Baseball’s popularity and appeal in the US keeps growing. After a successful and historic World Baseball Classic, which set records in attendance and TV ratings for the biggest international baseball tournament in the world, Major League Baseball enjoyed a historic regular season marked by an increase of attendance in stadiums and a record viewership boosted by a set of new rules resulting in increased action on the field, a quicker pace of play, and an opportunity for players to show their athleticism.
The MLB announced a regular season attendance of 70,747,365, which is up +9.6% over last year’s total (64,556,636). The average attendance per game (29,295) increased by +9.1% marking the highest percentage growth in 30 years, dating back to the 1993 expansion to 28 Clubs. In addition, 17 Clubs registered attendance over 2.5 million, matching the most in MLB history. Eight teams recorded attendance of more than 3 million fans for the first time in 10 years with 80% of the league (24 out of 30 Clubs) registering attendance gains.
From 1901 to 2023 the league has now seen an impressive 3,836,958,360 in total attendance, according to Forbes.
Los Angeles proved again to be the top market in all MLB baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers led the league in attendance for the 10th consecutive year, with 3,837,079 fans in 81 home games, an average of 47,371 per game. The Dodgers’ largest home crowd of the 2023 season recorded 53,057 for their final game against Los Angeles Angels, their hometown rivals, on 8 July. They have exceeded 3 million in attendance during 34 different seasons.
Record-setting season
MLB.TV recorded its most streamed season in its 21-year history with 12.7 billion minutes watched surpassing last year’s record total of 11.7 billion by +9%. Users watching MLB.TV increased +14% from 2022 and fans watched +17% more games than last season. Fans aged 18-24 watched +16% more games this season.
MLB recorded more than 6 billion views in 2023 across its social media accounts, the most in MLB history. The league also registered a +50% increase in engagements, the most in MLB history, and a +38% increase in followers, the largest follower gain in five years.
Major League Baseball completed a historic 2023 regular season featuring a comprehensive set of new rules resulting in increased action on the field, a quicker pace of play, and an opportunity for players to show their athleticism. In the first year of a balanced schedule and the second year of expanded Postseason play, MLB generated significant increases in attendance and consumption, with paid attendance.
