The 2021 season marked a return to normalcy of sorts as fans returned to MLB ballparks for the first time in two years. Despite Dodger Stadium not being cleared for full capacity until June 15, the Los Angeles Dodgers wound up leading the league in attendance by a wide margin.
The club drew 2,804,693 fans this year, which was roughly 500,000 more than the No. 2 ranked Atlanta Braves. Excluding the pandemic-impacted 2020 campaign, the Dodgers have now drawn the most home attendance in baseball for eight consecutive seasons.
L.A. also led MLB in road attendance as fans traveled all over the country to support their favorite team.
Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten credited the fan base for showing up in large numbers and believes their support has been vital to building the best team possible, via SportsNet LA:
“It’s what makes coming to a Dodger game so special, and I say that having gone through a season with just cutouts. What was really great is we had almost 3 million people again and we didn’t even have full stadiums until June. We had about half-a-million more fans than any other team. It’s such a great statement about what we mean to the city, and what the city means to us. Without their support we couldn’t have the revenues to keep building this team and facility. The relationship has been great for 60 years, and it continues and keeps going strong.”
As Kasten noted, the Dodgers’ strong support from their fans has been beneficial in more ways than one. It gives them a notable advantage both on the field and off of it as well.
While payroll is not the only measure of a team’s potential success, L.A. led the league in that department this year and was one of only two clubs to exceed the luxury tax threshold.
The Dodgers also completed renovations to Dodger Stadium, which included the addition of a plaza in center field, two new sports bars and a new children’s play area, among other upgrades.
Kasten looking forward to Dodgers hosting 2022 MLB All-Star Game
After being awarded the 2020 MLB All-Star Game that ultimately was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Dodgers are now set to host next year’s event for the first time since 1980.
Kasten is looking forward to the festivities and believes the city of L.A. will put on a show for the entire baseball world.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
