[Official] 'LG→Samsung→Doosan→KIA→Lotte→SSG→Hanwha→KT→NC→Kiwoom' KBO League popularity explodes, 'writing new history'

*This content was translated by AI.

The KBO League has finally written new history by surpassing 6 million total attendance in the fewest games ever recorded.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced on the 17th that "the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League reached 6 million total attendance with 79,375 spectators entering the Jamsil, Daegu, Munhak, Gwangju, and Changwon games held today."

With this, the KBO League, which recorded a cumulative attendance of 6,066,775 by the 17th, surpassed 6 million total attendance in just 334 games, the fewest in history.

The previous record for the fewest games to break 6 million total attendance was set in the 2025 season, achieved in 350 games. Reaching the milestone in 334 games today is 16 games fewer than the previous record.

Surpassing 6 million total attendance before the All-Star break scheduled from the 10th to the 15th of next month, the league recorded its third consecutive first-half 6 million total attendance breakthrough, following 2024 and 2025.

Moreover, from the first 10 thousand won total attendance breakthrough to this 6 million total attendance breakthrough, the league has repeatedly set new records for the fewest games, a pace faster than last year, which drew the highest total attendance in history at 12,312,519.

The average attendance through the games on the 17th was 18,164, an increase of about 7 percent compared to the same number of games last year.

By team, LG recorded the highest home attendance with 819,054. Samsung also recorded 808,859, with both teams surpassing 800,000.

Doosan followed with 714,021, KIA with 656,832, and Lotte with 627,772.

In average home attendance, LG (23,402) took first place, followed by Samsung (23,110). Next were Doosan (21,637), Lotte (22,251), KIA (18,245), SSG (18,030), Hanwha (16,974), KT (14,417), NC (12,937), and Kiwoom (12,384). Four teams—LG, Samsung, Doosan, and Lotte—have all drawn average attendance exceeding 20,000.

In terms of attendance growth rate, NC recorded the highest increase at 18 percent (total 401,062). KT followed with a 16 percent increase to 491,788, marking second place in growth rate. Samsung followed with a 10 percent increase.

Sellout celebrations continue. Of the total 334 games, 190 games, approximately 57 percent, were sold out. The league average seat occupancy rate was 87.9 percent.

LG and Hanwha recorded the most sellouts with 29 each, followed by Samsung with 27.

Hanwha led with a seat occupancy rate of 99.8 percent, followed by Samsung at 99.1 percent and LG at 98.5 percent.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.