The Miami Marlins welcomed just 5,297 fans to Marlins Park for Monday’s game, setting a new attendance low this season for a game played at a Major League Baseball ballpark.
On Monday night, the Marlins hosted the Cincinnati Reds before a reported crowd of 5,297 at Marlins Park. That marked the lowest attendance figure for any game played at an MLB ballpark this season, coming in below the reported total of 5,786 that saw the Tampa Bay Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on May 29. Technically, this month’s Little League Classic between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates is the lowest attended MLB regular-season game of 2019, but that matchup was part of a special event at a minor-league facility–BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters (Short Season A; NY-Penn League).
For the Marlins, Monday’s game came amidst what has been a challenging season for the organization in terms of attracting fans to Marlins Park. More from the Sun-Sentinel:
It was the third time Miami has drawn less than 6,000 fans this season, beating its previous low of 5,934 versus the New York Mets on April 2.
Through 68 home games, the Marlins are averaging a league-worst 9,994 fans. The Rays — 29th in attendance — are drawing over 5,000 more people per game. Miami has been nearly even with its 2018 figures, which saw an average of 10,013 per game.
In the second year under its new ownership group, led by Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter, the Marlins spent $15 million this off-season on stadium renovations to improve the fan experience. Among the changes, Miami ditched the polarizing home run sculpture, replacing it with a three-tiered seating section known at AutoNation Alley.
Monday’s attendance figure was followed by a reported crowd of 6,196 for Tuesday’s game between the Marlins and Reds. The organization has already announced plans that it hopes will contribute to better attendance numbers in 2020, including earlier start times for Monday-Thursday night games in the months of April, May, and September.
The Marlins attendance was traditionally among the lowest in MLB under previous owner Jeffry Loria. Since completing its purchase of the team in the fall of 2017, the Jeter-Sherman-led ownership has undertaken an on-field rebuilding process that has involved trading away several notable players. The Marlins enter today’s action with a record of 47-84, last in the National League East.