The fans are voting with their pocketbook with regard to flagging interest in the team.
Attendance through 44 home dates is at 838,181. That projects to 1,493,231 for the season and its doubtful they will reach that as the team is sinking like a stone at 29-62. That is down 20% from just last year (the second of bookend 98 loss seasons).
Recent attendance
Year Total attendance Rank Chg from Prev
2019 1,493,231 * 26 -20%
2018 1,856,970 22 -20%
2017 2,321,599 16 – 9%
2016 2,493,859 12 -9%
2015 2,726,648 9 -9%
2014 2,917,209 7 -9%
2013 3,083,397 6
*Projected attendance
Attendance is down for the sixth straight year since it peaked following the appearance in the World Series in 2012. Projected to be down over 50% this year from that peak. Note that the numbers were at least falling at a rate of 9% for four years, but now have over doubled in decline to 20% (or greater) annually.
What does this show? Well, it shows that unlike nearby Cleveland, the fans will come out in droves to see a contending team and will even stay rather loyal for a couple of bad seasons. It shows that most fans will not put up with a mess like the team is now and simply check out. But sadly it also shows that there are so many other revenue streams in today’s MLB that while embarrassing, it does not impact the bottom line the way it used to. So the management moves along, displaying apathy equal to that of many fans. They merely instruct FS Detroit to kindly not “pan” the view of all the empty seats at Comerica Park!
Are you still attending games in person? Watching on TV or listening on the radio? Continuing to follow online or in print?
tigersinthed 