143 Sold-Out Games Out of 294
Hanwha Eagles Sell Out 26 of 29 Home Games
The KBO League has surpassed 5 million spectators in just 294 games, the fastest pace in history, leading to predictions that the league could achieve 10 million spectators for the second consecutive year.
On June 3, the KBO Secretariat announced that a total of 100,356 fans attended games held at five stadiums nationwide, bringing the season’s cumulative attendance to 5,099,720 and surpassing the 5 million mark. This milestone was reached in just 294 games, setting a new record for the fewest games needed to reach 5 million spectators.
The previous record for this achievement was 332 games in the 2012 season, meaning the new record was set 38 games earlier, breaking the previous mark after 13 years. Additionally, compared to last year, when the league achieved its first-ever 10 million spectators with a final total of 10,887,705, this year’s 5 million milestone was reached 51 games earlier than last year’s 345-game pace.
On this day, which coincided with the 21st presidential election, four stadiums were sold out: Jamsil Stadium in Seoul (23,750 fans), Sajik Stadium in Busan (22,669 fans), SSG Landers Field in Incheon (23,000 fans), and Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon (17,000 fans).
This season, the team with the highest average attendance is the Samsung Lions with 22,312 spectators per game, followed by the LG Twins with 22,260 and the Lotte Giants with 20,301. The top three teams each averaged more than 20,000 spectators, and even the team with the lowest average, the Kiwoom Heroes, drew 11,008 fans per game.
The number of sold-out games has also increased. Out of 294 games, 143 games?or about 49%?were sold out. The Hanwha Eagles filled their stadium to capacity 26 times out of 29 home games, while Samsung did so 26 times out of 33 home games. Hanwha is also setting a new KBO League record for consecutive home sellouts, having sold out 22 straight home games.
As of June 3, the average attendance this season stands at 17,346, a 12.8% increase compared to 15,122 during the same period last year.
If this trend continues through the end of the season, the KBO League could see its first-ever 12 million spectators in a single season.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
