Editor's note: This story is revised from the print edition.

It would be easy to label Hershey-Harrisburg’s repeat No. 1 ranking in our biennial study of the nation’s top minor league markets as a gimme.

The Pennsylvania market has a passionate fan base, tenured clubs and a stable economy — everything our study values highly. And now, as the first market to hold the title of Top Minor League Market twice, the assumption could be made that as long as the AHL Bears and Class AA Senators keep playing, fans will keep coming, and more No. 1 rankings will follow.

NEWSCOM The Bears’ winning percentage dipped, but their attendance numbers did not.

Not so, in this market, warns Senators President Kevin Kulp.

“This is the most passionate fan base I have ever seen, so we feel that we have a responsibility that comes with that,” said Kulp, whose 16-year minor league baseball career began as an intern with the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs and who has helped launch minor league baseball clubs in Delmarva, Md., and Lexington, Ky. “These fans do hold you accountable for making sure you do the right things, and they will definitely let you know if they’re not happy.”

That sense of accountability may come from the fact that before Kulp and his group came along, it was the fans themselves who owned the club.

In 1995, the city of Harrisburg purchased the Senators for $6.7 million from an ownership group that was planning on moving the franchise to a new, taxpayer-financed ballpark in Springfield, Mass. The city sold the club in 2007 to Chicago-based International Facilities Group. It was not an easy transition. Many fans had become used to referring to the club as “our Senators.” But the new ownership soon embarked on a three-year stadium upgrade priced at more than $40 million. That effort was mostly finished in time for this season and fueled a change in the team’s marketing strategy.

“Over the last couple years we’ve changed the way we’ve marketed ourselves and made an effort to be more family friendly,” Kulp said. “The new ballpark is more receptive to that type of marketing because it has more destination areas for families to visit during the game.” Kulp points to an increase in children’s entertainment spaces and in concessions areas, as well as new sight lines from a concourse that wraps around three quarters of the playing field.

The Senators set an attendance record last season, and Kulp said revenue from corporate partnerships has increased about 25 percent in the last two to three years largely because the improved ballpark includes a scoreboard and two LED ribbon boards that are incorporated into every sales call.

WILL BENTZEL / HARRISBURG SENATORS Stephen Strasburg’s stint in Harrisburg last season was a boost for the Senators.

Also helping the Senators, a Washington Nationals affiliate: having Stephen Strasburg in the club’s lineup for several games last year while he worked his way up to the parent club. This summer, fellow former MLB No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper is wearing a Senators uniform.

Meanwhile, a few miles east, the Hershey Bears also set an attendance record for their most-recent season, doing so for the eighth straight year. That happened despite the team having its lowest on-ice winning percentage since 2007-08.

The Bears have played continuously on the site of their Giant Center home — albeit in different structures — since the franchise was created by chocolate magnate Milton Hershey in 1932, but the team continues to grow its fan base beyond the boundaries of what might be considered a traditional distance for a minor league hockey team.

“The Bears are an iconic brand throughout the state and certainly draw fans from further away than most teams,” said AHL Commissioner Dave Andrews.

NEWSCOM The Harrisburg Senators welcomed another phenom this season, Bryce Harper.

Andrews said Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Co. (HERCO), the Hershey Co. subsidiary that oversees, among other business divisions, the Bears and the Giant Center, has made a strong effort to strengthen its ties to the Washington Capitals, the Bears’ NHL parent club. That helps extend the area of influence for both clubs, he said. It is not uncommon now to see fans wearing Bears apparel at Capitals games.

“The supporting cast the team has on the business side from [Hershey Co.] is very strong, very progressive and very committed to the sports product,” Andrews said. “They invest in the hockey team and they invest in the relationship with the Washington Capitals.”

This is the fourth time SportsBusiness Journal has ranked the nation’s minor league markets. Among the other observations made through this year’s survey:

■ TACKLED FOR A LOSS: Hershey-Harrisburg seems to have everything going for it — it’s the only market of the nearly 300 we have measured over the survey’s history that has finished among the top 10 every time — but a look at the standings of previous high-rated markets shows there is no room for complacency at the top. Rochester, N.Y., and Fort Wayne, Ind., for example, are previous No. 1 markets, in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Each had finished in the top 10 in our previous reports, but each fell out this year after failing to keep an indoor football team in its market. The loss of an indoor football team has also negatively affected past top-10 markets Boise, Idaho, and Stockton, Calif.

■ WATER ON THE FIRE: Dayton, Ohio, has received a great deal of publicity this year, as the Class A Dragons broke the nation’s record for most consecutive team sellouts, a streak that was up to 830 games earlier this month. Back in 2005, Dayton ranked No. 8 in our study. This year, it ranks No. 150. While the Dragons have been going strong, the CHL Gems have filled only one-third of their seats over the past 5 seasons, and the team plays in an arena that is showing every bit of its half-century age. Dayton also has seen challenges with indoor football.

■ IF YOU BUILD IT … : Eleven years of frenzied ballpark construction has helped lead to franchise stability, especially in the world of Minor League Baseball. From 2001-05, 35 markets lost a baseball club, either to it folding or in the 18 cases involving Minor League Baseball clubs, relocating to another market. In the five-year period examined for this year’s ranking, baseball teams in 20 markets were found to have disappeared, only six of which were due to a Minor League Baseball club relocation.

■ FORWARD AND BACK: South Texas has seen plenty of activity among its minor league teams in recent years. Hidalgo, for example, is the only market in the survey that is home to five teams. Beaumont opened a new arena in 2003 but has since lost both a hockey team and a football team. Corpus Christi also built a new arena and stadium in the last decade, but it has lost three teams in the last five years. And Laredo has lost a baseball team and indoor football club, but it broke ground this summer on a new $18 million ballpark for the planned American Association expansion Laredo Lemurs.

Print | Tags: AHL, Baseball, Finance, International, Facilities, Ping, Washington Nationals, MLB, Hockey, Washington Capitals, NHL, NFL, Football, CHL

Final ranking

Rank	Market	Score	Tenure rank	Attendance rank	Economy rank	New venue(s)	Current team(s)	Team(s) lost
1	Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa.	100	2	9	11	1	EL Harrisburg Senators, AHL Hershey Bears, SIFL Harrisburg Stampede
2	San Bernardino County, Calif.	80.82	5	15	10	1	CAL High Desert Mavericks, CAL Inland Empire 66ers, CAL Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, ECHL Ontario Reign
3	Providence-Pawtucket, R.I.	76.2	10	6	5		IL Pawtucket Red Sox, AHL Providence Bruins
4	Reading, Pa.	74.23	13	12	13	1	EL Reading Phillies, ECHL Reading Royals, IFL Reading Express
5	Portland, Maine	73.83	6	37	22		EL Portland Sea Dogs, AHL Portland Pirates, NBA D-League Maine Red Claws
6	Syracuse, N.Y.	73.46	11	21	23		IL Syracuse Chiefs, AHL Syracuse Crunch
7	Charleston, S.C.	72.07	8	53	16	1	SAL Charleston River Dogs, ECHL South Carolina Stingrays, USL Charleston Battery
8	Modesto, Calif.	71.55	14	26	35	1	CAL Modesto Nuts
9	Idaho Falls, Idaho	70.55	21	11	29	1	PL Idaho Falls Chukars
10	Spokane, Wash.	69.51	17	22	36	1	NWL Spokane Indians, AFL Spokane Shock
11	Visalia, Calif.	69.31	51	5	4	1	CAL Visalia Rawhide
12	Springfield, Mass.	68.99	25	13	15		AHL Springfield Falcons, NBA D-League Springfield Armor
13	Toledo, Ohio	66.03	22	24	31	1	IL Toledo Mud Hens, ECHL Toledo Walleye
14	Tacoma, Wash.	65.94	35	27	54	1	PCL Tacoma Rainiers
15	Savannah, Ga.	65.71	47	14	19	1	SAL Savannah Sand Gnats
16	Hidalgo, Texas	65.55	31	17	9		NAL Edinburg Roadrunners, NAL McAllen Thunder, CHL Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, NBA D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers, SIFL Rio Grande Valley Magic
17	Norfolk, Va.	65.16	26	66	104		IL Norfolk Tides, AHL Norfolk Admirals
18	Richmond, Va.	62.72	4	33	155	1	EL Richmond Flying Squirrels, IFL Richmond Revolution, SIFL Richmond Raiders	SPHL Richmond Renegades
19	Fort Wayne, Ind.	62.59	3	18	151	1	MWL Fort Wayne TinCaps, NBA D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants, CHL Fort Wayne Komets	CIFL Fort Wayne FireHawks
20	Rochester, N.Y.	61.89	1	89	172		IL Rochester Red Wings, AHL Rochester Americans, USL Rochester Rhinos	IFL Rochester Raiders
21	Knoxville-Kodak, Tenn.	61.77	43	42	61		SL Tennessee Smokies, SPHL Knoxville IceBears
22	Winston-Salem, N.C.	61.4	27	3	76	1	CAR Winston-Salem Dash	SPHL Twin City Cyclones
23	Clearwater-Dunedin, Fla.	60.71	41	41	18		FSL Clearwater Threshers, FSL Dunedin Blue Jays
24	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	60.54	49	62	77		MWL Cedar Rapids Kernels
25	Erie, Pa.	60.01	30	16	6		EL Erie SeaWolves, NBA D-League Erie BayHawks, SIFL Erie Explosion
26	Wichita, Kan.	59.23	9	93	34	3	AA Wichita Wingnuts, CHL Wichita Thunder, IFL Wichita Wild
27	Sioux Falls, S.D.	58.97	19	109	89		AA Sioux Falls Canaries, NBA D-League Sioux Falls Skyforce, IFL Sioux Falls Storm
28	Huntsville, Ala.	58.7	18	137	41		SL Huntsville Stars, SPHL Huntsville Havoc, SIFL Alabama Hammers
29	Johnson City, Tenn.	57.82	37	54	63		APP Johnson City Cardinals
30	Burlington, Iowa	57.72	45	74	90		MWL Burlington Bees
31	Des Moines, Iowa	57.14	12	67	157		PCL Iowa Cubs, NBA D-League Iowa Energy, AFL Iowa Barnstormers	AHL Iowa Chops
32	Eugene, Ore.	56.96	29	77	106	1	NWL Eugene Emeralds
33	Great Falls, Mont.	56.22	50	121	119	1	PL Great Falls Voyagers
34	Bluefield-Princeton, W. Va.	55.98	7	78	44		APP Bluefield Blue Jays, APP Princeton Rays
35	Asheville, N.C.	55.23	38	68	85		SAL Asheville Tourists
36	Batavia, N.Y.	54.84	42	81	98		NYPL Batavia Muckdogs
37	Clinton, Iowa	54.15	34	40	50		MWL Clinton Lumber Kings
38	Tucson, Ariz.	53.42	54	186	144		PCL Tucson Padres	PCL Tucson Sidewinders, GBL Toros
39	Appleton, Wisc.	52.88	39	31	25		MWL Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
40	Gwinnett, Ga.	52.69	62	2	7	1	IL Gwinnett Braves, ECHL Gwinnett Gladiators, AFL Georgia Force
41	Kingsport, Tenn.	51.88	56	135	126		APP Kingsport Mets
42	Trenton, N.J.	51.69	48	83	27		EL Trenton Thunder, ECHL Trenton Titams, SIFL Trenton Steel
43	Roanoke-Salem, Va.	51.4	36	98	142		CAR Salem Red Sox
44	Elizabethton, Tenn.	51.31	53	100	114		APP Elizabethton Twins
45	Hartford-New Britain, Conn.	51.15	84	43	43		EL New Britain Rock Cats, AHL Connecticut Whale
46	Bridgeport, Conn.	51	71	101	79		AL Bridgeport Bluefish, AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers
47	Pearl, Miss.	50.92	64	127	124		SL Mississippi Braves
48	Auburn, N.Y.	50.6	40	87	101		NYPL Auburn Doubledays
49	Chico, Calif.	50.54	166	7	1		NAL Chico Outlaws
Rank	Market	Score	Tenure rank	Attendance rank	Economy rank	New venue(s)	Current team(s)	Team(s) lost
50	Kinston, N.C.	50.5	70	55	59		CAR Kinston Indians
51	Woodbridge, Va.	50.44	87	23	38		CAR Potomac Nationals
52	Yakima, Wash.	50.27	100	45	53		NWL Yakima Bears
53	Lynchburg, Va.	50.15	44	80	83		CAR Lynchburg Hillcats
54	Colorado Springs, Colo.	49.75	92	32	30		PCL Colorado Springs Sky Sox
55	Durham, N.C.	49.5	59	51	62		IL Durham Bulls, NASL Carolina RailHawks
56	Staten Island, N.Y.	49.38	137	8	8		NYPL Staten Island Yankees
57	Hagerstown, Md.	49.28	79	95	96		SAL Hagerstown Suns
58	Lakeland, Fla.	49.18	68	4	146		FSL Lakeland Flying Tigers	AIFA Lakeland ThunderBolts
59	Bristol, Va.	49.05	52	57	52		APP Bristol White Sox
60	West Valley City, Utah	49.01	69	61	57		ECHL Utah Grizzlies
61	Chattanooga, Tenn.	48.5	63	88	97		SL Chattanooga Lookouts
62t	Binghamton, N.Y.	48.37	23	82	42		EL Binghamton Mets, AHL Binghamton Senators
62t	Metairie, La.	48.37	108	50	55		PCL New Orleans Zephyrs
64	Boise, Idaho	47.88	32	104	166		NWL Boise Hawks, ECHL Idaho Steelheads, NBA D-League Idaho Stampede	AF2 Boise Burn
65	Fayetteville, N.C.	47.78	78	118	51		SPHL Fayetteville FireAntz, SIFL Fayetteville Force
66	Southaven, Miss.	47.68	109	103	87		CHL Mississippi RiverKings
67	Midland, Texas	47.39	58	52	65		TL Midland RockHounds
68	Pensacola, Fla.	46.82	99	147	131		AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos, SPHL Pensacola Ice Flyers
69	San Angelo, Texas	46.72	81	39	20		NAL San Angelo Colts, IFL San Angelo Stampede Express
70	Poughkeepsie, N.Y.	46.51	110	73	93		NYPL Hudson Valley Renegades
71	Charleston, W.Va.	46.37	93	146	128		SAL West Virginia Power
72	Jamestown, N.Y.	46.29	67	75	78		NYPL Jamestown Jammers
73	Sioux City, Iowa	45.48	57	170	121		AA Sioux City Explorers, APFL Sioux City Bandits
74	Bakersfield, Calif.	45.22	24	161	168	1	CAL Bakersfield Blaze, ECHL Bakersfield Condors, NBA D-League Bakersfield Jam	AF2 Bakersfield Blitz
75	Stockton, Calif.	44.93	33	129	167		CAL Stockton Ports, ECHL Stockton Thunder, PASL California Cougars	AF2 Stockton Lightning
76	Tri-Cities Wash.	44.77	97	36	40		NWL Tri-City Dust Devils, IFL Tri-Cities Fever
77	Frederick, Md.	44.72	104	59	60		CAR Frederick Keys
78	Palm Beach County, Fla.	44.44	73	178	133		FSL Jupiter Hammerheads, FSL Palm Beach Cardinals
79	Harlingen, Texas	44.33	127	177	122		NAL Rio Grande Valley Whitewings
80	Bridgewater, N.J.	44.03	133	58	69		AL Somerset Patriots
81	Missoula, Mont.	43.93	138	35	28		PL Missoula Osprey
82	Billings, Mont.	43.89	28	85	158	2	PL Billings Mustangs	IFL Billings Outlaws*
83	Wilmington, Del.	43.57	111	90	99		CAR Wilmington Blue Rocks
84	Melbourne, Fla.	43.16	105	128	105		FSL Brevard County Manatees
85	Lakewood, N.J.	42.96	160	76	81		SAL Lakewood BlueClaws
86	Quad Cities (Moline-Rock Island, Ill./Davenport-Bettendorf, Iowa)	42.95	20	72	159		MWL Quad City River Bandits, CHL Quad City Mallards	AF2 Quad City Steamwheelers
87	Lancaster, Calif.	42.94	122	29	12		CAL Lancaster JetHawks
88	Salisbury, Md.	42.69	125	70	68		SAL Delmarva Shorebirds
89	Port St. Lucie, Fla.	42.5	98	56	75		FSL St. Lucie Mets
90	Lake Elsinore, Calif.	42.31	117	116	94		CAL Lake Elsinore Storm
91	Rosemont, Ill.	42.24	119	105	86		AHL Chicago Wolves
92	Schaumburg, Ill.	42.02	141	115	112		AA Schaumburg Flyers
93	Helena, Mont.	41.99	169	119	88		PL Helena Brewers
94	Yuma, Ariz.	41.91	184	180	132		NAL Yuma Scorpions
95	Lake Charles, La.	41.75	148	49	45		SIFL Louisiana Swashbucklers
96	Camden, N.J.	41.72	151	94	80		AL Camden Riversharks
97	Burlington, N.C.	41.69	88	148	120		APP Burlington Royals
98	Geneva, Ill.	41.68	128	106	109	1	MWL Kane County Cougars
99	Long Island, N.Y.	41.61	146	65	73		AL Long Island Ducks
Rank	Market	Score	Tenure rank	Attendance rank	Economy rank	New venue(s)	Current team(s)	Team(s) lost
100	Jackson, Tenn.	41.36	132	46	17		SL Jackson Generals
101t	Aberdeen, Md.	41.26	158	60	67		NYPL Aberdeen IronBirds
101t	Rome, Ga.	41.26	170	124	117		SAL Rome Braves
103	Little Falls, N.J.	41.12	134	102	84		C-A New Jersey Jackals
104	Crestwood, Ill.	41.09	131	34	14		FL Windy City Thunderbolts
105	South Bend, Ind.	40.97	85	149	136	1	MWL South Bend Silver Hawks
106	Lehigh Valley, Pa.	40.41	102	1	3	1	IL Lehigh Valley IronPigs, IFL Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
107	West Sacramento, Calif.	40.31	140	111	102		PCL Sacramento River Cats
108	Omaha, Neb.	40.12	15	44	152	1	PCL Omaha Storm Chasers, IFL Omaha Beef, MISL Omaha Vipers	AHL Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
109	Independence, Mo.	39.79	115	71	33	1	CHL Missouri Mavericks, MISL Missouri Comets
110	Loveland, Colo.	39.68	149	48	56		CHL Colorado Eagles, IFL Colorado Ice
111	Joliet, Ill.	39.53	161	133	103		NL Joliet Jackhammers
112	Casper, Wyo.	39.53	72	28	37		PL Casper Ghosts, IFL Wyoming Cavalry
113	Abilene, Texas	39.5	195	163	115		SIFL Abilene Ruff Riders
114	Peoria, Ill.	39.48	16	86	163		MWL Peoria Chiefs, AHL Peoria Rivermen	AF2 Peoria Pirates
115	Brooklyn, N.Y.	38.85	152	96	91		NYPL Brooklyn Cyclones
116	Altoona, Pa.	38.79	120	136	123		EL Altoona Curve
117	Myrtle Beach, S.C.	38.27	139	64	48		CAR Myrtle Beach Pelicans
118	Biloxi, Miss.	38.26	142	159	127		SPHL Mississippi Surge
119	Beloit, Wis.	38.1	83	200	149		MWL Beloit Snappers
120	Troy, N.Y.	37.9	157	38	32		NYPL Tri-City ValleyCats
121	Springfield, Mo.	37.86	154	162	125		TL Springfield Cardinals
122	Lafayette, La.	37.72	190	20	24		SPHL Louisiana IceGators, SIFL Lafayette Wildcatters
123	Hickory, N.C.	37.56	112	155	135		SAL Hickory Crawdads
124	El Paso, Texas	37.38	76	69	169		AA El Paso Diablos	IFL El Paso Generals
125	Albany, Ga.	37.36	185	156	137		SIFL Albany Panthers
126	Keizer, Ore.	37.22	129	140	110		NWL Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
127	Reno, Nev.	36.91	130	10	2	1	PCL Reno Aces, NBA D-League Reno Bighorns
128	Odessa, Texas	36.78	75	112	39		CHL Odessa Jackalopes, IFL West Texas Roughnecks
129	Washington, Pa.	36.48	162	144	118		FL Washington Wild Things
130	Prescott Valley, Ariz.	36.31	188	191	143		CHL Arizona Sundogs, IFL Arizona Adrenaline	AIFA Arizona Adrenaline
131	York, Pa.	35.61	167	63	47		AL York Revolution
132	Florence, Ky.	35.57	156	47	26		FL Florence Freedom
133	Lancaster, Pa.	34.86	183	122	107		AL Lancaster Barnstormers
134	Brockton, Mass.	34.84	163	179	138		C-A Brockton Rox
135	Augusta, Ga.	34.8	65	114	165		SAL Augusta Greenjackets, SPHL Augusta RiverHawks	AIFA Augusta Colts
136	Kalamazoo, Mich.	34.34	46	175	191		FL Kalamazoo Kings, ECHL Kalamazoo Wings	CIFL Kalamazoo Xplosion
137	Elmira, N.Y.	34.31	168	99	82		ECHL Elmira Jackals
138	Williamsport, Pa.	34.17	116	125	92		NYPL Williamsport Crosscutters
139	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.	33.97	60	150	176		IL Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AF2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
140	Greeneville, Tenn.	33.52	177	126	113		APP Greeneville Astros
141	State College, Pa.	33	186	91	71		NYPL State College Spikes
142	Danville, Va.	32.07	113	173	139		APP Danville Braves
143	Lincoln, Neb.	31.55	153	138	111		AA Lincoln Saltdogs
144	Gary, Ind.	31.14	159	107	70		AA Gary SouthShore RailCats
145	Las Vegas	30.96	66	153	178		PCL Las Vegas 51s, ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers	AFL Las Vegas Gladiators
146	Bloomington-Normal, Ill.	30.53	103	79	21		IFL Bloomington Extreme, FL NormalCornbelters, CHL Bloomington PrairieThunder^
147	Traverse City, Mich.	30.1	187	84	74		FL Traverse City Beach Bums
148	Niles, Ohio	29.94	143	145	130		NYPL Mahoning Valley Scrappers
149	Louisville, Ky.	29.84	90	152	188	1	IL Louisville Bats	AF2 Louisville Fire
Rank	Market	Score	Tenure rank	Attendance rank	Economy rank	New venue(s)	Current team(s)	Team(s) lost
150	Dayton, Ohio	29.83	55	123	164		MWL Dayton Dragons, CHL Dayton Gems, CIFL Dayton Silverbacks	CIFL Miami Valley Silverbacks
151	Lansing, Mich.	29.38	123	97	46		MWL Lansing Lugnuts
152	Greensboro, N.C.	29.37	107	134	182		SAL Greensboro Grasshoppers	NIFL Greensboro Revolution
153	Pulaski, Va.	29.2	135	142	116		APP Pulaski Mariners
154	Birmingham, Ala.	28.92	101	167	195		SL Birmingham Barons	AF2 Alabama Steeldogs
155	Amarillo, Texas	28.77	86	117	161		AA Amarillo Dillas, IFL Amarillo Venom	CHL Amarillo Gorillas
156	Burlington, Vt.	27.83	118	151	108		NYPL Vermont Lake Monsters
157	Norwich-West Haven, Conn.	27.3	147	213	205		NYPL Connecticut Tigers	C-A New Haven County Cutters
158	Eastlake, Ohio	26.37	171	164	129		MWL Lake County Captains
159	Everett, Wash.	26.14	114	185	187		NWL Everett AquaSox	AF2 Everett Hawks
160	Columbus, Ga.	25.95	96	203	192		SPHL Columbus Cottonmouths, SIFL Columbus Lions	SAL Columbus Catfish
161	Fargo, N.D.	25.77	124	92	66		NL Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks
162	Midland, Mich.	25.49	191	158	134		MWL Great Lakes Loons
163	Greenville, S.C.	25.43	106	30	156		SAL Greenville Drive, ECHL Greenville Road Warriors	AIFA South Carolina Force
164	Sauget, Ill.	25.34	150	113	72		FL Gateway Grizzlies
165	Hoffman Estates, Ill.	25.04	82	25	148		ECHL Chicago Express, IFL Chicago Slaughter, USL Chicago Storm	UHL Chicago Hounds
166	Daytona Beach, Fla.	24.54	155	139	179		FSL Daytona Cubs	AF2 Daytona Beach Thunder
167	Worcester, Mass.	24.4	94	166	174		C-A Worcester Tornadoes, AHL Worcester Sharks	CIFL New England Surge
168	Albany, N.Y.	24.18	145	192	196		AHL Albany Devils	AF2 Albany Firebirds
169	Mobile, Ala.	24.09	181	157	177		SL Mobile Bay Bears	SIFL Mobile Bay Tarpons
170	La Crosse, Wis.	23.83	197	168	100		IFL La Crosse Spartans
171	Ogden, Utah	23.01	180	143	175		PL Ogden Raptors	AIFA Ogden Knights
172	Montgomery, Ala.	22.81	199	160	190		SL Montgomery Biscuits	AIFA Montgomery Bears
173	Saginaw, Mich.	22.68	176	120	64	1	UIFL Saginaw Sting
174t	Bossier City-Shreveport, La.	22.34	74	189	228		AA Shreveport Captains	AFL Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings, CHL Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
174t	Bowie-College Park, Md.	22.34	144	169	183		EL Bowie Baysox	IFL Maryland Maniacs
176	North Little Rock, Ark.	22.07	61	108	221		TL Arkansas Travelers	NBA D-League Arkansas RimRockers, AF2 Arkansas Diamonds
177	Wheeling, W. Va.	19.89	182	183	193		ECHL Wheeling Nailers	CIFL Wheeling Wildcats
178	Grand Rapids-Comstock, Mich.	19.73	95	154	181		MWL West Michigan Whitecaps, AHL Grand Rapids Griffins	AFL Grand Rapids Rampage
179	Lowell, Mass.	19.28	165	188	194		NYPL Lowell Spinners	AHL Lowell Devils
180	Rockford, Ill.	17.95	80	130	162	1	FL Rockford Riverhawks, AHL Rockford IceHogs	CIFL Rock River Raptors
181	Lexington, Ky.	17.48	193	172	186		SAL Lexington Legends	AF2 Kentucky Horsemen
182	Anchorage, Alaska	17.18	174	171	184		ECHL Alaska Aces	IFL Alaska Wild
183	Bismarck, N.D.	16.91	126	174	95		NBA D-League Dakota Wizards
184	Springdale, Ark.	16.5	172	212	153	1	TL Northwest Arkansas Naturals
185	Evansville, Ind.	16.47	91	141	160	1	FL Evansville Otters, CHL Evansville IceMen	UIF Evansville BlueCats
186	Concord-Kannapolis, N.C.	15.03	173	131	170		SAL Kannapolis Intimidators	SIFL Carolina Speed
187	Augusta, N.J.	13.2	205	184	189			C-A Sussex Skyhawks
188	Austin-Round Rock, Texas	12.69	77	110	218	1	PCL Round Rock Express, AHL Texas Stars, NBA D-League Austin Toros	CHL Austin Ice Bats, IFL Austin Turfcats
189	Marion, Ill.	12.64	164	176	154	1	FL Southern Illinois Miners
190	Akron, Ohio	12.39	189	202	203		EL Akron Aeros	CIFL Summit County Rumble
191	Chillicothe, Ohio	12.07	209	217	212			FL Chillicothe Paints
192	Johnstown, Pa.	11.68	200	215	208		UIFL Johnston Generals	ECHL Johnstown Chiefs
193	Alexandria, La.	11.32	207	218	206			CBL Alexandria Aces
194	Huntington, W. Va.	11.31	211	196	185		UIFL Huntington Hammer	AIFA Huntington Heroes
195	Atlantic City, N.J.	10.92	216	219	220			C-A Atlantic City Surf
196	Vero Beach, Fla.	10.25	215	220	207			FSL Vero Beach Dodgers
197	Sarasota, Fla.	10.06	202	222	216	1		FSL Sarasota Reds
198	Fairbanks, Alaska	9.44	192	216	147		IFL Fairbanks Grizzlies
199	Tallahassee, Fla.	9.28	228	225	215			AIFA Tallahassee Titans
Rank	Market	Score	Tenure rank	Attendance rank	Economy rank	New venue(s)	Current team(s)	Team(s) lost
200	Fort Myers, Fla.	8.97	121	195	229		FSL Fort Myers Miracle, ECHL Florida Everblades	AF2 Florida Firecats, AIFA Florida Stingrays
201	St. Charles, Mo.	8.65	206	187	180		FL River City Rascals	IFL RiverCity Rage
202	Oneonta, N.Y.	7.97	208	221	210			NYPL Oneonta Tigers
203	Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii	5.15	201	204	171		NAL Maui Na Koa Ikaika
204	Orem, Utah	2.22	204	19	214		PL Orem Owlz	NBA D-League Utah Flash, AIFA Utah Valley Thunder
205	Fresno, Calif.	1.93	203	207	231		PCL Fresno Grizzlies	ECHL Fresno Falcons, AF2 Central Valley Coyotes
206	Marion, Ohio	1.6	217	208	198		CIFL Marion Blue Racers	CIFL Marion Mayhem
207	Canton, Ohio	1.47	225	181	173		UIFL Canton Cougars	AIFL Canton Legends
208	Belton, Texas	-2.82	212	224	197			IFL CenTex Barracudas
209	Katy, Texas	-3.53	213	226	201			IFL Katy Ruff Riders
210	Houma, La.	-3.69	229	231	234			SIFL Houma Conquerors
211	St. George, Utah	-4.81	214	227	204			GBL St. George Roadrunners
212	Laredo, Texas	-5	210	205	227		CHL Laredo Bucks	CBL Laredo Broncos, AF2 Laredo Lobos
213	Waldorf, Md.	-5.34	175	165	58		AL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
214	Long Beach, Calif.	-5.67	234	197	226			GBL Long Beach Armada, ECHL Long Beach Ice Dogs
215	Madison, Wis.	-8.28	218	214	200			CIFL Wisconsin Wolfpack
216	Muskegon, Mich.	-9.3	231	193	224			CHL Muskegon Lumberjacks, IFL West Michigan ThunderHawks
217	Bowling Green, Ky.	-11.25	178	182	140	1	MWL Bowling Green Hot Rods
218	Lubbock, Texas.	-12.06	239	201	225			CHL Lubbock Cotton Kings, AF2 Lubbock Renegades
219	Manchester-Nashua, N.H.	-12.53	136	198	223		EL New Hampshire Fisher Cats, AHL Manchester Monarchs	C-A American Defenders of New Hampshire, AF2 Manchester Wolves
220	Kissimmee, Fla.	-12.79	226	229	202			WIFL Osceola Ghostriders
221	Glen Falls, N.Y.	-12.96	198	206	199		AHL Adirondack Phantoms
222	Lynn, Mass.	-12.97	219	228	209			C-A North Shore Spirit
223	Rapid City, S.D.	-13.24	194	132	49		CHL Rapid City Rush
224	Port Charlotte, Fla.	-13.44	179	194	145	1	FSL Charlotte Stone Crabs
225	Tupelo, Miss.	-13.75	221	230	217			AIFA Mississippi Mudcats
226	Avon, Ohio	-14.04	196	190	150		FL Lake Erie Crushers
227	St. Joseph, Mo.	-15.96	220	232	211			AA St. Joe Blacksnakes
228	Slippery Rock, Pa.	-16	232	241	230			FL Slippery Rock Sliders
229	Steubenville, Ohio	-16.02	227	233	213			CIFL Steubenville Stampede
230	Corpus Christi, Texas	-16.16	89	211	237		TL Corpus Christi Hooks, SIFL Corpus Christi Hammerheads	UBL Coastal Bend Thunder, AF2 Corpus Christi Sharks
231	Battle Creek, Mich.	-16.45	230	236	236			MWL Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
232	Columbia, S.C.	-17.63	238	199	222			ECHL Columbia Inferno, NIFL Columbia Stingers
233	Youngstown, Ohio	-22.28	235	209	232			CHL Youngstown SteelHounds, AF2 Mahoning Valley Thunder
234	Troy, Ohio	-25.88	222	235	219			CIFL Miami Morays
235	Broomfield, Colo.	-26.47	233	234	233			CHL Rocky Mountain Rage, NBA D-League Colorado 14ers
236	Albuquerque, N.M.	-28.25	223	210	239		PCL Albuquerque Isotopes	CHL New Mexico Scorpions, NBA D-League New Mexico Thunderbirds, AIFA New Mexico Wildcats
237	Florence, S.C.	-29.25	237	237	235			SPHL Pee-Dee Pride, AIFA Florence Phantoms
238	Beaumont, Texas	-32.74	240	238	238			ECHL Texas Wildcatters, APFL Beaumont Drillers
239	Flint, Mich.	-40.13	236	239	240			CHL Flint Generals, CIFL Flint Phantoms
240	Ypsilanti, Mich.	-47.9	224	223	141			FL Oakland County Cruisers
241	Port Huron, Mich.	-60.68	241	240	241			CHL Port Huron Icehawks, CIFL Port Huron Predators

* In the summer of 2010, a tornado demolished Rimrock Auto Group Arena at MetraPark, home to the IFL Billings Outlaws. The team did not play in 2011, as the arena is being rebuilt, and a message posted on the club's website this summer indicates the club is inactive and for sale. The team is not listed on the league's website.
^ The PrairieThunder completed its 2010-11 CHL season, but is being replaced in the market by a new CHL team, the Blaze, that begins play this fall.
Note: The following markets were not ranked because each is host to a new franchise that is now playing in its inaugural season or has played in only one season, making historical comparisons impossible:

• Bradenton, Fla.: FSL Bradenton Marauders (ballpark renovated 2008)
• Grand Island, Neb.: IFL Nebraska Danger
• Highland Heights, Ky.: UIFL Northen Kentucky River Monsters (new arena opened 2008)
• Kent, Ore.: IFL Kent Predators (new arena opened 2009)
• Pikeville, Ky.: UIFL Eastern Kentucky Drillers
• Pittsfield, Mass.: C-A Pittsfield Colonials
• Zion, Ill: NAL Lake County Fielders (ballpark under construction, scheduled to open 2012)

Additionally, Wenatchee, Wash., hosted the IFL Wenatchee Valley Venom in 2010 and 2011 at Town Toyota Center, which opened in 2008. The club folded earlier this summer, and no attendance data is available for either season.

Leagues tracked

Baseball
AA: American Association (Independent)
APP: Appalachian League (Rookie)
AL: Atlantic League (Independent)
CAL: California League (A, Advanced)
C-A: Can-Am League (Independent)
CAR: Carolina League (A, Advanced)
CBL: Continental Baseball League* (Independent)
EL: Eastern League (AA)
FSL: Florida State League (A, Advanced)
FL: Frontier League (Independent)
GBL: Golden Baseball League* (Independent)
IL: International League (AAA)
MWL: Midwest League (A)
NYPL: New York-Penn League (A, Short Season)
NAL: North American League (Independent)
NL: Northern League* (Independent)
NWL: Northwest League (A, Short Season)
PCL: Pacific Coast League (AAA)
PL: Pioneer League (Rookie)
SAL: South Atlantic League (A)
SL: Southern League (AA)
TL: Texas League (AA)
UL: United League* (Independent)

Basketball
NBA D-League: NBA Development League

Football
AF2: arenafootball2*
AFL: Arena Football League
AIFA: American Indoor Football Association
CIFL: Continental Indoor Football League
GLIFL: Great Lakes Indoor Football League*
IFL: Indoor Football League
NIFL: National Indoor Football League*
SIFL: Southern Indoor Football League
UIFL: United Indoor Football League*
WIFL: World Indoor Football League*

Hockey
AHL: American Hockey League
ACHL: Atlantic Coast Hockey League*
CHL: Central Hockey League
ECHL
IHL: International Hockey League*
SPHL: Southern Professional Hockey League
UHL: United Hockey League*

Soccer
MISL: Major Indoor Soccer League
NASL: North American Soccer League
PASL: Professional Arena Soccer League Pro Division
ULT: Ultimate Soccer League
USL: United Soccer Leagues First Division
XSL: Xtreme Soccer League*

* League is no longer in operation but is, in some cases, represented in the study by a current team that previously played in the league.
Note: The American Basketball Association and International Basketball League are not represented in the study. League officials said attendance from their leagues was not available, so they could not be included in the research.

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Each league studied for this project was asked to provide a list of its member teams’ territories or boundaries. Fifteen minor league teams had no designated boundary. In those cases, if the team shared a market with another minor league team, the same boundary was applied to each club. In the absence of a shared team, which was the case in six markets, one of the 3,194 U.S. Census market designations was used.

Attendance was included for the five most recently completed seasons for each league whose regular season finished by July 31 of this year. For baseball teams, attendance was included for the 2006-10 seasons. The Grand Island, Neb.; Highland Heights, Ky.; Kent, Ore.; Pikesville, Ky.; Pittsfield, Mass.; and Zion, Ill, markets, whose only teams have completed only one season or are playing their inaugural season this year, were not included in the study. Also not included is Wenatchee, Wash., which hosted the IFL Wenatchee Valley Venom in 2010 and 2011 at Town Toyota Center (opened in 2008) — but the club folded earlier this summer, and no attendance data was available for either season played.

Attendance figures used were based on team and league official reports, conversations with facility officials and box scores. Numerous attempts to acquire select attendance directly from the Continental Indoor, American Indoor and Southern football leagues were unsuccessful, although data was provided by several teams or their respective arenas.

As is the case at all levels of organized sports, reported attendance can vary from being an actual turnstile count to number of tickets sold to number of tickets distributed. Ticket prices were not factored into the ranking formula. The ranking also does not take into account other sports options in each market, such as racetracks, high-profile college programs or major junior hockey leagues. In addition, markets that are home to a major league franchise in addition to having a minor league team were not included in the ranking.

This is the fourth time SportsBusiness Journal has produced this ranking, the first coming in 2005 and then every other year since. Analyzing a total of 12 years of data over the course of these four studies, we’ve learned that win-loss percentages for the majority of baseball and hockey teams — about 77 percent of the teams tracked are in these two sports — create little attendance variance, so that criterion is excluded from the methodology.

All leagues were assigned the same weight. In addition, each “current” and “lost” team is listed with its most recent moniker and league. For example, Fort Wayne, Ind., hosted three indoor football league franchises between 2007 and 2010. Attendance and capacity data for the af2 Fusion (2007) and CIFL Freedom (2008) are accounted for in our study, but it’s the CIFL FireHawks franchise, which played in 2010, that is listed by name.

A market’s total score is the result of three category-specific scores: tenure rank, attendance rank and economic rank.

■ Tenure rank: This score, which accounts for two-thirds of each market’s grade, comes from a formula that includes such support measurements as each team’s length of presence in its market and the total number of team-years in the last five seasons. If, for example, a market hosted a baseball team and a hockey team in each of the last five seasons, plus an IFL team for one season, it received credit for 11 out of a possible 15 team-years. Markets were penalized for not replacing franchises within one year after that team folded or moved.

The 39 markets that completed construction on at least one new or extensively upgraded minor league facility between 2007 and 2011 received extra credit. Markets with venues under construction but not yet open did not receive extra credit.

Our tenure category essentially prevents new teams in new markets in new facilities from skewing results, while rewarding markets that have retained their current clubs. Markets also earned credit for continuous hosting of each franchise. Additionally, we excused historical one-year gaps in 18 markets that were brought on by weather, league mergers and other circumstances that were beyond the parameters of “community support.”

Extra credit was given to Rochester, N.Y., Syracuse, N.Y. and Elizabethton, Tenn., for being home to a team whose ownership is comprised entirely of citizen shareholders.

■ Attendance rank: This score, which accounted for one-fifth of each market’s grade, is based on the total attendance of all a market’s teams and overall percentage of seats filled over the five-year period. Both measurements were indexed against the market’s total five-year population to create a single score.

■ Economic rank: Three economic factors went into our ranking: fluctuations in unemployment, population and each market’s Total Personal Income (TPI). For each, a measure of standard deviation was set, and markets gained or lost credit based on their attendance behavior. For example, if a market’s unemployment rate decreased and TPI increased, population was expected to increase. Indexing was not done for the six markets that hosted a single team for one season. June 2007 estimates from both the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census were the sources.

In the end, Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa., had the highest point total, and all markets were indexed against that total. Points could be deducted from a market’s total for four reasons: losing a franchise, along with failing to keep attendance in line with fluctuations in area unemployment, population or TPI. Thirty-four markets finished with a negative score.

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2. San Bernardino County, Calif.
■ Teams (first season): California League (A) Inland Empire 66ers (1987), High Desert Mavericks (1991) and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1993); ECHL Ontario Reign (2008)
■ Venues (year opened): Stater Brothers Stadium (1991), Arrowhead Credit Union Park (1996), Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter (1993), Citizens Business Bank Arena (2008)
The four teams in the market combined to host an average of 250 games annually over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, in 2010, the area ranked fourth in the nation in the number of foreclosures, with one filing for every 133 households. Still, despite an unemployment rate well above the national average (14.2 percent as of June), the market’s sports attendance has jumped 19.5 percent compared to three years ago.
The addition of hockey is a big reason for the increase. The 2010-11 hockey season was the second consecutive season the ECHL Ontario Reign led that league in attendance, averaging 6,683 fans per game, up 18.6 percent over 2008-09, the club’s inaugural season in then-new Citizens Business Bank Arena.

3. Providence-Pawtucket, R.I.

NEWSCOM

■ Teams (first season): International League (AAA) Pawtucket Red Sox (1970), AHL Providence Bruins (1992)
■ Venues (year opened): McCoy Stadium (1942; renovated 1999), Dunkin’ Donuts Center (1972; renovated 2008)
The Providence-Pawtucket market is the wealthiest market among our project’s top 10, with a median household income of $55,652 (11 percent higher than the U.S. median), and its 1.6 million residents is second only to San Bernardino among the top 10. Yet confronted with nearly three years of double-digit unemployment (10.4 percent as of June) and a stagnant population, the market’s two minor league clubs have combined to consistently draw roughly 900,000 fans annually to their games. That’s about 8,000 fans per game on average. It’s that strength at the gate despite the economic challenges that sprung the market from No. 37 in the rankings in 2009 to No. 3 this year.

4. Reading, Pa.
■ Teams (first season): Eastern League (AA) Reading Phillies (1963), ECHL Reading Royals (2001), IFL Reading Express (2006)
■ Venues (year opened): FirstEnergy Stadium (1951; renovated 2011), Sovereign Center (2001)
While SBJ’s minor league market ranking recognizes fan support, the Reading Phillies have also been beneficiaries of loyalty from the Philadelphia Phillies, their parent club. The two franchises have been affiliated since 1967 — the longest such relationship in all of baseball — and the city of Reading in 2002 trademarked the term “Baseballtown” to acknowledge the region’s baseball heritage that dates back more than a century.
The AA Phillies have filled 75 percent of their seats over the past five seasons and were the Eastern League’s attendance leader heading into the final month of the 2011 season. The club also paid for a $10 million ballpark upgrade during the past offseason.
The IFL Reading Express recently wrapped up its sixth season with a 20 percent increase in average attendance over 2010. The only blemish on the market’s record was the 17 percent drop in attendance by the ECHL Royals since the 2005-06 season. The market ranked No. 5 in our 2007 ranking but No. 22 in 2009.

5. Portland, Maine
■ Teams (first season): Eastern League (AA) Portland Sea Dogs (1994), AHL Portland Pirates (1993), NBA D-League Maine Red Claws (2009)
■ Venues (year opened): Hadlock Field (1994), Cumberland County Civic Center (1977), Portland Exposition Building (1914)
Portland had one of the highest attendance-to-population ratios of any multiple-team market in the United States. The area’s teams over their past five seasons combined for an annual attendance of 637,000 on average, compared to an average annual population of 275,000. Among the 97 markets studied that had more than one team, only Hershey-Harrisburg had a better ratio.
Portland’s ranking — it was No. 78 in 2009 — was clearly helped by the addition of the NBA D-League Maine Red Claws, who have sold out nearly every game in their two seasons of play. The Portland Exposition Building, the club’s home court, is the oldest arena in the country to host a pro sports team. The building did have $375,000 worth of improvements made prior to the Red Claws’ 2009-10 debut season.
The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, have been ranked among Minor League Baseball’s top 25 for merchandise sales in every year of their existence despite having the same logo the entire time.

6. Syracuse, N.Y.
■ Teams (first season): International League (AAA) Syracuse Chiefs (1961), AHL Syracuse Crunch (1994)
■ Venues (year opened): Alliance Bank Stadium (1997), War Memorial at Oncenter (1951; renovated in 1994)
It would be an oversight to chalk up Syracuse’s high ranking to the boost it received last year from Stephen Strasburg’s three-week stay. The pitching phenom’s presence on his way up to the MLB Washington parent club gave the Chiefs three of their four most-attended games in the 135-year history of baseball in Syracuse. But 2010 marked the club’s fifth straight season of increased attendance, so the market was supporting the Chiefs even before, and after, Strasburg’s 2010 cameo.
Like most of the minor league markets in the study, Syracuse’s unemployment rate doubled during the economic downturn, and its population growth rate was less than 1 percent over the past five years. Still, the Chiefs and Crunch saw their combined attendance grow 12 percent during the period, the highest such mark among the top 10 markets — fueling Syracuse’s rise to No. 6 in the ranking from No. 159 in 2009. The Chiefs in 2010 also marked 50 years of community ownership, a factor that positively affected the market’s ranking, as well.

7. Charleston, S.C.
■ Teams (first season): South Atlantic League (A) Charleston River Dogs (1980), ECHL South Carolina Stingrays (1993), USL Charleston Battery (1993)
■ Venues (year opened): Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park (1997), North Charleston Coliseum (1993; currently being renovated), Blackbaud Stadium (1999)
River Dogs attendance makes up a little more than half of the half-million fans who annually attend Charleston’s pro sports events. The New York Yankees affiliate, owned by the Goldklang Group, has long been admired throughout minor league sports for its creative marketing prowess. Club president and Goldklang Group executive adviser Mike Veeck has spent his career running professional baseball teams, so when the company purchased the team in the 1990s, Veeck was sent down to help with the transition. “I moved here 15 years ago with the intention of working here for one year,” Veeck said. “Now I’ll never leave.”
Beyond just baseball, though, it’s the tenure of the all three local clubs that has helped lift Charleston into the top 10. Each club has been in the market for at least 16 seasons. San Bernardino (No. 2) is the only other market in the country that can boast hosting three or more clubs for at least that long.
The ongoing $18 million renovation of North Charleston Coliseum is expected to be completed by the start of the 2011-12 hockey season.

8. Modesto, Calif.

NEWSCOM

■ Team (first season): California League (A) Modesto Nuts (1946)
■ Ballpark (year opened): John Thurman Field (1955; renovation starting in 2007)
No other market defied such odds.
Modesto has had double-digit unemployment since January 2008, nearly two years before the national average hit that level. The market saw a scant 0.6 percent population growth, total wealth in the market has been flat — and the market was ranked in 2010 among the top car theft cities in the United States. Yet the Class A Nuts set a franchise attendance record for the fourth consecutive season in 2010 as 180,344 fans passed through the turnstiles at John Thurman Field. The feat was accomplished in only 67 openings (three games fewer than the preceding four-year average) as the Nuts lost three games due to inclement weather in April. The Nuts’ average attendance of 2,692 per game was an 11 percent increase from 2009 and up 25 percent from 2006. Each of those increases was among the biggest in all of affiliated Minor League Baseball.
In addition, beginning with the 2007 season, the city committed to $3 million in upgrades to the Nuts’ ballpark in the years ahead, including a $500,000 scoreboard and video board that has been added to the venue.

9. Idaho Falls, Idaho
■ Team (first season): Pioneer League (Rookie) Idaho Falls Chukars (1946)
■ Venue (year opened): Melaleuca Field (2007)
Idaho Falls made our Top 10 list not only because of the Chukars’ nearly seven-decade tenure, but also because its fan support over-indexed in one of the country’s most flourishing economic regions. The market saw a 10 percent increase in population and 17 percent increase in total wealth during the five years studied for this project, each measure being among the biggest growth rates of all markets examined. While Chukars attendance has tapered off since the record high seen in 2007 that coincided with the opening of Melaleuca Field, attendance in 2010 was still up more than 20 percent compared to 2006.

10. Spokane, Wash.

NEWSCOM

■ Teams (first season): Northwest League (A) Spokane Indians (1946), AFL Spokane Shock (2006)
■ Venues (year opened): Avista Stadium (1958; renovated 2008), Spokane Arena (1995)
Spokane is a shining example of a market combining old and new. The Shock continues to be their league’s top-drawing team in a minor league market, filling nearly every seat over the past five years in a 16-year-old venue.
The Indians have been around since 1946 and play in one of Minor League Baseball’s oldest facilities, but the ballpark received a $4 million facelift prior to the 2008 season, with another $2.8 million in improvements coming after this season. The Indians have led the Northwest League in attendance for 12 consecutive seasons.
The changes in Spokane’s unemployment rate, population and total income mirror the marks of the country overall.

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Several additional markets stood out in the research — for both the right and, in some cases, the wrong reasons.

■ TOLEDO, OHIO
• Rank: 13
• Each of the market’s two clubs filled more than 79 percent of its seats for the last five seasons, a rate topped in only seven other multiteam markets. An indoor football team, the AF2 Bullfrogs, was set to debut in 2010, but the league folded and the team never materialized. The market lost more than 3 percent of its population in the last five years, one of the biggest declines in our study, yet overall attendance still increased.

■ FORT WAYNE, IND.
• Rank: 19
• The Class A TinCaps’ new $30.6 million ballpark opened in 2009, and attendance has jumped 58 percent between the 2008 season and 2010. That’s the biggest increase in minor league baseball during that three-year period. The CHL Komets have led their league in attendance for nine straight seasons, but a 9 percent year-over-year drop in the 2010-11 season hurt the market’s score a bit. The D-League Mad Ants suffered through their third consecutive season of attendance decline, and the CIFL FireHawks, the market’s fourth attempt at hosting an indoor football team, shut down after the 2010 season.

■ LEHIGH VALLEY, PA.
• Rank: 106
• In 2005, this area of eastern Pennsylvania that includes Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton ranked as the worst minor league market in the United States. The region had lost three minor league clubs in a five-year period and was home to a half-built ballpark that eventually was demolished. Things have changed. In 2008, $48.4 million Coca-Cola Park opened as home to the new Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and the Class AAA club has been the top-drawing team in our study since then, averaging 640,000 fans a season.

■ BOSSIER CITY-SHREVEPORT, LA.
• Rank: 174 (tied)
• What a difference two years can make. In 2009, this was our No. 8 market. This spring, the local community was stunned when the CHL Mudbugs folded just two weeks after winning the league championship. The team had been in the market since 1997, but attendance had dropped 40 percent in the last six seasons. Meanwhile, less than one year previously, the AFL Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings moved to New Orleans and became the reincarnated version of the New Orleans VooDoo.

■ THE MICHIGAN "THUMB"
• This eastern Michigan geographic region features two of the bottom three markets in the entire survey (Flint at No. 239 and Port Huron at No. 241), and Saginaw came in at No. 173. Each of these markets has faced significant economic challenges for years, as has been the case across much of the state. But one particular incident may well sum up the sports scene in this region: In 2007, during halftime of the CIFL Port Huron Pirates’ final regular-season game, the club announced to the 1,200 fans in attendance that the team was relocating immediately — to Flint. After playing two games in Flint, both playoff games, the club folded.

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