When a team underperforms relative to its expectations, the consequences extend beyond frustration, often hitting them financially as well. For the St. Louis Cardinals, their reputed “devil magic” seems to be fading, as evidenced by their continued struggles.
Their recent 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers pushed their season record to 61-64, leaving them six games behind the third National League wild card spot and on track to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
This lackluster performance is compounded by dwindling fan attendance, a stark contrast to their previous seasons. On Tuesday, only 30,022 fans attended the game at Busch Stadium, marking the lowest crowd in the stadium’s history outside of pandemic years, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Historically, Cardinals fans have enjoyed consistent success, with only one losing season from 2000 to 2022 and just seven postseason misses during that period. However, the current trend is causing dissatisfaction among the fanbase, reflected in the decreasing attendance figures.
Although a return to winning form could rekindle fan enthusiasm, there is cautious optimism for 2025. Young talents like Masyn Winn, Brendan Donovan, and Mike Siani show promise, but other prospects such as Jordan Walker, Jose Fermin, and Victor Scott have not met expectations.
Additionally, with the 19th-ranked farm system according to MLB.com, the Cardinals face challenges in building a strong roster from their prospects. Despite these issues, the Cardinals’ fanbase remains passionate, ranking in the top 10 for average attendance per game in 2024. The team’s leadership must address current deficiencies to reinvigorate fan support.
At the trade deadline, the Cardinals were still hopeful for a wild card spot and made moves to improve their chances by acquiring Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham in exchange for former Gold Glove winner Tommy Edman. However, these adjustments did not yield the desired results.
Recent weeks have seen the Cardinals’ offense struggle, particularly evident in a series sweep by the Cincinnati Reds and a quiet performance against Frankie Montas. Their playoff odds have plummeted to 2.8 percent, down from 23.7 percent at the trade deadline, highlighting their diminished prospects and decreasing fan support.