Early Attendance
In 1936, NPB averaged about 3,000 fans per game. The 1958 Emperor Game drew 30,000+. During the V9 Giants era, TV ratings consistently exceeded 30%, establishing baseball as the national pastime.
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1990s Stagnation
In the 1990s, NPB attendance hovered around 20 million annually. The 1993 J-League launch drew young fans to soccer. Pacific League games averaged under 15,000, with Kintetsu and Orix sometimes below 10,000.
2000s Reform
After the 2004 crisis, NPB focused on attendance. Interleague play, fan services, and stadium renovations drove growth. DeNA Yokohama Stadium, Nippon-Ham Hokkaido, and SoftBank PayPay Dome each innovated. 2019 set a record at 26.53 million.
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COVID and Recovery
COVID-19 reduced 2020 attendance to 4.8 million with empty stadiums. Recovery reached 25 million by 2023 and exceeded 26 million in 2024. Teams enhanced digital services and streaming during the pandemic, diversifying fan engagement.