While average attendance is still better today that it was years ago, many factors are involved. A rash of new stadiums will bring out the curious fans just to see the new stadium. Increases in populations in cities and suburbs over the past 20 years and the excitement of cities getting ML teams that they never had in the past. I believe the Rockies situation scewed average attendance figures for year. this being just one example. Now the thrill has worn off. Same with Cleveland. New stadium, good team combined for years of sellouts. Now look at the situation. I believe the 10% decline is based on the record average attendance year of 93 or 94. But I do think there should be some concern when Atlanta and the Yankees especially are down that min attendance. Also I did read that during the worst economy in my lifetime, the Jimmy Carter era, baseball attendance averaged about 19,000 to 20,000 fans.
So I don't think blaming the economy has anything to do with it. I've had free company tickets several times where I couldn't attend and on several occassions, could not give those tickets away.