MLB attendance up significantly

[Richard]

8.1% I think the extra wild card will be added this season and I wouldn't be suprised if it continues to rise

[ian2813]

8.1% I think the extra wild card will be added this season and I wouldn't be suprised if it continues to rise

The extra Wild Card was already added back in March.

[Allie Fox]

Someone tell Houston.

[Captain Cold Nose]

The extra Wild Card was already added back in March.

And it's for one whole game. Not a difference maker, probably. Bryce Harper is la razón por qué.

[redban]

Attendance is down for both the Yankees and Mets though.

[milladrive]

And it's for one whole game. Not a difference maker, probably. Bryce Harper is la razón por qué.

In fairness, though, that one game carries with it a whole season of optimism for a lot of fans of teams that now may be in the postseason, where in the past they wouldn't have been. I kinda think that extra Wild Card has indeed made a difference in overall attendance (even if it results in only one ridiculous dreampt-up game that shouldn't even be required, and may ultimately rook the best second-place team out of their rightful Wild Card seed).

[Brooklyn]

I find it hard to believe that the second wild card team has made any difference in the attendance so far. In both leagues, two or three teams Are tied for the first/second wild card, meaning any team that is in the running for the second wild card is also in the running for the first wild card.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

I agree with Brooklyn

April thru June attendance in no way related to or because of a second wild card

[jnakamura]

Miami is up 10,000 per game
Texas is up 7,000 per game
Orioles are up 5,000
Nats are up 5,000
Jays are up 5,000
Dodgers are up 4,000
Cards are up 4,000
Tigers are up 4,000

One question though: Is the 8% jump compared to all of last season, or at this same point last year?

[milladrive]

I find it hard to believe that the second wild card team has made any difference in the attendance so far. In both leagues, two or three teams Are tied for the first/second wild card, meaning any team that is in the running for the second wild card is also in the running for the first wild card.

I agree with Brooklyn

April thru June attendance in no way related to or because of a second wild card

I could be misinterpreting, but I think Brooklyn's reaction was more of a "Wow"-type "I-find-it-hard-to-believe" than a "No-way" I-find-it-hard-to-believe."

The fact remains that two more Wild Cards represent an approximate additional 8% of postseason teams (two more of 30 teams). Do the math. If there's a time for the hope (and attendance to die off, it's in the second half of the season, as the fans of the teams that begin to be eliminated stop going, not in the first half when there's hope. In other words, that 8% in April through June makes perfect sense. I envision it dropping off more after the ASG, as the season progresses and more teams fall out of the races.