Baseball’s Revival: A Grand Slam for MLB
The numbers are in, and it’s a home run for Major League Baseball (MLB). The National League Championship Series’ first game between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers drew a whopping 8.26 million viewers, making it the most-watched LCS game since 2009. The American League Championship Series followed suit, with a 4% increase in viewership from last year.
A Season of Success
But it’s not just the championship series that’s bringing in the crowds. The 2024 regular season was a triumph for MLB, with increases in attendance, fan engagement, streaming, and viewership. The league attributes this success to shorter games, thanks to the introduction of a pitch clock last season, and rule changes that have created more in-game action.
Building Momentum
“The increased enthusiasm baseball fans of all ages have shown the last two seasons is evident in all of the ways we track fan engagement,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “Building off last year’s momentum, the 2024 season was memorable with historic performances, emerging young stars, a series of successful special events, and tight pennant races.”
Rule Changes and Rising Stars
MLB has implemented several rule changes to increase action in games, including making bases larger and restricting the shift. The league has also capitalized on its generational stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, who are leading their teams to victory.
The Road to the World Series
The Yankees have taken a 2-0 lead against the Guardians, while the Mets-Dodgers series is tied at 1-1. With the World Series just around the corner, baseball fans are on the edge of their seats. As Eldridge Industries CEO Todd Boehly put it, “The two most storied franchises in Major League Baseball coming together and playing in the World Series, there couldn’t be anything better for baseball.”
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