Marlins rank last in National League in attendance for 11th straight full season

[Ely Sussman]

With the exception of its inaugural season, loanDepot park consistently draws fewer fans than any other stadium in the National League.

The players change, the managers change, the team's performance varies, but some things about the Miami Marlins remain the same. In 2024, as has been the case during the 10 previous full-length seasons, the Marlins had the lowest attendance among National League teams.

The race was particularly anti-climatic this time around. You could see it coming from the very first homestand. Sunday's home finale brought Marlins total attendance up to 1,085,055 (an average of 13,396 per game). There is a gap of more than half a million fans between them and the NL's next-lowest team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Marlins attendance declined by an average of 960 fans per game compared to 2023. The drop-off in team success no doubt contributed to that, going from a postseason qualifier to the second-worst record in the majors. It does not help when last year's All-Stars (Luis Arraez and Jorge Soler) depart via trade and free agency and Miami's most talented and marketable starting pitchers (Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez and Jesús Luzardo) get derailed by injuries. The Marlins went 30-51 at loanDepot park, tying a franchise record for lousiest home performance.

Renewing practices from recent seasons, the Marlins leaned heavily into heritage celebrations and theme nights. New for 2024, they rebranded "Flashback Fridays" as "Fiesta Fridays." They also experimented with all-you-can-eat seats. While those boosted social media engagement, no more than a few dozen people per game redeemed that promotion.

The 33 largest crowds that the Marlins have played in front of this season were all on the road.

The last time that the Fish did not draw the fewest fans in the NL? Way back in 2012, when "Marlins Park" made its debut. In 11 normal seasons since then—excluding the COVID-shortened, fan-less 2020 campaign—they've held steady in 15th place.

The Oakland Athletics will rank 30th in Major League Baseball in attendance for the third consecutive season, but it isn't possible to make an apples-to-apples comparison. Their abysmal fan turnout is the byproduct of a messy relocation process. For the near future, they are scheduled to host games at Sacramento's Sutter Health Park, a Triple-A venue that ensures their streak will remain intact.

The price to attend games at loanDepot park is cheaper than most MLB ballparks. However, as long as the team fails to be perennially competitive on the field, the stands will continue to be mostly empty.

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[Leo Armbrister]

Loan Depot is packed when the WBC plays. If we had an owner who spent money on quality players the fans would come out. 

[FishFan93]

3 hours ago, Leo Armbrister said:

Loan Depot is packed when the WBC plays. If we had an owner who spent money on quality players the fans would come out. 

It also has a sellout when the Savannah Bananas come there in a week or so. Just very sad.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Less than 1000 fans a game different coming off a playoff season? I don't see why the Marlins would worry about the record then.