Introduction
Baseball has undergone many changes since its inception and extreme popularity in the United States. Modifications to the rules, investor intervention, and increased costs have impacted viewer interest and involvement in the game. Therefore, this study hypothesizes that baseball viewership and attendance have declined significantly since its peak. This assumption will be analyzed based on a survey of the Bay Area population, as well as based on expert opinion. The purpose of this paper is to identify the preferences of community members regarding baseball, as well as the main current trends in this area.
Data Collection
For the study, an online survey was conducted among 107 Bay Area residents. The participants were predominantly young people aged 18 to 24. In addition, the survey sought to equalize gender representation among respondents to reduce this factor’s influence on the results. More than 50 survey respondents said they had never watched professional baseball. This observation partially confirms the hypothesis of this study. However, for a deeper analysis and understanding of the topic, it is crucial to consider the various factors that influence the formation of public perception.
Findings and Recommendations
Baseball is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving and changing. It includes rule changes, technological advances that impact gameplay, and efforts to increase fan engagement through innovations such as instant replay (Shaikin, 2023). However, the game’s transition from purely a sport to a business negatively impacts public perception.
Shaikin (2023) notes that even team owners often say that baseball is “an industry in crisis” (para. 3). Moreover, the survey demonstrates a low level of interest among participants in this sport, including both broadcasts and live games. According to survey results, the most common factors reducing audience engagement in the Bay Area are lack of interest in the game, promotion, and team performance.
In addition, an important aspect is to understand the preferences and needs of the audience. Factors such as game length, high costs, and possibly lack of excitement may contribute to the decline in attendance and viewership of baseball games (Shaikin, 2023). At the same time, the survey showed that Bay Area residents attend live games more often than watch them on television.
At the same time, the cost and availability of tickets are not a key factor in determining viewers’ interests. Shaikin (2023) argues that technology that aims to engage audiences is often costly, forcing organizers to raise ticket prices. However, these changes do not determine the audience’s behavior, which creates the need to find new solutions to the problem of the declining popularity of football.
Finally, according to the survey, many respondents themselves notice a decrease in the popularity and attendance of baseball. One of the factors influencing these processes may be the growing popularity of other sports. For example, Shaikin(2023) notes that despite the general decline in public interest in sports, basketball and hockey often attract larger audiences.
It is driven by effective marketing, fan engagement, and gameplay innovation. This innovative approach can be adapted for baseball, including shortening the length of games, using technology to interact with fans and promotion. Moreover, since the prominent participants in the survey were young people, the results show the need to develop unique strategies to attract young audiences. It could include promoting baseball in schools to create a new generation of fans and players.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the survey shows a decline in the popularity of baseball among Bay Area residents. Moreover, despite the increase in ticket prices, affordability is not the main factor influencing audience preferences. Respondents noted a lack of interest created by a lack of promotion and a decline in the quality of games. Therefore, the technologies introduced into baseball to attract and retain audiences are ineffective. It creates a need to develop an integrated approach that could successfully address the most problematic aspects associated with the popularity of a given sport.
Reference
Shaikin, B. (2023). Column: Is major league baseball really dying? Survey says no. Los Angeles Times. Web.