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2013 MLB All-Star Week reaches new records and milestones

Mariano Rivera's historic entrance in the eighth inning of the All-Star Game was a moment for the ages and capped off a successful 2013 MLB All-Star Week on and off the field. Beyond the playing field, Major League Baseball reached new records and registered increases in attendance, ratings, merchandise sales, sponsorship activation and media coverage.

Following are highlights from a memorable week of activities celebrating baseball's best:

  • T-Mobile All-Star FanFest's attendance of 129,849 was the second best mark in the event's history and +9% higher than 2012 in Kansas City.
  • The All-Star Game recorded the largest crowd in Citi Field history with an attendance of 45,186. In total, the three days of ballpark events saw a total attendance of 127,919, the best three day attendance in the history of the ballpark.
  • The All-Star Game experienced increases in both TV rating and viewership. It was FOX's highest-rated and most-watched broadcast since the American Idol finale in May, easily winning the night in primetime for FOX with a sizeable 44% advantage over its nearest competitor.
  • The All-Star Game registered total audience of 27.9 million, the best number since 2010. Total audience represents the number of people who watched six or more minutes of the broadcast.
  • The All-Star Game drew a 20.3 rating in Detroit, the market's highest rating for the Midsummer Classic since 2005.
  • The Chevrolet Home Run Derby generated 868,878 social media comments among 496,458 unique users, the most ever for the event, according to data from Twitter.
  • The All-Star Game telecast generated 851,192 total comments on Twitter among 477,795 unique users according to data from Twitter, the most ever for an All-Star Game.
  • Thirty-five (35) All-Stars engaged with fans on social media during the All-Star Game and Chevrolet Home Run Derby.
  • All-Star merchandise sales exceeded every other year in history with the sole exception of 2008.
  • MLB committed approximately $6.5 million for national and local charities including $1.25 million for Hurricane Sandy Relief from the All-Star 5K & Fun Run presented by Nike and All-Star Concert featuring the New York Philharmonic and Mariah Carey in Central Park.
  • Among more than a dozen MLB sponsors who activated heavily around All-Star Week, five leveraged the national telecasts to debut new advertising launching a new product, service, initiative or new baseball-themed creative, including Chevrolet, T-Mobile, MasterCard, Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi.
  • More than 3,500 credentials were distributed to media for the All-Star Game from 16 countries, which is nearly double the number distributed last year (more than 2,000).

A record 18 international broadcasters sent crews to report on-site at the All-Star Game, nearly double the number from last year (10).