Attendance at San Diego Padres home games is on pace to finish more than 11 percent higher than the turnout for 2018.
Through 65 home games, the team has drawn an average 30,200 fans per game.
In 2018, the Padres drew an average 26,967 fans to games at Petco Park.
The team made a splash in the offseason by signing superstar third baseman Manny Machado to a $300 million contract. Plus, excitement surrounding rookie Fernando Tatis Jr., now injured, has helped to draw fans.
The Padres, still below .500, have also won 10 more games at this point in the season than they had at the same time last year.
Olivia Millay, a server at Social Tap, which is next to Petco Park, says the increased attendance has helped business.
"People are getting a lot more excited," she said. "I feel like last year there was almost more people cheering for the other team that would come here. Now you're seeing a lot more Padres jerseys. You've got Machado, Tatis, ya know?"
But the uptick in attendance hasn't helped all business equally. There are still multiple shuttered storefronts near Petco Park, including the site of what used to be Tilted Kilt on 10th Avenue.
Alina Ahmed, who owns Cafe de L'Opera, across from Petco Park, said high rents hurt. Plus, she pointed to issues with the area's homeless population that can keep customers away.
"In the morning everyday we have to remove transients that are sleeping, along with many other issues," she said.
Ahmed said the increased attendance has helped a bit, but can only do so much.
