World Cup Fans Lift MLB Host-City Attendance Above 5 Million as Teams Court Visitors
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 10
World Cup Fans Lift MLB Host-City Attendance Above 5 Million as Teams Court Visitors
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 10
Summary
More than 5 million fans attended MLB games in 12 World Cup host markets from June 11 to July 5, with average attendance reaching 35,326—higher than the same span in three of the past four seasons.
Discounted tickets, heritage nights and transport deals helped convert visiting soccer supporters into baseball crowds, including England fans at an Atlanta Braves game and 5,000 Scotland supporters at Boston's Fenway Park.
The crossover also lifted weaker gates: Miami drew 20,008 for a Monday game—its biggest such crowd in nine years—while Seattle posted some of its top home crowds around World Cup fixtures.
Teams and players embraced the exchange, from soccer stars throwing ceremonial first pitches to clubs weighing how to preserve the spontaneous, high-energy atmosphere after the tournament ends.