Major League Baseball’s reputation has risen steadily since implementing pace-of-play rules in 2023, increasing by 26%, according to a new YouGov report surveying MLB fans.
YouGov’s Inside the park: MLB Report 2025 also uncovers what other rules MLB fans would like to see added to the league, with a salary cap drawing the most support, as 32% of MLB fans say they would like to see a salary cap added to the league’s rules.
Drawing on a survey of 1,200+ Americans, the report highlights other new rules that MLB fans would like to see, how they watch the game, what would encourage them to go to games in-person more often, and brand preferences.
Key findings in the report include:
- Price matters: Two-thirds of fans (68%) say they’d attend more games if stadium food and beverage prices were lower
- Not cutting cable (yet): More than half of MLB fans (54%) still prefer to watch MLB games on a cable or satellite TV subscription that includes their regional sports network
- Home is where the fan is: Most MLB fans prefer to watch games at home (77%), either alone (39%), or with friends/family (38%)
- ESPN advantage: MLB fans are much more likely to than the average American to consider watching ESPN (44.9% vs 28.8%)
“Major League Baseball has made a concerted effort in recent years to speed up play through new rules and technology, aiming to re-energize its fanbase and capture the attention of younger audiences,” said Davey Chadwick, Head of US Sport - Client Services at YouGov. “Our research shows that these efforts are paying off.”
Leveraging YouGov BrandIndex and a nationwide survey of 1,200+ Americans, the report provides a comprehensive look at fan perspectives on league rules, attendance drivers, and brand preferences.
Some of the 100+ brands hitting it out of the park with MLB fans include game broadcasters and league sponsors such as: ESPN, SiriusXM, Capital One, New Balance, and Gatorade.
YouGov’s report is available for download here.
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