Pope hats, bloody shirts and so many bobbleheads: The creative ways MLB teams lure fans to the park

The Chicago White Sox started a limited promotion for a specialty theme night, which grew into a popular series of creative giveaways. These promotions have been successful, contributing to MLB's highest average attendance of 29,618 through Tuesday's games, since 2017. Creative promotions, such as the New York Mets' Bobby Valentine Disguise Night and the Texas Rangers' Nolan Ryan bloody lip jersey, have played a significant role in boosting attendance.

Bobbleheads and other iconic figurines continue to attract crowds, but clever giveaways are becoming increasingly important for ticket sales. The Brewers distributed bar dice sets to fans 21 and older, while the Brewers' attendance reached 40,625 at American Family Field. The pitch clock and other innovations introduced by MLB in 2023 are credited for spurring fan interest, but creative giveaways are also playing a role.

The White Sox's pope hat giveaway, honoring Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and longtime Sox fan, contributed to their attendance reaching 1,460,383, surpassing their total for all of 2025. The team carefully planned the promotion, considering religious sensitivities and seeking permission from the Vatican. Chicago's pope hats were given to everyone in the crowd of 38,113, creating a unique and memorable experience for fans.