Can softball ever surpass baseball's dominance?
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Softball has not been considered a leader in the world of sport at the highest level, despite the high levels of participation at college level. Up to 10 million people in the United States have participated in the sport over the last year.
However, there has been shocking lack of representation at professional level. The only professional men’s league was disbanded 38 years ago, while the National Pro Fastpitch contains a handful of teams for the women’s game.
Baseball continues to dominate the landscape in terms of bat-based professional games, and it enjoys a global reach, which could expand following its return to the Olympics. Yet even the MLB has noticed a downtrend in television audiences and participation. It raises the question as to whether softball could rise to challenge its position.
The allure of the MLB and its history will always resonate with a loyal core audience. However, once the older generation is gone, baseball may struggle to attract new generations, which could pave the way for a change.
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The 2020 World Series was the least-watched title event since figures began. It was 32% lower than the audience that viewed the San Francisco Giants’ triumph over the Detroit Tigers in 2012. The clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays did not captivate the public, which is a massive concern. A team of the ilk of the New York Yankees, who are
backed in the MLB odds with Betway at +500Â as of November 27 to win the World Series in 2021, could cause a spike in viewing figures. However, there are few teams and players left that command an audience. The Dodgers has two of the best players in the MLB in Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw on their roster.
If they struggle to capture the imagination of viewers from all corners of the States then the MLB is on a slippery slope. There has been a growing trend not only in television audiences but also in attendance for games. According to research provided by Two Circles, the MLB endhave seen attances decline by six million fans since 2012. Unless the organization's work to appeal to new fans comes through then those figures will continue to fall at a significant rate.
 The NFL and the NBA are pulling supporters away from baseball stadiums, leaving a gap of only a month where baseball commands eyeballs as the lone sporting event during the summer. It’s an issue that could be critical over the next 10 years for the future of the game.
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Given its popularity, softball could be in a position to drag viewers away from baseball. There have been attempts to alter the women’s game due to the launch of Athletes Unlimited. It has changed the way softball is being played at the highest level, attracting the top players in the game away from the National Pro Fastpitch as well as the Olympic roster.
The league began in 2020 and
put a focus on the players rather than teams. Rosters alternate on a weekly basis and therefore greater emphasis is placed on the performances of individuals. It’s an intriguing model with a short and sharp season of only 30 games, which may appeal to a diverse audience.
ESPN broadcasted the inaugural campaign, which yielded viewers in the region of 50,000 per game. It was a decline from the Women’s College World Series in 2019 that averaged one million viewers, while even the regular season notched an average of 266,000. Still, Athletes Unlimited certainly deserve credit for attempting to change up the game, something which baseball should take note of in the future.
Athletes Unlimited’s softball campaign will return in 2021, and it will be interesting to see whether it resonated enough to maintain the audience. Softball’s return to the Olympics may also give a huge boost to audience figures. Players returning from Tokyo will have notoriety, especially if Team USA are successful and they could well be due to the investment in their infrastructure. We shall wait and see whether it can provide a spark, although their potential popularity has been noted by the MLB, who are sponsoring Team USA for their campaign in Tokyo.
Ingenuity should be applauded and the moves that softball are making to maintain their relevance should be noted by baseball. The MLB is not going to fall out of the reckoning and be replaced by softball anytime in the near future, but at least one sport is being proactive about their issues and there could be a day when they are ready to pounce should baseball’s problems continue.
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