Why was Guardians 2023 attendance so good?

[Mott the Hoople]

This season the Guardians drew 1,834,068 fans to Progressive Field. That's a 41% increase over attendance for the 2022 AL Central Champions. That is a tremendous achievement for the entire organization. Congrats to everybody involved.
But my question is this: Why? How did they do it?

The 22 Guardians were a very likable team. Lots of young, exciting players. Lots of very exciting games and comeback wins. The 22 G's averaged a shade over 17,000 fans per game. But due to doubleheaders there were only 76 dates.

The 23 G's showed flaws from the start. Key pitching injuries sort of let the air out of the balloon for some. But the fans kept coming. They averaged over 23,500 fans per game this season. That's more than Baltimore, Detroit, and other bigger cities. About the same as Minnesota and Arizona.

So why did going to the Guardians games become the thing to do this summer?

Well, the weather was much better.
I think the main difference was the team just marketed the hell for discounted tickets. Every series had some sort of special pricing. The SRO and monthly passes were popular. Yes, they had giveaways. Yes, there were lots of fireworks.
This is great news for the future of the franchise. Just when the renovations are starting.

So, what are your thoughts? Was it the team, or was it the marketing?

 

[Soar]

I think there were a lot of expectations this year and more tickets were likely sold before the season started. People were pretty damn pumped for this season after the Yankees series.

The central also sucked so I think people were more invested despite the team not being as good because we were in the race. Also, for awhile it just felt like if we could just get on a 6-8 game win streak, things could change in a hurry but it never really happened.

I also think the more inter league play might have helped sell tickets. You had the Braves, Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers and more all come to town so I think there might have been more interest in seeing some teams like that in person.

 

[BMAN]

I think there were a lot of expectations this year and more tickets were likely sold before the season started. People were pretty damn pumped for this season after the Yankees series.

The central also sucked so I think people were more invested despite the team not being as good because we were in the race. Also, for awhile it just felt like if we could just get on a 6-8 game win streak, things could change in a hurry but it never really happened.

I also think the more inter league play might have helped sell tickets. You had the Braves, Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers and more all come to town so I think there might have been more interest in seeing some teams like that in person.

I also feel like the promotions were way better this season as well.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think there are a few things:

1. There was always going to be a dip coming off COVID and a tear-down of our last contention window
2. When you combine that natural dip with some truly awful weather, attendance was going to be miserable
3. Now take that natural rebound you'd expect, and add competent marketing that targeted the downtown crowd that has to be the lifeblood of this organization moving forward? Sounds like you have a winner on your hands.

The monthly standing room pass is the smartest thing they've done in a long time.

 

[33Y0]

1. Weather was certainly MUCH, MUCH better than last season. Last season, ton of rain outs and make up games, it was miserable. This year, had some GREAT weather.

2. Pitch clock... I think this brought back some of the average fans.

3. Better ticket pricing and promos - I think the standing room only monthly deal they had was a steal for a lot of people and brought more younger folks out. And in tandem with that, the opponents we played on the weekend was pretty enticing. Ohtani/Trout and the Angels was a weekend series, Astros weekend as well, Braves weren't a weekend but we all still remember our rivalry if you will with them during the 90s, Phillies were on a weekend, the Dodgers were back in town (albeit not a weekend).. and of course, the Yankees and Red Sox also draw well too.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I think those ridiculous monthly passes helped inflate numbers a bit. Promos were solid. Pricing was good for a team that had a lot of hype.

All of the above plus difficulty to watch the team. Either way, it's a step in the right direction.

 

[Criznit]

The monthly passes and coming off a "surprise" season where we flirted with going "all the way". Some exciting FA signings, coupled with a young (likeable) team trending up.. Excellent weather.

Just a perfect storm of factors IMO .

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

@33Y0 makes a good point about the pitch clock.

Nobody came out because of the pitch clock.

However, a lot of people who came out and experienced a quick, 2-ish hour game thanks to said pitch clock came back more often than they normally would. Making baseball less of a chore definitely helped.

 

[MD13]

Pitch clock was probably the single best thing Manfred has done as commissioner. It definitely had an effect league-wide, attendance is up around 10% overall.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Yeah, I think pitch clock shortening the games helped overall.
Locally, attracting a younger and downtown crowd helped also.

 

[jjvors]

1. Weather was certainly MUCH, MUCH better than last season. Last season, ton of rain outs and make up games, it was miserable. This year, had some GREAT weather.

2. Pitch clock... I think this brought back some of the average fans.

3. Better ticket pricing and promos - I think the standing room only monthly deal they had was a steal for a lot of people and brought more younger folks out. And in tandem with that, the opponents we played on the weekend was pretty enticing. Ohtani/Trout and the Angels was a weekend series, Astros weekend as well, Braves weren't a weekend but we all still remember our rivalry if you will with them during the 90s, Phillies were on a weekend, the Dodgers were back in town (albeit not a weekend).. and of course, the Yankees and Red Sox also draw well too.

Woof. I hate the pitch clock. Do average fans even notice or care? I can't believe that'd make any difference in attendence.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Woof. I hate the pitch clock. Do average fans even notice or care? I can't believe that'd make any difference in attendence.

When your 7:00 game lets out at 9:00 on a school night instead of the 10:30 you're used to, you notice.

 

[David.]

O

Woof. I hate the pitch clock. Do average fans even notice or care? I can't believe that'd make any difference in attendence.

I went to a couple games this year and part of the rationale was surely because it wouldn't be a marathon event bc of pitch clock

 

[AZ_]

No, its not making a difference in attendance.

That said, new packages and plans allowing a bevy of cheap tickets to multiple games has likely moved the needle for the organization.

Would be curious to see how effective these new packages were in driving the growth here.

Really great to see. Not living in Cleveland, but curious if returning to work played a role as well, more corporations were looking to incentivize in-person work and I do think there was positive correlation with Guardians corporate partnerships this year.

 

[MD13]

Really don't get what's wrong about the pitch clock. You're getting the same amount of actual baseball without all of the wasted time in between.

Another thing is that the rules speeding up the game (limited disengagements/pick-off throws, etc) have also led to stolen bases making a comeback, and base stealing is one of the most fun things about baseball. Overall the product is much improved year-to-year.

Obviously none of this is Guards specific, but it does help explain the attendance boost.