The Mets have seen “a significant percentage increase” in ticket sales for this upcoming season after ranking 18th in the majors in attendance last year, according to Tim Healey of NEWSDAY. The club’s average attendance of 28,757 “was worse” than the Brewers and D-backs and “just ahead” of the Orioles and Guardians. Healey wrote it did not help that the Mets “were terrible for the first third of the season.” Team owner Steve Cohen said, “I’m really looking forward to this year being a year when fans come out. I think the fans are having a great time. When I look out at the stadium, I think it’s a great game presentation, we have a great team I think. I think it’s going to be a fun place to be this year” (NEWSDAY, 2/18).
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ULTIMATE CURE: In N.Y., Abbey Mastracco noted the empty seats in August and September “were shocking” to Cohen, as the team was “in the midst of a heated battle for a playoff spot.” Cohen said, “That really bothered me. Eighteenth in attendance when we’re right in the pennant race?” Mastracco noted towards the end of the season, with that “playoff spot in sight,” the team was able to draw nearly 165,000 fans over four days against the Phillies. Cohen then “came to the conclusion that winning is what people want to see.” Cohen: “I’m really hopeful this year. I mean, I’m told that usually attendance lags [with] performance. And so I’m really looking forward to this year being a year when the fans come out” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/18).
