The Cardinals aren't bringing in a lot of fans.
Cardinals matching unfortunate franchise history not seen in over 40 years originally appeared on The Sporting News
The 2025 season for the St. Louis Cardinals has been a lost one. While they didn't completely unload their talent at the trade deadline, they did move on from some of their expiring talent.
It was always going to be a transition year, with John Mozeliak stepping down as president of baseball operations and Chaim Bloom taking over at season's end.
But, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today outlined, the Cardinals have seen the negative side effects of such a transition year. Not on the field, but rather in the stands.
St. Louis Isn't Bringing in Stellar Attendance Numbers
With a week to go in August, the Cardinals sit at 64-66, 17 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and 5.5 games back of the third and final wild card spot.
Nolan Arenado is hurt, Ryan Helsley was traded, and there hasn't been much exciting young talent called up to the Majors this season. All of these factors combine to create an environment that has not brought in many fans to watch the Cardinals' home games.
"Meanwhile, in St. Louis," Nightengale writes, "the Cardinals are averaging 28,828 fans a game, the lowest for a full season since 1984."
St. Louis doesn't have the appeal that they did not too long ago. In 2022, the team saw the return of Albert Pujols as he ascended to legendary status, hitting his 700th home run.
But, in the years since then, the team hasn't been the same. This season, with Mozeliak stepping down in a transition year, there wasn't much momentum for the Cardinals to make any major decision before Bloom took over.
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Oli Marmol had the team competitive through the first part of the year, but amid a rough July and August, the team is well out of the division hunt and isn't in great shape to make the postseason as a wild-card team.
Between the team transitioning from one front office exec to another, along with the overall lack of exciting prospects coming up, the low attendance numbers aren't surprising.
What does stand out is how these low attendance numbers are something St. Louis hasn't seen in over 40 years. It's been a disappointing season for the Cardinals, and their lower attendance totals further indicate that the team hasn't been at its best.
The Cardinals will look to regroup under Bloom's leadership in 2026 as they look to rebound from a rough 2025 season on the field and in the stands.
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Category: Baseball
