Day-By-Day: The Importance of Day Baseball
Day baseball is the biggest window for MLB to increase attendance. Read through Krebs’ Friday MLB Column on the importance of one of baseball’s biggest attractors.
In a sport that is ostensibly flawed and lovable, the MLB controls the cards to the perception and outlook of baseball. Millions love baseball, but its detractors are too much for some. The best thing that MLB has going for itself is its availability. Bill Parcells puts it, “The best ability is availability.” Within a given season, minus COVID-19 outbursts or the All-Star break, every day will include a baseball game. Some appreciate when every game runs at similar times, while others see the game as a spectacle, and every game deserves attention. Therefore, for both thought processes to see the middle ground, day baseball is critical, allowing for all games to be played with equal attention, barring rivalries or games with special events or playoff implications. Day games are the bridge for MLB to seek attention, promote the game, and generate revenue to improve all operations of its product.
Dependability is one of the best parts of the game of baseball. Three batters to an inning, (most likely) nine innings played, nine players on the field. Game times are the exception and can trap fans, and some teams, into a “time lull” in which people model their everyday routine around a set, consistent time. Consistency is a part of the game, but baseball should not be known as mundane, even though there are some not-so-fun elements to the game itself. Varying the game time day by day may not be best for players, employees, or constituents caught in routines but allows for excitement and change, which the sport is in desperate need of to the general sports fan.
The limited public data about day baseball figures suggests the league and the media does not prioritize game time. However, according to a 2008 study from The Journal of Applied Business Research, an average day game attracts approximately 2,000 more fans than night games, with an improved standard deviation of about 500. While the study approaches attendance through a promotional lens rather than strictly an attendance lens, it does bring valuable data about the advantages of day baseball in 2005, which was a given and non-pandemic year, as seen by the increase in average attendance.
Giving fans breathing room and making baseball games the middle part of the day creates a sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to make more memories while keeping baseball close to their heart. The best way a fan can get in love with baseball is by attending a game in person. It is in the league’s best interest to make decisions in which their fans benefit, rather than imposing their will.
The MLB can only control what they control. By incorporating daily day baseball, people know baseball will be on towards the middle part of the day every day of the week. There is no reason why there are no day baseball games in the early part of the week since the league benefits from consistent day baseball. Varying the time of day for baseball games creates refreshing and differing atmosphere day-to-day, allowing for lifelong memories.
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