3rd-Place Mets First in Declining Attendance
The New York Mets baseball season has been an up and down affair so far this spring, but they lead the Majors in one dubious category - declining attendance.
The math is pretty simple: A disastrous 2009 campaign that saw the Mets lose 92 games plus an underwhelming offseason that saw them sign just one premium free agent (Jason Bay) equals 6,852 fewer fans watching the Amazins' 2010 incarnation, according to a New York Times report.
The downward trend is particularly noteworthy since the Mets are in just the second season of Citi Field, their $800 million home. Last year, they averaged 38,744. This season, so far, that number is down to 31,892 - 7th in the National League and 11th overall.
Across town, the Yankees are slightly below their pace from last year, but are still the second biggest draw in baseball, averaging 44,268 a game at home. The Philadelphia Phillies are tops with an average 45,067 home attendance. The Cleveland Indians are last with 14,660.
Overall, attendance around the Majors is averaging 28, 191, around 7 percent lower than a year ago.