MLB Opening Day is here! It’s the unofficial start of spring where the days are getting longer and we’re all craving that smell of fresh-cut grass, the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd.

For die-hard baseball fans who have endured through a cold, dark winter without baseball, the arrival of the first game is like a national holiday.

And after each of the 162 games to be played, superfans want to dissect every pitch, every error, every play. They can’t get enough of LIVE game play-by-play, expert analysis, and insider scoop. That’s why for millions of baseball die-hards, Radio is their MLB companion.

Of all the professional sports, Radio is synonymous with baseball. Whether at the beach, the park, or on a family road trip, hearing the game called by your favorite hometown radio announcer is a summer tradition. And the new MLB rules aimed at speeding up the game and dialing up the intensity make listening even more enjoyable. 

“Baseball was always a game that played well on the radio and now it’s even easier to enjoy. Fans can listen anywhere using the Audacy App, wherever they go,” Davis says. 

As the boys of summer make their debut, brands and advertisers are primed to capitalize on this golden opportunity to engage with sports fans. MLB diehards are a lucrative audience for marketers—but not all media platforms are created equal. In fact, Audacy attracts more MLB fans than some of the leading TV networks. Consider this: Last season, Audacy’s total audience drew an additional 27 million MLB Fans compared to TBS; 22 million MLB Fans over ESPN’s; and 29 million MLB Fans on top of FS1.

Advertisers adding Audacy’s MLB games and sports content to their media plan extend their reach and amplify their message. Our listeners are superfans and about 80% are highly interested in MLB.

As MLB’s Official Streaming Audio Partner, Audacy offers opportunities for advertisers to target fans no matter where they live or listen via streaming Audio play-by-play of all regular and postseason games. Plus, as an addition for the 2024 season, brands can also insert their ads into both English and Spanish language streaming Audio broadcasts.

Between the games, fans can go deeper with Audacy’s sport talk radio hosts who are truly the voice of each city — they can hear the post-game reaction from current coaches who call in on the station’s guest line or, call in themselves for a lively debate about a team’s pitching choices. For more “insider baseball” and season-long chatter, fans can use the Audacy App to listen to both Audacy-exclusive baseball podcasts and MLB’s national podcasts — over 25 to choose from.

Legal baseball wagering is driving even more fan engagement and excitement. Four in ten adults who placed sports bets played MLB odds. Need help picking winners? Audacy’s 24/7 BetQL Network provides fans with both LIVE and on-demand sports betting tips via their multi-platform content offering.

For advertisers who want the best way to reach die-hard baseball fans and curious new listeners, they call up their favorite baseball personalities. Brands can sponsor play-by-play broadcasts or custom features during pre-, in-, or post-game programming. Even content segments are up for grabs, like “Message from the Manager” – a new in-content offering across Audacy Sports Stations with legendary former Yankees manager, Joe Girardi.

It’s all part of the magic of baseball.

“Since last season, Major League Baseball has been going through an incredible renaissance. Our audio-first opportunities are the difference-maker on media plans this baseball season.” says Katie Stone, Director of Audacy’s Sports Monetization Team.