It’s a ‘thought piece’ but I thought it was a good read.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/03/04/baseball-lockout-1994-strike/
“The erosion of baseball’s audience and its diminished status as the former national pastime don’t make it near extinction. Such a breathless assertion is preposterous because there’s still a robust fan base. But the question that makes the situation seem dire is about cultivation. How does baseball — which currently has some of the most impressive young talent in its history — nurture loyalists into the future?”
If you were in charge of PR-Marketing of baseball, post-lockout, what are the things you would do or suggest ownership do, to bring back fans?
One thing I’d do is to quit regionalizing it so much, eliminate blackouts and allow people to watch whatever, whenever, wherever. Another is I’d create some national campaigns around the best and brightest and most entertaining players. It’s not just about winning, although that is highly important, it’s also about the players. Get people interested in the sport again by following a ‘favorite’. I’d also work to sponsor youth baseball in communities, and send players out to work with kids. Some players already do this, but I’d make it a MLB project, too.
What would be some of your ideas to freshen the fan base?