Everyone is a fan of free merch at the game

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While NHL teams have yet to start handing out free Rozanov and Hollander jerseys (though one Canadian team is selling them), there’s plenty of other freebies enticing fans to come to games. Sports franchises rely on complimentary tchotchkes and quirky spectacles at their games to put butts in seats. And no league loves promotions more than the MLB—since its high number of outdoor, mostly weeknight games compared to other sports makes a full stadium far from guaranteed. Offer trinkets, and they will come Attracting spectators for whom the chance of catching a home-run ball isn’t enough to sit through a rainy nine innings often involves non-sports merch: Bobbleheads are as integral to the business of baseball as chewing tobacco, with teams distributing figurines of their players or of celebrity fans, like Bill Murray or Jon Hamm, on select nights. This year, baseball fans can snag Baltimore Orioles Hawaiian shirts, Diary of a Wimpy Kid bobbleheads courtesy of the Boston Red Sox, and The Mandalorian & Grogu jerseys from the Los Angeles Angels. Teams also put on special events for those who might start to yawn during the seventh inning, like fireworks nights, bring-your-dog-to-the-game days, and Star Wars-themed laser shows. It’s not just baseball teams…that dangle merch and eccentric promos to boost attendance. The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks will hand out Hello Kitty belt bags this season, while last year, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers gave mayonnaise fans a chance to win a lifetime supply of the condiment every time the team’s defense forced a turnover