The 160 teams affiliated with Minor League Baseball (excluding the Mexican League) averaged 3,999 fans per game during the ’13 regular season, up 2% from a year ago and up slightly from 3,992 two seasons ago. As has been the case with MLB, minor league clubs had weather challenges this season, with 119 less games than in ’12. The Triple-A Int’l League once again led all leagues, averaging 7,041 fans per game, which was up 5% from a year ago. The Single-A Northwest League led all affiliated leagues with a 10.5% jump in attendance. The Single-A Carolina League averaged 3,657 fans per game, setting a league record for the second straight season as six of eight clubs showed year-over-year gains. Also seeing a strong gain was the Double-A Southern League, whose average of 3,515 was its best since ’08.
|
'13 MiLB AFFILIATED LEAGUE ATTENDANCE (EXCLUDES MEXICAN LEAGUE)
|
| LEAGUE |
LEVEL
|
TEAMS
|
GMS
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
'12 GMS
|
'12 TEAMS
|
| Int'l |
AAA
|
14
|
961
|
6,766,442
|
7,041
|
6,699
|
5.1%
|
971
|
14
|
| Pacific Coast |
AAA
|
16
|
1,119
|
6,763,683
|
6,044
|
6,052
|
-0.1%
|
1,123
|
16
|
| Texas |
AA
|
8
|
541
|
2,815,133
|
5,204
|
5,164
|
0.8%
|
549
|
8
|
| Eastern |
AA
|
12
|
811
|
3,743,582
|
4,616
|
4,669
|
-1.1%
|
812
|
12
|
| Midwest |
Low-A
|
16
|
1,054
|
4,118,049
|
3,907
|
3,730
|
4.7%
|
1,095
|
16
|
| Carolina |
High-A
|
8
|
529
|
1,934,740
|
3,657
|
3,520
|
3.9%
|
533
|
8
|
| Southern |
AA
|
10
|
659
|
2,316,591
|
3,515
|
3,237
|
8.6%
|
665
|
10
|
| Northwest |
Short-Season A
|
8
|
299
|
984,432
|
3,292
|
2,979
|
10.5%
|
301
|
8
|
| South Atlantic |
Low-A
|
14
|
905
|
2,951,813
|
3,262
|
3,279
|
-0.5%
|
932
|
14
|
| New York-Penn |
Short-Season A
|
14
|
505
|
1,602,725
|
3,174
|
3,290
|
-3.5%
|
517
|
14
|
| Pioneer |
Rookie
|
8
|
295
|
673,124
|
2,282
|
2,317
|
-1.5%
|
300
|
8
|
| California |
High-A
|
10
|
696
|
1,583,488
|
2,275
|
2,293
|
-0.8%
|
690
|
10
|
| Florida State |
High-A
|
12
|
755
|
1,212,184
|
1,606
|
1,592
|
0.9%
|
763
|
12
|
| Appalachian |
Rookie
|
10
|
308
|
275,419
|
894
|
914
|
-2.2%
|
305
|
10
|
|
MiLB TOTALS
|
160
|
9,437
|
37,741,405
|
3,999
|
3,921
|
2.0%
|
9,556
|
160
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FARM-VILLES: The Indianapolis Indians topped all clubs this season, dethroning the Lehigh Valley IronPigs after that team held the attendance title for the past three seasons. The IronPigs still ranked second in ’13, and had a run of 22 straight sellouts to end the season. Several MiLB clubs had new or renovated parks in ’13. The Birmingham Barons opened a new downtown ballpark this season, and topped the Southern League in attendance, with the average up 89% from the final season in the suburb of Hoover, Ala., last year. The Single-A Northwest League Hillsboro Hops averaged 3,557 fans per game during their first season in the suburb of Portland, Ore., up 118% from the club’s final season as the Yakima (Wash.) Bears in ’12. The Single-A Florida State League Bradenton Marauders were the beneficiary of $10M in renovations to McKechnie Field this season, and the club set a new record with 1,772 fans per game, up 17% from the record set last season. Meanwhile, two clubs set for new ballparks next season finished last in their respective leagues. The Charlotte Knights were in the cellar of the Int’l League, but will open a new downtown ballpark next season after playing in Fort Mill, S.C., since ’90. The Tucson Padres also ranked last in PCL attendance, but the club will move to a new ballpark in El Paso, Texas, next season.
|
TOP TEAMS IN MiLB ATTENDANCE
|
| TEAM |
LEAGUE |
TOTAL
|
GAMES
|
AVERAGE
|
| Columbus Clippers |
Triple-A Int'l |
635,613
|
69
|
9,212
|
| Lehigh Valley IronPigs |
Triple-A Int'l |
613,075
|
68
|
9,016
|
| Indianapolis Indians |
Triple-A Int'l |
637,579
|
71
|
8,980
|
| Sacramento River Cats |
Triple-A PCL |
607,329
|
72
|
8,435
|
| Dayton Dragons |
Single-A Midwest |
579,946
|
69
|
8,405
|
| Buffalo Bisons |
Triple-A Int'l |
537,747
|
65
|
8,273
|
| Louisville Bats |
Triple-A Int'l |
581,114
|
71
|
8,185
|
| Round Rock Express |
Triple-A PCL |
589,042
|
72
|
8,181
|
| Albuquerque Isotopes |
Triple-A PCL |
567,568
|
71
|
7,994
|
| Pawtucket Red Sox |
Triple-A Int'l |
540,034
|
69
|
7,827
|
| Toledo Mud Hens |
Triple-A Int'l |
560,080
|
72
|
7,779
|
| Salt Lake Bees |
Triple-A PCL |
531,221
|
71
|
7,482
|
| Memphis Redbirds |
Triple-A PCL |
498,362
|
69
|
7,223
|
| Durham Bulls |
Triple-A Int'l |
498,735
|
70
|
7,125
|
| Frisco RoughRiders |
Double-A Texas |
479,873
|
68
|
7,057
|
