ESPN.com ranks the Washington Nationals 22nd overall in ticket sales over the past two seasons. This ranking actually puts them right around the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox in terms of average attendance, which was shocking to me to see how much support fans still give this team after seeing the attendance during spring training as well as support on social media platforms. However, with a couple of offseason decisions heading into this year, that is going to change, and the Nationals could actually be ranked in the top 15 of ticket sales across the league, here's how.
Giveaways/Special Promotion Nights
Fans want to feel appreciated when coming to a baseball game. When an additional gift is given to go along with a ticket it builds a rapport with the fanbase. My colleague JJ Phillips recently gave us a complete guide to the Nationals' 2025 giveaway and event schedule. This shows just how active the Nationals are in trying to shine a light a build relationships with different fans. With college collaboration games with universities such as Penn State, Howard, and George Mason, it is clear that part of the target is a younger fan base. Furthermore, not just doing these promotions on games where lower attendance is expected also shows a true commitment to the fans. For example, the entire series against the Dodgers there are going to be giveaways, which will be a major part in putting people in the seats this season.
Affordable Options
Everyone understands that going to a ballgame is going to be an expense in today's day and age. However, the Nationals are currently selling the most expensive beers in the league. The Orioles are second in average beer price, so this may be something of a Beltway thing but even still, there needs to be more affordable options. Many stadiums around the league have now offered certain areas of their stadiums with cheaper "zones" where you can get a beer, bag of popcorn, or a hot dog for under $5. Also, some teams will offer specials like a hotdog and drink included with your ticket. Things like this attract families to come to the stadium, and should the Nats adopt something like this, it is almost guaranteed that more people will want to come to the ballpark.
Be Competitive
This year is a big one for the Nationals as a franchise. Many of the top prospects we have been waiting on have finally made it to the show, with more coming soon. Also, some savvy veteran additions like Nathaniel Lowe have made this team one that without a doubt will be more competitive. Being competitive is an important to success in the ticket sales department. Nobody wants to go to a game in which they think their guys aren't going to be able to compete. This is a problem that the Nationals have already fixed, and with that they will be in the top 15 in ticket sales, mark my words.
Let me know what would or wouldn't make you go to a game.