Attendance Up Slightly For MLB Futures Game, Celebrity Softball Game

Yesterday’s MLB Futures Game, featuring minor-league all-stars, and Celebrity Softball Game at Target Field drew an announced, paid attendance of 39,553. The total is slightly more than the announced crowd of 39,175 for All-Star Sunday in N.Y. last year, and this year’s total featured far fewer no-shows. The Futures Game historically has been the weakest draw of All-Star Game events, but it saw marked growth beginning three years ago in Phoenix. Unlike last year’s Futures Game at Citi Field, where roughly half of the seats remained empty, Target Field yesterday was more than two-thirds full. The host club Twins had three of their prospects in yesterday’s game.