Baseball is regarded as America’s “National Pastime”. The number of seats in MLB ballparks range from 31,042 (Tropicana Field), to 56,000 (Dodger Stadium). But why are some ballparks half empty, even if the home team is a successful one?Successful teams such as the Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, and, this season, the Miami Marlins, have traditionally had trouble drawing fans into their stadiums. Granted, many fans may feel that they can watch the game from the comfort of their own home, butwith that considered, why do these particular teams endure a lack of attendance from year to year? There are many factors that can be considered as to why these particular teams may be drawing in fewer fans than other teams do.The Oakland Athletics have nine World Series championships in their franchise history; four of those occurring while the team has resided in Oakland. The Athletics have also won 94 and 96 games in 2012 and 2013, respectively. So why the trend of low attendance at their home stadium, O.co Coliseum? One reason could be the fact that the stadium has had raw sewage leaks numerous times over the past few seasons. In fact, this could be one of the primary reasons why Athletics fans are hoping that their team will move into a new stadium as soon as possible. It is a shame that a team like the Athletics, who have made the playoffs the past two seasons, cannot fill the seats due to issues with the stadium.Siimilar to the Athletics, the Tampa Bay Rays are a winning franchise. In fact, the Rays have not recorded a losing season since 2007, and have made the playoffs 3 out of the past 5 seasons. But whymight the Rays not draw fans into their stadium? It may be because of the fact that the Rays play in an entirely enclosed stadium. Many fans attend MLB stadiums not only for the baseball, but also for the atmosphere around the ballpark. With the Rays playing in an entirely enclosed stadium, the fans may not be enjoying the total baseball experience.The Miami Marlins do not necessarily have the same predicamentas the Athletics and Rays. The Marlins have not been so successful the past few seasons, and their last playoff run occurred when the team won the World Series back in 2003. Despite this, there are many factors to consider that may confuse some as to why the Marlins do notreceive higher attendance at their ballpark. At the moment, the Marlins are in contention in the National League East division, and hold a 17-5 record at home this year. On top of this, Marlins Park opened its gates in 2012, just two years ago. But why might this relatively new stadium not receive a significant amount of fans filing through its turnstiles? It very well may be because of the various array of other activities that one could partake in while in the city of Miami. These activities include shopping, spending time on the beach, and even attending a basketball game at the American Airlines Arena, home of the back-to-back defending NBA champion Miami Heat.As evidenced by these three teams’ attendance at their ballparks, success doesn’t always translate to receiving more fan support. There are many sophisticated fans in the modern age, who may prefer to watch games on high-definition televisions or attend aesthetically appealing stadiums. But it is truly a shame that successful franchisees like the Athletics, Rays, and this season, the Marlins, cannot draw significant crowds at home.