Major League Baseball Fan Attendance Up in 2023
Major League Baseball’s recent rule changes causing more interest for the sport?
By Anthony Collazo
Photograph by Eric Hartline
In 2023, Major League Baseball, MLB, attendance is surging for the first time since the historic Great Chase of 1998. Fans are going to ball games 9% higher than previous years, excluding the covid restricted years in 2020 and 2021.
For the first time in its history, MLB implemented a pitch clock. This allows the game of baseball to move at a faster pace. The average time of a MLB game was three hours and six minutes in 2022. In 2023, the average time has gone down to two hours and forty-two minutes.
There have also been major rule changes. A few notable ones are bigger bases, the “three pickoff rule” and defensive shift restrictions. These rule changes cause for more action. In 2023, we have seen increases in stolen bases and hits on balls in play.
Batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases are all up in 2023 compared to 2022. This is all a direct result from the recent rule changes. Tie this in with the pitch clock, there is more action in less time, resulting in more fan interest.
On top of all this, another key reason can be the rise of interleague games. In 2023, MLB introduced a more balanced schedule. Each team plays their division rivals 13 times now, compared to the previous 19 times, and play all 29 other teams throughout the season.
Because of this, there are more interesting marquee matchups. For example, the Dodgers and Yankees squared off in a best of three at Dodger Stadium, which reached season-high numbers at Dodger Stadium in early June.
To wrap it all up, the increase in action in less amount of time, followed by the interest in marquee matchups. The fans have clearly found Major League Baseball more interesting than it has ever been.