Baseball’s cautious reopening

Baseball’s cautious reopening

What can ballpark attendance tell us about the U.S. economy?

Major League Baseball took a calculated gamble to open its season on time on April 1 before live crowds, but with strict attendance limits of around 20% in most stadiums. It was a hesitant start. In many cities even the tickets available weren’t selling.

But as of July 5 attendance limits will have been lifted across the league, and attendance is moving back towards 2019 averages. It isn’t there yet. As of June 29 the 7 day moving average of attendance was 86% of what it was for the full 2019 season. But the reopening is still on a faster timetable than league officials envisioned when the season started, and does show that people’s willingness to return to crowds and socialize remains intact.

Daily total attendance in 2021

Reported attendance
Unsold seats
7-game avg. attendance

Attendance in 2021 by team

Teams struggled at first to fill available seats, but attendance has surged as capacity restrictions were lifted.

Chase Field

Arizona Diamondbacks

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Camden Yards

Baltimore Orioles

Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox

Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs

Guaranteed Rate Field

Chicago White Sox

Great American Ballpark

Cincinnati Reds

Progressive Field

Cleveland Indians

Coors Field

Colorado Rockies

Comerica Park

Detroit Tigers

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Kauffman Stadium

Kansas City Royals

Angel Stadium

Los Angeles Angels

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Marlins Park

Miami Marlins

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Target Field

Minnesota Twins

Citi Field

New York Mets

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Oakland Coliseum

Oakland Athletics

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

PNC Park

Pittsburgh Pirates

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Oracle Park

San Francisco Giants

T-Mobile Park

Seattle Mariners

Busch Stadium

St. Louis Cardinals

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Globe Life Field*

Texas Rangers

TD Ballpark**

Toronto Blue Jays

Nationals Park

Washington Nationals

Sources

Opta Sports; Baseball-Reference.com, Major League Baseball

Edited by

Dan Burns and Jon McClure