Major League Baseball has seen its number of fans fade over the last few decades, and it is a problem that isn’t going away. Because of that, MLB executives started to explore new forms of technology as a way to get fans interested in the game again.
Baseball fans were spending time between innings looking for free mlb picks instead of being engaged in the action at the ballpark. MLB didn’t get too crazy with the new technological advances, but a subtle change has gone a long way.
Major League Baseball has now implemented a pitch clock at the big league level, and it has come with immediate results. Games have been much shorter to begin the year, and that should lead to more interest in the sport.
Fans were getting bored with how long games were taking, and a pitch clock was an easy way to make a change. Using a stopwatch isn’t a huge technological advancement, but the way that MLB has seamlessly integrated it into games has been impressive.
There are now pitch clocks located in several spots throughout the stadium, and those can be seen on the live television broadcasts as well. Umpires don’t have to watch the clock tick down either, as there is a buzzer that notifies them of a violation.
MLB has also been able to use instant replay to improve umpire decisions, and that is where technology does end up having a major role. It used to take umpires several minutes to get a decision via replay, but that is no longer the case.
Umpires on the field are able to communicate with the command center in New York, and those decisions are made almost instantly. More cameras in ballparks give the replay center better looks at plays as well, and that’s extremely important.
Baseball is a game full of tradition and history, but using technology to improve the game was a very smart move.
Baseball Needed a Change
While the pitch clock has been the most talked about new innovation to MLB games, it’s not the only way that the league changed the rules. Banning the shift and having a universal DH are two other changes that should ultimately bring more fans to the ballpark.
MLB executives didn’t just come up with these radical ideas of their own. Instead, it came from years of gathering data. There is so much technology available now, and MLB leaders were smart in using that information to come up with a much better product.
It might take a few years before the league really starts to see more fans showing up at games, but it’s going to pay off in the long run. Major League Baseball also needed to come up with a response after the COVID-19 pandemic caused some financial hardships for several teams.
Shorter Games Means More Fans
The easiest way for MLB teams to make more money is to sell more tickets, and that is exactly what the league is trying to do. It’s hard to really agree with the fact that MLB teams are hurting for money, but the league has been looking for a way to get back on the right side of the bottom line.
It became too easy for MLB fans to stay at home to enjoy the product as it was easier to find things to do when the game got boring. By having more action on the field, fans are more willing to pay the big money to buy a ticket.
If MLB teams are starting to bring in more revenue, then you can expect to see the best players getting paid more money.
Concession Sales Taking a Hit
The one major issue with shorter games is that there is less time to spend at the concession stand. This was an unintended consequence of the pitch clock, but it is something that teams from across the league are going to have to deal with.
At least four MLB teams have agreed to sell beer longer into games as a way to try and bring back some more money. It is unclear if that could end up causing some drinking problems with fans, but it’s currently all about the revenue.