The Los Angeles Dodgers are making a compelling case as the new face of baseball in America, outpacing the storied New York Yankees in fan interest, attendance, and national attention.
According to recent Google search data, interest in the Dodgers is at an all-time high. Searches for the reigning World Series champions are up 57% compared to May last year, marking the highest level of national curiosity about the team since Google began tracking such data in 2004. For the first time, the Dodgers have surpassed the Yankees in search traffic for the month of May — a feat unmatched in the two decades of available records.
The Dodgers are also outpacing other iconic franchises, beating the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Rams in online searches, cementing their position as California’s premier sports team.
But the enthusiasm isn’t just online.
The Dodgers are currently averaging over 50,000 fans per home game — the only Major League Baseball team to reach that milestone this season. By contrast, the Yankees, their closest competitor, are drawing under 43,000. No team has averaged 50,000 per home game since the Yankees and Mets did it back in 2008, and the Dodgers have never hit that benchmark before. At this rate, the franchise could eclipse 4 million in total attendance for the first time in its history.
On the road, the Dodgers’ popularity continues. The team is attracting an average of 4,000 more fans per game through 29 away contests compared to last year’s already strong numbers. Last season, they became the first team in over a decade to average more than 36,000 fans per road game — a figure they’re currently on track to exceed.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are averaging just over 31,000 for road games — and fewer than 25,000 when factoring in low-draw matchups in Oakland, Tampa Bay, and early-season cold-weather games in Detroit.
While the Yankees’ historic dominance has long earned them the title of “America’s Team,” the numbers suggest the mantle may now belong to Los Angeles. With more recent championship success, surging fan engagement, and record-breaking attendance, the Dodgers are redefining what it means to be baseball’s top franchise.
This weekend’s head-to-head series between the Yankees and Dodgers in Los Angeles is expected to boost attendance even further — and offer a symbolic showdown between baseball’s past and present.
