To get to 2 million in total attendance, the Indians will have to average 27,741 fans for the last 18 home gamesgetty images
The Indians are on pace to "record back-to-back 2-million seasons at the gate for the first time" since '08, according to Kevin Kleps of CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS. Through 62 home dates, the Indians are 21st in MLB with an "average attendance of 24,204 per game" at Progressive Field. But that "less-than-mediocre ranking doesn't tell the whole story." The team's last 26 home dates -- a stretch that began with a weekend series against the Tigers on June 22 -- have "drawn an average crowd of 29,169." Fourteen of the 26 games in that span were "played before a crowd of more than 30,000, and seven of the contests were sellouts." To get to 2 million, the Indians will have to do so with "one fewer home date," since a traditional doubleheader against the Blue Jays on May 3 "resulted in a crowd of 19,008 for the two contests." Still, they can get to 2 million by "averaging 27,741 for the last 18 home games." Those last 18 home games include "three weekend series." The first is a Labor Day weekend set against the Rays, the second is vs. the Tigers -- "always a strong draw" -- and the third is against the Red Sox. The latter series, Sept 21-23, also marks the team's "regular-season home finale" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 8/20).
