SBJ / August 15-21, 2011 / Minor league markets: Final ranking

SBJ/August 15-21, 2011/Research and Ratings

Minor league markets: Final ranking

Published August 15, 2011, Page 12

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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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