'Ted Lasso' Drives 5,000% Jump in Searches for Kansas City's Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

Kansas City's Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is getting a major boost in attention following its appearance in the fourth season of “Ted Lasso.”

The Season 4 premiere featured several Kansas City landmarks, including the Country Club Plaza, CPKC Stadium and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The episode introduced viewers to the history of the Negro Leagues and legendary pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

Museum President Bob Kendrick said the response has been noticeable, with local fans visiting after seeing the museum featured on the Apple TV+ series.

The interest also is showing up online. Google Search trends indicate searches related to Satchel Paige and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum have increased by more than 5,000% compared with the same period last year.

Kendrick credited “Ted Lasso” star and co-creator Jason Sudeikis, a Kansas City-area native, with helping bring the museum's history to a much larger audience. Sudeikis has long been a fan of Kansas City baseball and has embraced the city's connection to the Kansas City Monarchs.

The museum's appearance has already prompted some fans to make a visit, and Kendrick expects interest could eventually extend to visitors from outside the Kansas City area and internationally.

The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Black baseball and its role in American history and the civil rights movement. Its appearance on “Ted Lasso” gives that history exposure to viewers who may have never previously heard of the Negro Leagues or Satchel Paige.

The Kansas City tourism impact is also being noticed at other locations featured in the season premiere, with businesses reporting fans seeking out places they saw on the show.