Report: MLB attendance continues to dwindle

Major League Baseball's attendance issues appear to be getting worse.

The league's overall average of 26,854 spectators through Wednesday's action is down 1.4 percent from the 27,242 at a similar point in 2018, which finished below the 30,000 mark for the first time since 2003, The Associated Press reports.

Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged that a dip in season-ticket sales is the main culprit.

"Given the explosion of entertainment alternatives and the growth of the secondary market, it is not surprising that season-ticket sales can be challenging," he said. "The clubs are responding to this challenge with creative and effective approaches.

"For example, sales of subscription tickets are double what they were a year ago. And the Twins recently had a $5 flash sale that produced crowds of over 30,000 in three of four games, and the largest single-game attendance since 2016."

MLBPA union head Tony Clark, meanwhile, hinted that a lack of competitiveness among clubs is a chief reason for poor turnouts.

"A lot of it comes down to competition," Clark said. "Fans want to know their teams are doing everything they can to compete for a championship every year."

Florida's two teams - the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins - are facing significant problems in getting fans to the ballpark.

The Marlins are reportedly averaging 9,554 people, which is below the 9,582 who are coming out to see Triple-A Las Vegas. The Rays, meanwhile, recorded the smallest-ever crowd at Tropicana Field on Tuesday when 5,786 attended to watch the contenders take on the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tampa Bay currently sits at the bottom of the AL in attendance for a fifth consecutive season while Miami is poised to finish last in the NL for a seventh straight year, according to Baseball-Reference.

Marlins first baseman Neil Walker thinks pricing might have something to do with it.

"Anytime you're seeing less people show up to the ballpark, I think you're wondering why and you're wondering how you can change that," said Walker. "You've got to assume that it has a little bit to do with it being expensive to come to the ballpark."