nearly every night was not making the Sonics profitable enough.
With all that, Charles Schultz [founder of Starbucks] sold the team to Clay Bennett, an Oklahoma City booster. Now, the agreement was that Bennett was to make every reasonable effort to keep the team in Seattle. He fulfilled that agreement to its exact contractual requirement and then packed the team up and moved them OKC. The fans were **furious** . The fans of the Supersonics had done their job... they filled the venue almost every game. They bought the merch, they supported the team on road games. They did all the stuff everybody says 'real fans' are supposed to do. But because the state was in a recession as bad as California the NBA moved the team to a more profitable venue the instant they could, and Seattle fans felt like they had gotten the short end of a very dirty stick. What the state and the fans were able to do is force the Association to allow Seattle to keep the Sonics history and identity... including the NBA Championship the team won in '77.
Because of all this, there as been bad blood between Seattle, the NBA, and OKC pretty much ever since. And because of that bad blood, the locals looked for the most disrespectful and offensive nickname they could find. And 'Oklahoma City Bombers' fit the bill.
Best response, way to go! So true. that's why I boycott all of this nonsense and I mean all of it.
And people actually think Baseball should EXPAND? If anything the league should CONTRACT.
TV contracts and potential expansion fees far outweigh gate attendance which is why they want to expand (I disagree with expansion FWIW). Teams like the Marlins have found ways to make money without gate attendance and a large investment into player salaries and many other teams have copied that blueprint. More cities means more revenue for the league overall (which is why the MLS keeps expanding despite many legacy clubs having less fans year over year).
truth
Good point dude.
The Rays building a brand new multi-million dollar stadium right next to/near the Trop and thinking it’ll solve all their problems is INSANE😭
Can you imagine the ticket prices?
They will fail on an epic level
Comes down to what families can afford…household staples or baseball games…thanks Bidenomics…
That’s a stupid reply.
If you want economic help, you better vote blue. Monopolies are are not going to cut you any slack.
i went to the mariners game last night and for 2 burgers and fries was $50. ridiculous
You knew that going in
@@afridgetoofar1818 yeah no shit, but just shows how ridiculous they charge for games
But you paid it - so why would they lower their prices.
Insane.
Boycott!
The economy is bad people aren’t prioritizing going to baseball games now
Not to mention economy aside, every team on the list is either at .500 or below lol. Why would you want to spend a lot of money to goto a game right now if your team isn’t even good or struggling? I know the blue jays will pick it up throughout the year but cmon, who wants to goto a White Sox or Rockies game rn in their given state. The Rays have a terrible stadium along with the A’s. The A’s attendance has been bad ever since the owner major leagued the team so they can move. All things this guy failed to mention.
And to put into economy perspective back into it as well. 5 of these teams live in expensive ass areas with 2 in Cali, 1 NY, 1 Chicago, and Toronto.
Disney type prices at Ball parks are criminal.
It’s not the economy as the reason… if that was true then attendance would be down at ALL major league games and sports
😢
The economy is not Bad . Too many people do not participate in it thru investments . They spend first , then suffer .
Every time a gust of wind blows Trout crumbles with an injury.
I heard he bit his tongue ladt week and that set his return date back 2 months
It all began with getting married. Plus one added to his contract along with plenty of other pro athletes declining in production following the big day.
Between the NBA playoffs in the late spring and early summer and the start of the NFL schedule in early fall, the time that belongs exclusively to the MLB is shorter than ever. The sport also suffers from being a game of anticipation rather than action (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS). I love game, but worry about its future.
Expand to 32 teams, get rid of interleague play and have a balanced schedule. I miss when all the American League teams visited Detroit two series each season.
Too expensive to go to games now. I was a minnesota twins fans. you could buy tickest for $3 a ticket parking was $5 years ago. now youre lucky to spend $200 for a family of 4 at a game
It’s just too expensive to see bad teams.
New York Mets ✨️
No it isn't.
6:30 start for Anaheim games is ridiculous. Rush hour is still going strong until at least 6:30. So to get to the stadium, you have to either leave work early or rush rush rush which does not equate to a nice relaxing evening in the ball park. Also right field and the right field bars are blasted by the sun. Which would not happen with a 7 or later start.
Also, we do not dislike Anaheim Stadium out here. So please stop with that narrative.
Anything before 7 in larger metropolitan areas with a lot of sprawl is too early. I'd say anything before 7:30 is too early.
That last part - THANK YOU! Lower attendance at Angel Stadium is due mostly to a losing team. And that start time certainly doesn’t help.
No Ohtani to pair with a perpetually subpar club equals bad attendance. SoCal is a baseball factory for producing players so demand for the sport will always be there, but unfortunately in Orange County people have plenty of amazing options for entertainment. No Ohtani & injured Trout don’t provide incentive to show up
Yes! This is probably the biggest reason for the decline. I was driving down the 57 the other day, and you should’ve seen the big ass lines on the freeway to exit off Orangewood and Katella. The game was about to start too. Whoever decided to have games start before 7 is stupid. Most people don’t get out of work until 5 or after, and the traffic is horrendous so even traveling 5 miles takes at least half an hour on any freeway. If they restore the 705 or even 735pm start like they used to have back in the day, the attendance will increase.
Honestly, it feels like most Angels fans, as messed up as it sounds, are simply waiting for Arte to die before returning. Selling would be preferable but we aren't going to get our hopes up for that again.
Teams should pay 100 percent for new ballparks. We pay yet get nothing for it! Also, the Rays are in Yankees territory of fans so nothing will happen in St. Pete.
The weather in n.y has been horrible
Rain and cold almost every day
Plus the mets parking and concessions prices are ridiculous.
With a mediocre team to boot.
Just went to a Rangers game after a long time since the last time. Tickets for 2 were about $55. Cheapest parking was $27. Passed on refreshments.Great ballpark but didnt really enjoy the NBA music track . That was probably my last game i will attend.
So sick and tired of those n b a soundtracks!
As a Padres fan who lived through some horrific years, man is it nice to be up near the top of attendance nowadays. The atmosphere for games are incredible
I’m surprised at how high their attendance is, considering they’ve (unfortunately) never had real success and still haven’t gotten over the hump.
Not to mention the Dodgers have always been a thorn in their side.
@@RB01.10the chargers left town. Padres are the only team left so more people spend money on baseball
@@gnielsen07 I see.
Didn’t the Chargers leave due to money reasons and San Diego not wanting to pay for a new stadium?
I don’t live there but I’ve heard Qualcomm Stadium was in bad shape in the end.
@@RB01.10 Yes, there was a last chance ballot measure back in 2016 for a new stadium (after the NFL forced the parties to negotiate) but it failed badly.
Qualcomm was in bad shape but the Chargers ownership had always had eyes on LA. They purposefully let it rot so they’d have an exit to LA.
@@RB01.10 yes that’s correct with Qualcomm, it was a dump and they tried to get the city to pay for a new stadium for 15 years. Eventually the owner just wanted his team with the LA brand and location to boost the value of the franchise. Made no sense cause Los Angeles has no Chargers fans lol there’s way more Raiders fans. They couldn’t even sell out a soccer stadium when they moved to Los Angeles
Earlier in the video you mentioned that April might not be the most representative month, which tipped me off to a different variable: several of the cities mentioned had teams playing in the NHL and/or NBA playoffs (LA, NY, Tampa, Denver, and Toronto)
People cannot afford to go to the games. It's that simple. That, and they don't want to pay $20 for a beer and hot dog to watch a team that's not the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, or Red Sox. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
20 bucks is just the beer,
Entertainment money is being spent in many other ways and it's just as expensive. The problem is baseball has alienated their faithful fans, and it's only a matter of time until they really feel the pain. This is only the beginning.
@@roland7584when did they alienate faithful fans?
@@georgehenan853 I'lll start with having a DH in the NL and putting a runner on 2nd base in the 10th inning. I could go on and on with some of these awful rule changes. They've tried to change the game to get more fans that have an attention span like a gerbil and it's not working.
@@roland7584 well unfortunately in todays world most people have the attention span of a gerbil
I live in SoCal and you can get outfield seats at Angel Stadium for $5 a pop on game day
Really? I live here, too, and I might go!
No Shohei means cheap seats.
If the As don’t get better attendance, they might move the team.
If anything the renovations at Rogers Centre are even more significant of a change than last year's. The stadium looks completely different, much more open than before. The reason for the decrease in attendance is more straightforward - the team is brutal to watch.
Also the prices of everything in Toronto is off the charts.
The hope for a run in the playoffs this year are far less than last year. It's the reason for the attendance decrease.
I think Toronto is just sick of such a painfully boring sport. The Roger’s centre is still a terrible stadium to watch baseball
@@MarkLewis-qe4pj There's nothing boring at all about baseball. It's the best sport, and baseball enthusiasts love it. People who think it's boring just don't know anything about baseball. Rogers Centre really isn't that bad for baseball anymore.
@@stephanechamberland8486 It's also a smaller stadium this year isn't it, along with price increases? The key is if the attendance stays low through the summer months. No one really goes to games in April.
But let’s face it , once gambling was allowed to enter the picture ( MORE fixed games / scores ) and the new jacka$$ “ pitch clock “ was implemented ,
and the absolute HORRENDOUS HORRENDOUS umpiring thrown into the picture ,
it is even enjoyable to go to a game anymore ? ?
With the Mets, it’s also playoff season with the Knicks and the Rangers. That’s why I didn’t go to Citi last night.
I thought Mets fans rooted for the Nets and Islanders
@@donkeysaurusrex7881if New York fans were smart they’d cheer for any team in the NYC area
Hasn't affected the Yankees attendance
@@donkeysaurusrex7881 not this one. Knicks and Rangers are closest by proximity.
20 million metro area though. Mets should still have fans at the stadium
It’s not our fault Fisher fucked up our franchise in Oakland, every time we started attending they put in more of an effort to make it harder for us to attend. If you have great ownership and a team that you actually get to see develop and lock in players for their entire careers, you don’t realize how much of a blessing that is😭
I was able to get A's playoff tickets for less than face value during their "glory" years of Money Ball. Fans have never been there regardless of who owned the team. MLB chooses to allow several teams to be run like a minor league team to feed the other bigger teams players when they need them. Until the league gets contracted, this will never change and it will be a detriment to the product on the field and the year to year competitiveness that the fans crave. The owners don't care about parity, they only care about how to maximize profit amongst themselves.
@@roland7584it wasn’t like that when the Hass family owned the team !!! Why because they had one the highest payrolls in MLB they invested in good players
@@Savi80 You're going back to a time before the baseball strike of 1994. The owners didn't look at competing in the same way ever since. Before the strike the owners were competing to win. After the strike, they realized it was them against everyone else (players, fans, local governments) and the only way they win is when profits are maximized between themselves. They haven't cared about the fans or the players or the local cities since then.
The Oakland Coliseum is Football stadium. Which doesn't help. Plus bad owner. Never sigh any great free agent or retain the great they drafted. it Oakland City mayor choice the Raiders and Warriors and now A all left. I think it might work out instead giving the billionaires money. Pay for better schools and run the city better.
Attendance is down for several reasons. First the cost, Attending one game starts at 150 dollars. That for a Dodger game with the coat if living going up most families cant afford to go. A recent article said that two out of three families couldn't afford to go to a single game. Oh and before the NFL fans bad mouth baseball take a look at thier game day cost.
After the baseball strike I’ve never attended a game, can’t tolerate greed.
I never liked the New Comiskey Park. But with all the changes plus the green seats it is now not that bad. What is STILL killing it for me is the across the street location and it now being faced southeast orientation. If this new park was built in the same footprint and field orientation as old Comiskey I thik it would have been actually pretty nice.
The Dodgers are more popular in Southern California
I’m surprised Adolf Trudeau even “allows “ Canadian citizens to attend ball games
Is that really his name.???
Fidelito Trudeau…
They need to stop charging so much.
No they don't.
@@scarygary-qq1pj Yes they do
Life long Pirates fan. Talk about suffering
I hear you brother its rough. I been a Pirate fan for over 50 years. Our owner is a disgrace, he's to cheap to put a decent product on the field .
Y’all played my braves well this week
The Braves always put a winner on the field. One of the best organizations in all of professional sports.
Been a lifelong Cubs fan. You don’t know what misery is. Things are looking up for the Pirates. Good young pitchers. And better than serviceable hitters. They will make the playoffs this year and will be dangerous in the postseason. Unlike the cellar-dwelling Cubs, who don’t even have a MLB lineup.
Once upon a time the average person could afford to go with family and friends - Not anymore. This spring in Phoenix I went to a Spring training game and the batters started out with a 1 and 1 count on them !! All these rules they are making are just "Killing" the game..... And I have not watched a single inning of the last 2 World Series. A use to be baseball fan - A sad goodbye
Here’s my Situation I’m retired and live in south Florida November-April so going to Game in Florida not going to happen nobody’s living there in the summer months. I go back home to San Francisco for the summer but I’m not a Giants fan but a long time Oakland A’s fan Unfortunately I’m so pissed at Fisher and MLB that baseball is dead to me 🤦🏻
Toronto fan. The entire lower bowl excluding outfield renovated this year. Seating capacity was reduced. Ticket prices were dramatically increased for these. Many lifelong season ticket holders were alienated. While attendance may be down the organization has more than made up with massive ticket price increases for premium seats.
The gambling industry, out of control salaries, toxic policies have destroyed baseball.
I was at the Rockies game on 5/8/24 Vs the Giants--it was enjoyable, but, it was the first MLB game i'd been to in over a decade, because of the cost.
I feel like when Steve Cohen traded Scherzer & Verlander at the deadline last year and it came out that he said that the team was going to be competitive in 2-3 years that he basically set the tone for the upcoming season. The fans that started to come to more games because the Mets had high hopes are now gone and won’t be coming back until the team gets better or makes a splash in free agency or trades
Still it’s unacceptable for a New York team to be in the same boat in terms of attendance as the rays or the A’s
The "Kneeling " did it for me !
I love Baseball & MLB. But I love paying my bills more! Unless someone has a spare ticket to offer, I'd rather spend my money at minor league games. When I lived in Brooklyn, I went to Coney Island to see the Cyclones. Now I live near Philly. I have a choice of 3 minor league teams (Lehigh Valley, Reading & Wilmington). Everything is cheaper, smaller crowds, closer to the field. Laid back & fun atmosphere. And still the great game that we love.
Pro sports is in danger of pricing the average fan out!
I wouldn't go to a minor league game, in any sport, what's the point, ? I want to watch the highest level, in a sport, not some scrubs,
MLB is the best. I might go to 1 MLB game a year & watch plenty on RUclips TV. So I'm already paying there. Long ago I reached the point when it became too expensive to attend. Have to eat/pay bills. I can watch any game and get enjoyment from it.
There are plenty of good players at the lower levels. Nice to see them before they make it.
The Mets will be ok long term. I’m a Cubs fan who grew up in NYC. The Mets problem for 50 years has been to overpay for aging stars on their way down. It’s insane.
They're still cutting Bobby Bonilla 7 figure checks on his deferred 1990's contract
@@TheOldTapeArchive Hey, at least you won in 1986 when the ball went through the legs of the Boston Red Sox first baseman.
@@willp.8120That, and have two World Series titles overall.
More than five other teams who wish they had at least one.
Tampa Bay's new stadium will be in the same area as Tropicana Field. It is well known that the area is not safe and there is still lingering resentment about the number of homes that had to be demolished to build Tropicana Field in the first place. And Tropicana Field (and the proposed new stadium) is a long way from downtown Tampa Bay and it is a hassle to get there.
Isn’t the traffic bad there as well?
Downtown Tampa Bay? Crime in the area isn’t the problem as it was years ago, the area is growing which is why the team wants to stay put because they see the potential. Also ownership is a big reason as to why attendance is the way it is despite recent success. Just a few years ago the owner hung a sign “Tampa Bay-Montreal” during postseason. That turned a lot of fans off. Traffic and accessibility also plays factors but that’s an issue no matter where the team is located. We also compete with beaches and many MLB teams have their spring training here so it’s hard for us to grow a base with transplants sticking with their home teams
@@RB01.10 no, the traffic is no more worse than any other team. That’s excuses from lazy people.
Turns out changing a bunch of rules doesn’t make it more watchable.
Went to a game this year for the first time in years and the amount of commercialism these days is crazy. 3 ceremonial first pitches!? What!?!
4:16 Montreal, Quebec 🇨🇦 has the high ground with the Rays
If I’m Stephen Bronfman, I’m assembling an offer to purchase the Rays, readying them for a 2028 move to Montréal.
Chicago here. If that happened - I think the best name would be the Montreal Expos again withe the same logo.
Too cold in the spring and late fall. Need a dome.
The A's situation is not remedied. The team is abandoning their fan base and moving to a nearby town bc of a friendship between the two owners. The Rivercats stadium is not a solution and there is no plan to build in Vegas yet. The whole thing is a joke, a sad joke
You should do this same video, but with teams experiencing increases in attendance and why / how that affects them similar to this video
It's because most families are struggling to survive with all the high prices. Gas, food, electric bills and so much more. Going to the games are just not an option.
0:59 the Chicago Dome for the UFL Enforcers and NFL Bears
the telecast makes it seemed packed almost every game, idk if they’re feeding in crowd noise, but it does seem that way.
Guys getting $30mil a year... $40mil a year to plat baseball now. Tv money. Corporate. And inflation is wrecking the average family's discretionary income as it is.... most people just aren't going to pay for it any more. Why should they? Why pay $500 to a thou to take your family to a ball game.... when these guys are making mega millions? It doesn't make much sense. Sad, really. I am still a HUGE baseball fan. I'm a baseball guy. But c'mon. And they want us to fund the ball parks too, in many cases.
Went to Rays Met game end of April in Tampa. There was 19K people there I would consider fun experience. Did not eat or drink anything at game went out to club afterward had a good meal. I would do this again.
Jays lower bowl changes this year lowered capacity by 2,000 so sell out dates like the home opener or big weekend games with keep the average lower, not to fear though ticket prices went way up with a huge increase in the number of premium seats. Even with a lower attendance revenue from tickets is almost certainly up.
Baseball needs more revenue sharing
I heard something that the Chicago White Sox are supposed to sell the team and relocate to Mexico City Mexico. The stumbling block is the alignment of the AAA minor league teams holding this back.This was mentioned in 2007.
On the Blue Jays you struck out on three pitches. Fans don't pay to attend multiple games just to admire the remodeled architecture (BTW they made the outfield foul zones so narrow that the walls are a hazard to the players).
Despite having a fantastic paper lineup the Jays have simply played awful and are the biggest underachievers in MLB. Their starting pitchers are fantastic, but what is the point when the bullpen consistently fails, and when batters refuse to hit with runners in scoring position? It has gotten painful to watch batters take perfectly hittable pitches, then strike out chasing sliders a mile out of the zone. They have one of the best fan bases in MLB, and they deserve better.
Cost is also an issue. I don't go to many games, but when I do, it is at Detroit, which is closer, has better prices, and lets me avoid the awful trip to TO, a city I don't recognize anymore.
Lower prices. Make it affordable for a family to go. Promote your game. Take notes how the NFL markets their teams and players. Make it fun to go to the ballpark.
I was at last week’s Tampa Bay Rays game against the Red Sox and it was embarrassing how few people were at the game. Usually Red Sox games are fairly well attended but not this year. Honestly, I think the Rays should be moved because they aren’t going to succeed in St. Pete.
Every year attendance numbers are overanalyzed in April and May and every year the MLB still generates a ton of revenue and teams swindle cities and counties into paying for a lot of the upgrades and other costs needed. Even before the pandemic took away gate revenue for a year these MLB teams found ways to spend less on a competitive team and still make tons of revenue without fans showing up (See the Miami Marlins). They will expand because additional TV contracts and expansion revenue will help the league get more money and a lot of season tickets even in failing markets are paid for by other corporations.
Fortunately I live in Michigan. I can go to a Lansing Lugnuts game. Or Battle Creek Battle Jacks, Kalamazoo Growlers, Toledo Mudhens, Michigan White Caps or even Traverse City Pit Spitters games for a lot less money and enjoy it more. When I lived in Cleveland I visited Columbus, Akron, Lake County, Lake Erie Crushers and Mahoning Valley to see all the stadiums and enjoy the games.
Nats park sells $5 dollar seats for Dc residents. (Stupid change , used to not have a residency requirement) but given you can bring sandwiches, snacks and water it doesn’t break the bank. The problem is beer prices, and I can’t seem to go a game and not get one or two.
Drunk. I'll drink to that.
Not only do baseball games cost too much to get into, the stadium is usually only about 50-60 percent of capacity. Seeing seas of empty seats makes it feel like we are watching a high school game in an mlb stadium. Most other sporting events feel like it’s an event because the arena or stadium is full.
At times the tickets are listed at 6 dollars. But, then the fees and taxes are added. So, the total ends up being 12 dollars for nosebleed sections. What is going on?
April was not great weather wise for rockies, i went to a good weather game, and i thought there was a good amount of people there... for a last place team that is....
I think that Tampa Bay itself is experiencing a lot of other problems. Part of it is that Florida's homeowners insurance rates have skyrocketed so much that people cannot afford tickets, and many are moving out of state as the result.
I don’t understand why. Baseball is the ultimate sport when your hoping to catch up on sleep.
I remember the good ole days going to a Ranger game in 1973. $1 bleacher sets were great and low drink prices.
Best ever beer deal was June 4th with 10 cent beer night when the Rangers played a Cleveland with Billy Carter cracking open the first keg of "Billy Beer". Game was called after 7 innings with drunk fans on the field giving the Rangers the win.
Actually the second Jays renovation completely redid the lower bowl, which lowered the capacity there. Quick Google search shows capacity went down approx 5% from 41,500 to 39,150. Also, the team has been a trainwreck which might perhaps give some reason to some decrease.
It could be they charge $45 to park
The Mets $45
My regional team, Colorado Rockies, are a terrible team with an out of touch owner. No way am I going to spend hard earned money on this team. Since 2017, I'm a Red Sox fan......
Oakland is all John Fisher and his intentional distruction of the A's....love the A's but won't support them either.....
Ticket and Food concession and parking prices too high !!!
There are more then 7 more likely at least 15 to 20. A lot of people have given up on baseball at least going to games. It just not something people want to spend money on anymore. I catch a game on TV in the afternoon after work but I don't go much anymore. Used to be a season ticket holder.
I’m really surprised that Chicago can still afford to support two MLB clubs.
Even the Red Sox are promoting $49 for 2 tickets, drinks and hotdogs. Never thought Boston would have trouble selling out a small stadium.
Well, the fact that they haven't fielded a winning team since 2018 isn't helping any.
The ownership is crap and the city is expensive! They also no longer take cash at the ballpark! I wouldn’t go there even with free tickets!
Back in the day when the Oakland Coliseum had Mt Davis open and the third deck, that stadium would fill up to 65k max and those early/ mid 00s we’re the games to go to, we had the fucken squads but could never see a damn win out of the first post game series just because Detroit and Verlander would kick our ass everytime
Im surprised that the Dodgers have a slight decrease in attendance...-4.5% when they got Ohtani now...The only reason I can think about is the rare rainy games they got in the beginning of April...
It has become so expensive to take a family of four and get decent seats to a major league baseball game. A beer and a hotdog will now cost you $26. Decent seeds will cost you anywhere between $90 and $250 apiece. I take my family to a Cubs game once a year and get seats within the first 20 rows it cost me almost $1000. Not worth a $1000 for three hours of fun. Once a year is enough.
Went to Dodgers games every weekend while in high school. Sat in the bleachers, drinking. Ticket price was $2. Attendance 40,000+.