CLEVELAND — Baseball season began two months ago and for the Cleveland Guardians, they have struggled with attendance.

Teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers who have been averaging around 40,000 fans per game, the Guardians are less than half that. 

 

What You Need To Know

  • Guardians have been struggling to get fans to their games

  • Although, the organization has offered different ticket packages and promotions to help 

  • Their legal battle with Bally Sports Great Lakes may contribute to the problem 

  • They are in the bottom third of attendance rates in the league 

 

Andy Baskin, a sports radio host in Cleveland, said the Guardians do everything they can to get fans to games. 

“They try extremely hard. The front office Guardians/Indians in the past have really done everything they possibly can to get fans in the seats and go,” he said.

The team has been offering ticket packages such as ones that allow fans to attend any game in a certain month. Baskin explained that the team’s different promotions help too.

“Whether it’s bobble heads or fireworks or hot dog nights, the Guardians act like a team that (is) willing to do whatever it takes to get you in,” he said.

Baskin said that the attendance rates have been up this year around 2,000 fans, but over the last 20 years, the Guardians have consistently had attendance numbers in the bottom third of the league.

“It’s always been difficult for them to draw fans, just look at the history of the franchise,” he said.

The Guardians have been in the midst of a legal battle with Bally Sports Great Lakes, which has been their TV rights holder. Baskin explained that this could affect the team.

“That if the Bally Sports bankruptcy happens, just let it happen and let the team move over to MLB TV or MLB local, like we’re seeing in San Diego right now. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that if you can’t get the game in someone’s living room to watch them, it hurts the product you’re putting on the field,” he said.

Baskin expressed some people do not see the Guardians staying in Cleveland long term, but he is not concerned yet.

“I know that the Dolans who own the Guardians are from Cleveland and want to be a part of this community. Now, is there an ownership change in the works? Yeah, there is and we will probably see that in the next five years and that’ll be up to them, but I know that ballpark is in great shape, I know that they’re about to put millions of dollars more into the ballpark so the thought of the Guardians moving is something that I can’t conceive right now,” he said.

The Guardians have typically seen an increase in attendance when the school year ends, so the numbers may change when a six-game home stand kicks off Tuesday.