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Competitive Balance and Game Attendance in Major League Baseball

Author

Listed:
  • James W. Meehan Jr.

    (Colby College)

  • Randy A. Nelson

    (Colby College)

  • Thomas V. Richardson

    (Colby College)

Abstract

This article tests for the effects of a change in competitive balance on attendance at Major League Baseball games using game-level attendance data for the 2000-2002 seasons. Employing the difference between the winning percentages of the home and visiting teams as a measure of competitive balance, the authors find (a) the effects of a change in competitive balance on attendance are not symmetric, (b) the effects of a change in competitive balance increase as a team falls further behind the divisional leader, and (c) the effects of a change in competitive balance decline throughout the season if the home team has a better record than the visiting team but increase if the home team has a worse record than the visiting team.

Suggested Citation

  • James W. Meehan Jr. & Randy A. Nelson & Thomas V. Richardson, 2007. "Competitive Balance and Game Attendance in Major League Baseball," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 8(6), pages 563-580, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:8:y:2007:i:6:p:563-580
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002506296545
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    References listed on IDEAS

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