Mets fans “might be deciding to cast their vote” for the perceived quality of this year’s roster by “keeping their wallets closed, and staying home”John Jones/USA TODAY NETWORK
Monday’s announced attendance of 16,853 for the Mets’ home game against the Tigers was “by far the lowest non-COVID crowd at Citi Field since the building opened in 2009,” according to Anthony Rieber of NEWSDAY. Mets fans “might be deciding to cast their vote” for the perceived quality of this year’s roster by “keeping their wallets closed, and staying home.” There are “many other legitimate factors” to explain why fans would skip an April 1 Monday night game against a non-marquee foe in questionable weather. But the Mets have “played early- and late-season weeknight games against non-marquee foes in questionable weather” at Citi Field every year in which fans were allowed in. And they have “never had an attendance this low.” Only once before did the Mets “sell fewer than 20,000 tickets” for a non-COVID affected home game at Citi Field, back in 2017 for 19,617 attendees. In 2023 the Mets drew 2,573,555 fans, an “average of 31,772.” Going into yesterday, the Mets had sold 111,508 tickets for their first four home games, the first three against the Brewers and Monday’s against the Tigers. That is an average of 27,877 that includes Opening Day, a Saturday crowd of 30,296, a “surprisingly small” Easter Sunday with nice weather and a turnout of 22,222, and Monday’s crowd (NEWSDAY, 4/2).
MONEY FOR NOTHING? Mets owner Steve Cohen during his tenure with the team has not been shy about spending money on the team. However, when asked by CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin if money can buy a championship in MLB, Cohen quickly replied, “Clearly not, because we tried that.” He went on to say, “The real problem is if you’re trying to build a team through free agency, it’s such a tough place to be. You’re fighting the agent. You’re buying players…
