St. Louis’ Attendance This Season: A Historic Low
The stands at St. Louis’ sporting events have been noticeably empty this season, marking a historic low in attendance for the city. Despite the city’s reputation for being a passionate sports town, fans seem to be staying away from the stadiums in droves.
From the Cardinals to the Blues, all of St. Louis’ major sports teams have seen a significant decline in attendance compared to previous years. This trend has not gone unnoticed by players, coaches, and team owners, who are all concerned about the impact it may have on the city’s sports culture.
One possible explanation for the low attendance could be the underperformance of the teams. The Cardinals, who have a long history of success, are currently struggling to stay above .500. The Blues, who won the Stanley Cup just two years ago, have also been struggling this season.
Another factor could be the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited the number of fans allowed in stadiums and created safety concerns for those who do attend. However, other cities with similar restrictions have not seen such a drastic decline in attendance.
Whatever the reason may be, it is clear that St. Louis’
Cardinals Set Another Sad Record for Attendance During A’s Series
The St. Louis Cardinals have hit a new low in attendance during their recent series against the Athletics at Busch Stadium. Despite a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the A’s on Tuesday night, only 17,002 tickets were reportedly sold, making it the lowest announced attendance for a Cardinals game since the stadium opened in 2006.
Season of Disappointment for the Redbirds
With a mediocre 70-71 record, the Cardinals are on track to miss the postseason for the third consecutive year. This is a far cry from their usual success, as from 2006 to 2019, the team averaged over 38,000 fans per game and even reached a high of 43,854 in 2007, according to Baseball Reference. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in lower attendance this season, but the Cardinals still managed to average over 40,000 fans in the two years prior.
Historically Low Attendance for the Cardinals
This season, the Cardinals are averaging just 27,862 fans per game, which is their lowest mark since 1995 (24,399) when the season was shortened due to the 1994 baseball strike. This is a concerning trend for the team, but they are not taking it lightly. According to STLPR, the Cardinals are implementing new features and offering discounted season tickets for next year in an effort to improve the game day experience and attract more fans.
Creating a Better Product on the Field is Key
While these efforts may help, the Cardinals will ultimately need to improve their performance on the field if they want to see a significant increase in attendance. Busch Stadium has consistently ranked second in Major League Baseball in ticket sales from 2013 to 2022, according to STLPR, but without a strong team, it may be difficult to maintain that ranking. As Jonathan Ahl of STLPR writes, “the team has acknowledged the play on the field falls below fans’ expectations” and they will need to step up their game to bring more people to the stadium.
