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How MLB figured out its fans

In: Sports Economics Uncut

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Abstract

While fans of different sports frequently share a deep passion for their teams, Chapter 2 highlights how much consumer interest differs across sports. The NFL eclipsed baseball as the most popular sport in the US as the impact of television took hold and football’s weekend-based offerings meshed with the emerging culture. MLB floundered for decades as it sought to match the NFL’s national TV appeal. Its fortunes turned around as the Braves, Cubs, and Mets demonstrated that extensive telecasts of home games built fan interest in the long term rather than cannibalizing it. As a result, MLB teams have signed huge local TV contracts. Fan interest in women’s sports also carries some unique qualities. Typically, fan support of women’s sports lags well behind men’s sports with notable exceptions in women’s tennis and, recently, women’s college softball.

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  • ., 2018. "How MLB figured out its fans," Chapters, in: Sports Economics Uncut, chapter 2, pages 18-35, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:18305_2
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