MiLB Club Merchandise Sales Sets All-Time Record In '14, Increase For Fifth Straight Year

The 160 minor league teams in the U.S. and Canada that are affiliated with MLB clubs "collectively generated an all-time high" of $60.3M in '14 through the sale of apparel, headwear and novelties, according to David Broughton of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. That total is up 9% from '13 ($55.4M) and "surpasses the previous high" of $60M that was generated in '94. It also is the "fifth straight year MiLB has seen its merchandise sales increase." A record 13 clubs at the Triple-A level "made the list of the 25 teams with the most merchandise sales last year." There were "10 AAA teams on the list" for '13 sales. The Triple-A Int'l League Charlotte Knights "made the list last year for the first time" since '94 and "only the third time ever." As part of their move to the new BB&T Ballpark, the Knights "underwent a total rebranding, and the team's merchandise sales increased seven-fold" compared with '13. The newest Triple-A club, the PCL El Paso Chihuahuas, "also made the top 25 list" after moving into a new ballpark in a new market. The Indians had three affiliates on the list -- the Int'l League Columbus Clippers, Double-A Akron RubberDucks and Single-A Carolina Mudcats. San Diego-based Brandiose "handled the rebranding of both the Knights and the Chihuahuas as well as the RubberDucks, who played as the Aeros" before '14 (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/1 issue).

NOTES: * = Rankings date back to '93, when MiLB first began tracking sales data. ** = Team was not ranked in top 25 last season. ^ = Ranked every year of team's existence (or since '93).