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.