MLB attendance is down nearly 3% through May 29, with the decline due to myriad factors, including decreased interest in interleague play, large numbers of weather postponements and traditionally strong-drawing teams posting weaker figures at the gate. The Rangers lead all AL clubs with an average of 39,810 fans per game, although that is down 8% compared to the same period last year. During their first season in the AL, the Astros' attendance is down 20%. Also seeing double-digit percentage drops at the gate are the Red Sox and Twins. The Blue Jays and Orioles lead all AL clubs in gains, up 19% and 15%, respectively. Listed below is team-by-team attendance for the AL through May 29, with comparisons to the same period last year. See tomorrow's issue for NL figures (THE DAILY).
| MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE ATTENDANCE THROUGH MAY 29 |
| TEAM | GMS | TOTAL | AVG. | % CAP. | PREV. | %+/- | GMS ('12) |
| Rangers | 22 | 875,819 | 39,810 | 82.7% | 43,447 | -8.4% | 25 |
| Yankees | 25 | 950,873 | 38,035 | 75.6% | 40,950 | -7.1% | 25 |
| Angels | 26 | 964,609 | 37,100 | 81.6% | 34,404 | 7.8% | 23 |
| Tigers | 26 | 936,623 | 36,024 | 87.3% | 35,201 | 2.3% | 23 |
| Red Sox | 29 | 957,855 | 33,029 | 88.4% | 37,598 | -12.2% | 25 |
| Twins | 23 | 683,223 | 29,705 | 76.1% | 34,025 | -12.7% | 25 |
| Blue Jays | 30 | 882,990 | 29,433 | 59.7% | 24,692 | 19.2% | 24 |
| Orioles | 24 | 646,318 | 26,930 | 58.6% | 23,437 | 14.9% | 26 |
| Royals | 24 | 528,353 | 22,015 | 58.1% | 22,831 | -3.6% | 22 |
| White Sox | 24 | 520,263 | 21,678 | 53.4% | 20,663 | 4.9% | 25 |
| Mariners | 25 | 513,061 | 20,522 | 43.2% | 20,781 | -1.2% | 22 |
| Athletics | 25 | 509,197 | 20,368 | 58.1% | 20,218 | 0.7% | 25 |
| Astros | 30 | 547,293 | 18,243 | 43.4% | 22,839 | -20.1% | 26 |
| Rays | 27 | 489,359 | 18,124 | 53.2% | 19,660 | -7.8% | 26 |
| Indians | 25 | 405,995 | 16,240 | 38.4% | 16,620 | -2.3% | 28 |
| AL TOTALS | 385 | 10,411,831 | 27,044 | 63.8% | 28,085 | -3.7% | 344 |
| MLB TOTALS | 781 | 22,821,024 | 29,220 | 67.6% | 30,108 | -2.9% | 742 |
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NOTES: All attendance data is based on totals posted immediately following games. Figures do not reflect any subsequent adjustments made by teams or the league. * = Astros moved from the NL to the AL for the '13 season.
INCREASED INTERLEAGUE PLAY TO BLAME? Columnist Kevin Blackistone said the falling MLB attendance cannot be put "all on interleague play" because there is a "greater problem going on with baseball attendance." But ESPN's Bomani Jones noted interleague play "means something completely different to people who remember the days before it and the people who are in this era now where you have an interleague series all the time." Meanwhile, L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said HD TV has "made it better to watch on television," while bad weather has "really hurt the game this year." Plaschke: "The schedule makers really need to schedule more games in the West Coast and the south at the start of the season" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 5/29).
