Down On The Farm: MiLB Attendance Off 3.3% Through July 19

by Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor

Through July 19, Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is averaging 4,014 fans per game across its 15 affiliated leagues, down 3.3% from 4,149 fans per game through July 13 last year. Mexican League clubs have seen the sharpest drop, as the league is off almost 30%. Eight leagues in total are seeing a decrease in average attendance. The Florida State League leads all leagues in growth with double-digit gains to date (+11.1%), led by the Charlotte (FL) Stone Crabs at 2,919 fans per game, up from only 741 fans per game last year when the team was playing in Vero Beach. The chart below lists attendance for all MiLB-affiliated leagues through July 19, with comparisons to last season through July 13.

TEAMS: The Columbus Clippers, who opened Huntington Park this year, are up 30.3% at the gate through July 19, and lead all MiLB teams in average attendance. The team finished last season ranked 15th overall in attendance. Last year's attendance leaders, the Mexican League Sultanes de Monterrey, are ranked 70th in average attendance through July 19. The top-drawing Mexican League team  to date has been the Broncos de Reynosa, who opened a new stadium this season after a five-year hiatus.