Interleague Play And The Big Mac Attack: Estimating The Within-Season Demand For Major League Baseball

Abstract

Estimation of game-by-game attendance allows the testing of special attendance factors.  In this study the attendance factors of interest are the drawing power of star players (especially homerun hitter Mark McGuire) and particular scheduling circumstances.  The scheduling of interleague games (between the separate National and American League teams) is still a league experiment and deserves close scrutiny with respect to its attendance impact.  Claims by league officials that interleague play increases attendance have not been subject to standard statistical controls.  The opportunity cost of an interleague game was examined by economists before baseball adopted this experiment to increase attendance.