Fun In The Sun: Spring Training Attendance Up From '07
MLB drew a record attendance of 3,692,125 fans to Spring Training games in ’08, breaking the previous record of 3,421,055 set last year. The average attendance at Spring Training games was 8,026, surpassing the previous record of 7,709 set in ’94 . The following lists attendance for all MLB teams for '08 Spring Training (MLB).
|
TEAM
|
HOME GAMES
|
LEAGUE
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
|
Dodgers*
|
17
|
Grapefruit/Cactus
|
286,305
|
16,841
|
|
Giants
|
18
|
Cactus |
227,769
|
12,654
|
|
Cubs
|
16
|
Cactus |
192,847
|
12,053
|
| Angels |
18
|
Cactus |
197,522
|
10,973
|
| Yankees |
13
|
Grapefruit |
139,496
|
10,730
|
| Phillies |
16
|
Grapefruit |
170,972
|
10,686
|
| Braves |
17
|
Grapefruit |
168,052
|
9,885
|
| Mariners |
15
|
Cactus |
133,594
|
8,906
|
| D'Backs |
17
|
Cactus |
148,376
|
8,728
|
| Padres** |
16
|
Cactus |
132,361
|
8,273
|
| Red Sox |
11
|
Grapefruit |
86,822
|
7,893
|
| Twins |
16
|
Grapefruit |
124,934
|
7,808
|
| Tigers |
16
|
Grapefruit |
123,484
|
7,718
|
| Brewers |
17
|
Cactus |
130,407
|
7,671
|
| Rangers |
16
|
Cactus |
116,176
|
7,261
|
| Astros |
17
|
Grapefruit |
122,933
|
7,231
|
| Marlins |
18
|
Grapefruit |
126,586
|
7,033
|
| A's |
13
|
Cactus |
88,617
|
6,817
|
| Royals |
13
|
Cactus |
83,118
|
6,394
|
| Cardinals |
14
|
Grapefruit |
87,592
|
6,257
|
| Mets |
17
|
Grapefruit |
105,646
|
6,214
|
| Nationals |
15
|
Grapefruit |
88,675
|
5,912
|
| Indians |
15
|
Grapefruit |
87,301
|
5,820
|
| White Sox |
15
|
Cactus |
87,214
|
5,814
|
| Pirates |
15
|
Grapefruit |
81,067
|
5,404
|
| Rockies |
13
|
Cactus |
69,993
|
5,384
|
| Reds |
17
|
Grapefruit |
90,489
|
5,323
|
| Orioles |
14
|
Grapefruit |
74,373
|
5,312
|
| Rays |
11
|
Grapefruit |
54,960
|
4,996
|
| Blue Jays |
14
|
Grapefruit |
64,444
|
4,603
|
| MLB TOTALS |
460
|
|
3,692,125
|
8,026
|
NOTES: * = The Dodgers played ten games in Vero Beach at Dodgertown, five games in Phoenix, one game against the Red Sox at L.A. Memorial Coliseum which drew 115,300 fans, two games against the Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. In addition, the Dodgers were the home team for a spring training game in China, which drew 11,890 fans. ** = The Padres home game in China drew 12,242 fans.
DESERT BLOOM: In Arizona, the Cactus League drew 1.3 million fans for 177 games, led by the Cubs and Giants. After surpassing records last season, the Rockies and Brewers both saw Cactus League attendance jumps, while the Mariners, Royals and Rangers all saw double-digit growth from last year (EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE, 3/28).
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