“Soto Just Got $700 Million”: Fans React To Cam Newton’s Claim That the WNBA Will Surpass ‘Dying’ Baseball

Football and basketball have overtaken baseball, which was once America’s favorite sport, in terms of popularity. This reflects on the rising stature of the NFL and the NBA. Despite this, the MLB contracts keep getting bigger, thanks to their no-cap rule. Recently, Juan Soto signed a 15-year $765 million contract with the New York Mets. It overtakes even Shohei Ohtani’s mammoth contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the paychecks of superstars point otherwise, Cam Newton believes baseball is “dying”.

“Baseball is like a, I hate to say it, is a dying sport. I think baseball will be surpassed by WNBA in 20 years,” said Newton.

This indeed is a ludicrous statement that hardcore baseball fans would never accept. The reactions to it were as expected. Many argued that baseball is alive and growing. “Soto just got $700 million,” said one fan.

Another one chimed in and added,

One fan took a jab at Cam, saying he has a problem because MLB players are out-earning football athletes without the need to take physical risks like head injuries.

However, a few agreed with Newton’s take, accepting that baseball’s fanbase is dwindling.

Baseball, which was struggling, is witnessing a recent revival, though. The average age of MLB ticket buyers was 51 in 2019, indicating that only the older, loyal generation was interested in the sport. However, the median age has fallen to 45 now. The age of a new fan engaging with the sport used to be 43. It’s now 36.

While young people still show an interest in the sport, the generation born after 2000 often perceives baseball as slow-paced and overly reliant on stats. This demographic, with shorter attention spans, favors faster and more dynamic entertainment. In response, MLB has made significant efforts to adapt by speeding up the game and introducing measures to make it more engaging.

However, another challenge lies in the vast salary disparities between players on top-tier teams and those on struggling franchises. This is a consequence of the lack of a salary cap in the league. This disparity, of course, undermines competitiveness too.

The revival of MLB hinges on its ability to attract younger audiences. Making games shorter, tickets more affordable, and ensuring regional teams remain competitive are some of the measures that could help.

That said, it’s unfair of Newton to label baseball as a “dying sport”. Comparing MLB’s position to that of the WNBA — a league that operates at a revenue deficit and remains heavily supported by the NBA — is unrealistic, and an over-exaggeration too.