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Spring Training Attendance Up For Grapefruit, Cactus League Games

MLB teams averaged 6,997 fans for Spring Training dates across the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in '18, up just over 1% from last year. Teams in Florida averaged 6,325, relatively flat compared to last season, while in Arizona, teams drew 7,684 fans per game, up 1.7% from '17. The Cubs led all clubs, averaging 13,876 fans at Sloan Park in Mesa. The Dodgers and Giants also averaged more than 10,000 fans per contest. The Yankees led the Grapefruit League with 9,882 fans per game, followed by the Red Sox with 9,746. The Astros saw the biggest gains on the heels of their first World Series title, up 21.6% at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Marlins' attendance at Roger Dean Stadium, with the team under new ownership, was up almost 15% this year.

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
HOME TEAM
DATES
TOTAL
AVG.
PREV.
% +/-
DATES ('17)
Yankees
16
158,106
9,882
9,360
5.6%
16
Red Sox
17
165,688
9,746
9,871
-1.3%
17
Twins
15
110,770
7,385
7,224
2.2%
15
Phillies
17
124,824
7,343
7,124
3.1%
18
Orioles
15
103,294
6,886
7,223
-4.7%
16
Tigers
17
111,561
6,562
7,491
-12.4%
17
Braves
18
112,583
6,255
6,696
-6.6%
18
Pirates
16
96,361
6,023
6,252
-3.7%
17
Cardinals
14
82,633
5,902
5,645
4.6%
16
Mets
17
93,644
5,508
5,742
-4.1%
18
Nationals
15
73,002
4,867
5,300
-8.2%
16
Rays
14
64,689
4,621
4,631
-0.2%
17
Blue Jays
15
68,927
4,595
4,921
-6.6%
16
Astros
15
67,931
4,529
3,725
21.6%
15
Marlins
15
58,696
3,913
3,407
14.9%
18
GRAPEFRUIT TOTALS
236
1,492,709
6,325
6,308
0.3%
250
CACTUS LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
HOME TEAM
DATES
TOTAL
AVG.
PREV.
% +/-
DATES ('17)
Cubs
16
222,023
13,876
14,854
-6.6%
15
D-backs
16
166,063
10,379
10,863
-4.5%
15
Dodgers
15
152,305
10,154
9,355
8.5%
17
Giants
16
155,656
9,729
10,265
-5.2%
17
Rockies
16
151,234
9,452
9,217
2.5%
16
Mariners
16
118,851
7,428
7,522
-1.2%
18
Angels
15
105,781
7,052
6,752
4.4%
17
Indians
15
97,010
6,467
6,345
1.9%
16
Royals
16
100,761
6,298
6,354
-0.9%
15
A's
17
104,693
6,158
6,188
-0.5%
16
Rangers
15
89,282
5,952
5,993
-0.7%
16
Padres
14
82,421
5,887
5,617
4.8%
16
White Sox
15
86,478
5,765
5,394
6.9%
17
Brewers
15
76,418
5,095
5,018
1.5%
16
Reds
14
65,975
4,713
4,285
10.0%
17
CACTUS TOTALS
231
1,774,951
7,684
7,555
1.7%
244
MLB TOTALS
467
3,267,660
6,997
6,924
1.1%
494

NOTES: Figures do not include games played against college teams, games played outside of Spring Training venues or games against World Baseball Classic teams last season.

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