MLB Attendance Rises Third Consecutive Year Surpassing 71 Million

Major League Baseball (MLB) experienced a third consecutive year of overall attendance growth in the 2025 season, drawing approximately 71.41 million fans, marking the first time since 2004-07 that attendance has increased for three straight years. Despite this growth in total attendance, the average attendance per game slightly decreased due to fewer single-admission doubleheaders and the temporary relocation of the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays to minor league ballparks, which notably lowered their home attendance figures. The Athletics played most home games in Sacramento while awaiting a new stadium in Las Vegas, and the Rays played at the Yankees' Steinbrenner Field due to damage at Tropicana Field, with plans to return to their home stadium in 2026. Several teams set attendance milestones, including the Los Angeles Dodgers surpassing 4 million fans for the first time in franchise history and the San Diego Padres setting a franchise record for the third consecutive year. Other teams like the New York Mets, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Reds, and Tigers also saw their best attendance numbers in years, coinciding with MLB's rule changes aimed at speeding up the pace of play, including the pitch clock, which has helped reduce average game times to under 2 hours and 40 minutes for three consecutive seasons. This sustained attendance increase reflects positive fan engagement and the league's efforts to enhance the in-game experience.