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oai:scholarsbank.uoregon.edu:1794/332742026-08-12T07:00:28Zcom_1794_7557com_1794_7555com_1794_7552col_1794_169

Peterson, Brian Maxwell, Colin 2026-08-11T19:55:21Z 2026 https://hdl.handle.net/1794/33274 69 pages. From the early-1900s to mid-2000s, Major League Baseball (MLB) saw an incredible rise in popularity and attendance numbers. The league was among the highest attended live spectator events across the United States of America, reaching numbers close to 80 million total fans in yearly turnout. However, over the last 15-20 years, MLB saw these numbers drop significantly. This thesis examines these trends and analyzes the multiple reasons behind this decline, including rising cost, the increasing availability of live-streaming services, changes in rules and strategy, and more. Lastly, MLB’s recent efforts to reverse this trend are discussed along with recommendations on how the sport can continue its path to truly reclaiming the title of America’s Pastime. en_US University of Oregon CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Sports Attendance Live Spectator Events Sports Entertainment Baseball Saving America’s Pastime: A Comprehensive Look into the Successes & Failures of Major League Baseball in the 21st Century Dissertation or thesisopen.access