MLB teams averaged 7,323 fans per game during Spring Training this year, up 9% from ’13, when the league also held the World Baseball Classic. Much of the increase can be credited to the new Cubs Park in Mesa. The Cubs averaged 14,254 fans per game at the new venue, up 67% from last season at Hohokam Park. Several other Cactus League clubs saw double-digit percentage gains from ’13, including the Rockies, Dodgers, Mariners, White Sox, Royals, Padres and Brewers. Overall, the Cactus League saw a 12% jump in average attendance. Meanwhile, the Grapefruit League saw a 5% jump in average attendance. The Pirates, Twins, Cardinals, Marlins, Mets and Astros each saw double-digit percentage jumps at the gate. Despite continuing to lead the Grapefruit League at the gate, the Yankees’ figure was down 2% (THE DAILY).
|
'14 GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
|
| HOME TEAM |
GAMES
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GAMES ('13)
|
| Yankees |
15
|
151,564
|
10,104
|
10,300
|
-1.9%
|
16
|
| Red Sox |
15
|
147,669
|
9,845
|
9,696
|
1.5%
|
17
|
| Phillies |
15
|
121,915
|
8,128
|
8,645
|
-6.0%
|
16
|
| Tigers |
15
|
116,226
|
7,748
|
8,050
|
-3.8%
|
17
|
| Twins |
14
|
107,806
|
7,700
|
6,697
|
15.0%
|
17
|
| Pirates |
12
|
91,047
|
7,587
|
6,229
|
21.8%
|
15
|
| Orioles |
12
|
89,449
|
7,454
|
7,086
|
5.2%
|
17
|
| Braves |
17
|
124,104
|
7,300
|
7,452
|
-2.0%
|
18
|
| Cardinals |
14
|
96,795
|
6,914
|
6,168
|
12.1%
|
16
|
| Rays |
14
|
78,624
|
5,616
|
5,349
|
5.0%
|
17
|
| Nationals |
14
|
77,585
|
5,542
|
5,313
|
4.3%
|
16
|
| Marlins |
15
|
82,300
|
5,487
|
4,366
|
25.7%
|
15
|
| Mets |
14
|
76,091
|
5,435
|
4,907
|
10.8%
|
17
|
| Blue Jays |
14
|
67,830
|
4,845
|
4,908
|
-1.3%
|
16
|
| Astros |
12
|
44,715
|
3,726
|
3,350
|
11.2%
|
16
|
| GRAPEFRUIT TOTALS |
212
|
1,473,720
|
6,952
|
6,595
|
5.4%
|
246
|
|
'14 CACTUS LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
|
| HOME TEAM |
GAMES
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PREV.
|
% +/-
|
GAMES ('13)
|
| Cubs |
15
|
213,815
|
14,254
|
8,552
|
66.7%
|
17
|
| Rockies |
16
|
169,663
|
10,604
|
9,517
|
11.4%
|
14
|
| D-Backs |
14
|
144,434
|
10,317
|
11,021
|
-6.4%
|
16
|
| Giants |
15
|
149,969
|
9,998
|
10,771
|
-7.2%
|
15
|
| Dodgers |
12
|
114,402
|
9,534
|
8,176
|
16.6%
|
17
|
| Mariners |
15
|
116,597
|
7,773
|
6,743
|
15.3%
|
16
|
| Angels |
15
|
108,965
|
7,264
|
7,495
|
-3.1%
|
16
|
| Rangers |
14
|
95,181
|
6,799
|
6,572
|
3.4%
|
17
|
| White Sox |
13
|
87,759
|
6,751
|
6,140
|
9.9%
|
14
|
| Royals |
14
|
93,987
|
6,713
|
5,061
|
32.7%
|
17
|
| Padres |
14
|
75,916
|
5,423
|
4,876
|
11.2%
|
19
|
| Brewers |
14
|
75,041
|
5,360
|
4,866
|
10.1%
|
15
|
| A's |
15
|
78,011
|
5,201
|
5,513
|
-5.7%
|
16
|
| Reds |
15
|
69,478
|
4,632
|
4,243
|
9.2%
|
15
|
| Indians |
15
|
67,445
|
4,496
|
4,564
|
-1.5%
|
17
|
| CACTUS TOTALS |
216
|
1,660,663
|
7,688
|
6,897
|
11.5%
|
241
|
| MLB TOTALS |
428
|
3,134,383
|
7,323
|
6,744
|
9.4%
|
487
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHART NOTE: Does not include games played against college teams or games played outside of Arizona or Florida Spring Training venues.
BIGGER IS BETTER: In Phoenix, Jim Walsh noted the Cubs’ total and average attendance figures were “both new records” for the Cactus League. The team had the “best-attendance game” in Cactus League history on March 25 with 15,276 fans for a game against the Angels. The team drew “more than 15,000 at Cubs Park six times” and “recorded the 12 highest-attended Cactus League games of all time” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/31).
TEAM NOTES: In California, Jeff Fletcher noted that while the Angels total attendance for Spring Training games at Tempe Diablo Stadium this year “was the ninth time in 11 years they drew more than 100,000, it was their second consecutive spring of decreased attendance” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/25). In Florida, Michael Parsons noted the Nationals set a new “team record” for attendance at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne. It is the “third straight season that average attendance has grown, and the team has averaged more than 5,000 fans a game for the second straight spring” (FLORIDA TODAY, 3/25).
