MLB attendance has risen 1.1% year‑over‑year as of the 2026 All‑Star break, putting the league on track for a fourth consecutive season with total crowds exceeding 70 million.
Rays lead the league with dramatic attendance jump
The Tampa Bay Rays have posted the biggest increase among all clubs, with a 70.9% rise in average crowds since moving back to Tropicana Field. The venue, which seats 25,025, now welcomes an average of 16,835 fans per game, according to the latest league figures. The surge coincides with the team holding the best record in the American League, suggesting a link between on‑field success and gate numbers.
Other teams see notable gains
Chicago’s White Sox, after three straight seasons with over 100 losses, sit atop the AL Central and have lifted crowds 36.5% at Rate Field to an average of 23,137. In Toronto, the Blue Jays’ post‑season run to the AL pennant helped push average figures at Rogers Centre up 31.5% to 40,488. Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro said the team’s “run last year and the joy they played with, built a bond with our fans across the country.”
Seattle’s Mariners recorded a 23% rise at T‑Mobile Park, now drawing 34,532 fans on average. President of Business Operations Kevin Martinez attributed the improvement to “a combination of positive events and excellent work by everyone in our organization.” The Pirates and Oakland Athletics, both seeing over 10% growth, posted averages of 20,493 and 10,784 respectively.
Attendance leaders and laggards
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain the league’s top‑drawn club, averaging 50,544 fans per game, although that figure slipped 0.2% from last season. The San Diego Padres (41,253) and New York Yankees (40,775) recorded modest declines of 2.5% and 4.4% respectively. The Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, each with 39,375 attendees on average, fell 5.3% year‑over‑year.
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At the opposite end, the Kansas City Royals suffered the steepest drop, down 16.8% to 18,897 fans per game. The franchise announced a $1.9 billion downtown ballpark plan slated for a 2030 opening, hoping the new venue will reverse the trend. The Houston Astros (30,861), Washington Nationals (23,264) and Baltimore Orioles (22,054) also posted declines ranging from 6% to 6.6%.
Overall, the bottom five in attendance include the Athletics, Miami Marlins (12,724, up 8.7%), the Rays, the Royals and the Pirates.
Comparing this season’s numbers to the early 2020s shows a modest recovery after the pandemic‑induced slump. Gains appear strongest where clubs combined competitive play with stadium upgrades, a pattern also seen in previous cycles when fan‑experience investments paid off.
SBJ Research Director David Broughton contributed to the report that underpins these figures.