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MiLB Attendance Boosted By New Stadiums For Triple-A Teams In Charlotte, El Paso

The 160 teams affiliated with Minor League Baseball (excluding the Mexican League) averaged 4,044 fans per game during the ’14 regular season, up just over 1% from last season and up 3% from ’12. There were 63 more games for MiLB this season compared to ’13, as last season saw a significant number of rainouts. Both Triple-A leagues -- the Int’l and Pacific Coast -- saw strong gains this year. The IL led all MiLB leagues with an average of 7,269 fans per game, marking its best figure since ’09, while the PCL had its best average since ’10. The Single-A Midwest League also had its best figure since ’10.

MILB ATTENDANCE BY LEAGUE (EXCLUDES MEXICAN LEAGUE)
LEAGUE
LEVEL
TEAMS
GMS
TOTAL
AVG.
PREV.
% +/-
Int'l
Triple-A
14
966
7,021,590
7,269
7,041
3.2%
Pacific Coast
Triple-A
16
1,114
7,001,658
6,285
6,044
4.0%
Texas
Double-A
8
541
2,840,914
5,251
5,204
0.9%
Eastern
Double-A
12
805
3,705,945
4,604
4,616
-0.3%
Midwest
Low-A
16
1,068
4,142,818
3,879
3,907
-0.7%
Carolina
High-A
8
520
1,981,673
3,811
3,657
4.2%
Southern
Double-A
10
669
2,367,710
3,539
3,515
0.7%
Northwest
Short-Season A
8
301
981,774
3,262
3,292
-0.9%
South Atlantic
Low-A
14
922
2,983,882
3,236
3,262
-0.8%
New York-Penn
Short-Season A
14
506
1,559,946
3,083
3,174
-2.9%
California
High-A
10
698
1,646,252
2,359
2,275
3.7%
Pioneer
Rookie
8
290
623,031
2,148
2,282
-5.9%
Florida State
High-A
12
776
1,236,128
1,593
1,606
-0.8%
Appalachian
Rookie
10
324
320,103
988
894
10.5%
MiLB TOTALS
160
9,500
38,413,424
4,044
3,999
1.1%

NEW DIGS HELP: Perhaps the biggest story among MiLB clubs was the jump for the Charlotte Knights. After finishing ranked last in the IL last season, a new downtown ballpark vaulted the club to No. 1 among all MiLB clubs with an average of 9,686 fans per game in '14 (+155%). That figure overtook the IL Columbus Clippers, who led all clubs in ’13 but fell to No. 4 this season, as average attendance dropped 2%. Also seeing a big jump were the PCL El Paso Chihuahuas, who relocated from Tucson after ’13 and rebranded at a new facility. The club ranked 15th in all of MiLB after finishing last in the PCL in ’13. Several other clubs set attendance records this season, including the Single-A Northwest League Spokane Indians, Single-A Florida State League Clearwater Threshers, Single-A California League Visalia Rawhide, IL Durham Bulls, IL Indianapolis Indians, Single-A Midwest League Quad Cities River Bandits and Double-A Eastern League Akron RubberDucks.

TOP DRAWS IN MILB (BY AVERAGE ATTENDANCE)
RANK
CLUB
LEAGUE
TOTAL
GAMES
AVERAGE
1
Charlotte Knights
Int'l
687,715
71
9,686
2
Indianapolis Indians
Int'l
660,289
70
9,433
3
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Int'l
614,888
68
9,042
4
Columbus Clippers
Int'l
628,980
70
8,985
5
Sacramento River Cats
PCL
607,839
71
8,561
6
Dayton Dragons
Midwest
573,709
68
8,437
7
Round Rock Express
PCL
595,700
71
8,390
8
Buffalo Bisons
Int'l
535,275
66
8,110
9
Albuquerque Isotopes
PCL
564,625
70
8,066
10
Louisville Bats
Int'l
567,256
71
7,990
11
El Paso Chihuahuas
PCL
560,997
71
7,901
12
Toledo Mud Hens
Int'l
545,265
71
7,680
13
Durham Bulls
Int'l
533,033
70
7,615
14
Pawtucket Red Sox
Int'l
515,665
70
7,367
15
Iowa Cubs
PCL
492,060
70
7,029

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