Lousy Restrooms Cost Ballparks Revenue

According to a GP PRO survey of baseball fans who recently visited one of 30 U.S. professional ballparks, parking, concessions, the quality of the game, a win for their team, the restrooms, and concourse amenities were all primary factors influencing their experience.

On the plus side, nearly three-quarters of survey respondents were satisfied with their ballpark restroom experience. Still, roughly half indicated that having a bad restroom experience would make them less likely to return to the venue, and just over 40% said it would make them less likely to buy concessions. As for what contributes to an unsatisfactory restroom experience, respondents called out long lines (53%), product outages (26%), and a general lack of cleanliness (22%).

“These findings support what we’ve stated consistently—the restroom experience matters, particularly in high-traffic venues like sports arenas and ballparks, where fans pay a premium just to walk through the gates,” said John Strom, GP PRO vice president and general manager of innovation.

Not surprisingly, baseball fans wanting to improve their chances of having a positive restroom experience should avoid restrooms during the seventh-inning stretch when, according to GP PRO’s survey, nearly a quarter of ballpark attendees are most likely to use them.