KBO on track to hit 6 million fans before All-Star break in new milestone

Baseball

Published: 03 Jul. 2024, 17:03 Updated: 03 Jul. 2024, 17:06

KBO on track to hit 6 million fans before All-Star break in new milestone

Hanwha Eagles starter Ryu Hyun-jin is pitching hard in the bottom of the first inning in a game against the Kia Tigers at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on June 23. [NEWS1]

The KBO is on track to hit six million fans ahead of the All-Star break for the first time since the league was founded in 1982.

More than 5.92 million fans attended 408 regular season games for teams across the 10-team league as of Tuesday, the KBO said in a press release on Wednesday.

The league needs just over 70,000 fans in 10 games between Wednesday and Thursday to hit the milestone.

It would also be the quickest time it’s taken the KBO to reach six million fans, as there are a maximum of 418 regular season games before the break. The current record stands at six million fans in 419 games, set in 2012.

Even with monsoons forcing teams to postpone games, all 10 clubs just need to maintain their overall average attendance number of just over 14,500 fans — up by 32 percent compared to the 2023 season — to hit the milestone.

The Kia Tigers and LG Twins, the two league leaders, are dominating attendance numbers with an average of 17,763 and 18,604 fans per game, respectively.

The five teams with the next-best numbers are the Doosan Bears, Lotte Giants, Samsung Lions and SSG Landers, each drawing 15,000 to 17,000 fans per game.

Despite sitting in ninth place on the 10-team table, the Hanwha Eagles have sold out more than 30 games, keeping a 94 percent attendance rate, according to the KBO.

The KT Wiz, NC Dinos and Kiwoom Heroes have all seen jumps in attendance compared to last year — up by 29 percent, 43 percent and 32 percent, respectively.

As of press time Wednesday, the Tigers were set to face the Lions in Daegu, the Twins will head over to Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul to play the Heroes, the Bears will host the Giants at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul, the Landers will play the Dinos in Changwon, South Gyeongsang and the Wiz will be in Daejeon to play the Eagles.

BY KEVIN CHUNG [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]