Spring attendance tops 1.5 million
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s Spring Training Baseball reached a record high per-game attendance last month, according to Florida Governor Rick Scott.
The average per-game attendance for Major League Baseball teams was 7,096, marking the first time the number has topped 7,000 in over 100 years of Florida Grapefruit League games.
“Spring Training and Major League Baseball are a major attraction for families and visitors, and has an incredible economic impact on the local communities that host these 15 Florida Grapefruit League teams,” Scott said. “Last year, we welcomed 105 million visitors to our state, and we will keep working to support the tourism industry so we can reach another record year in Florida.”
The New York Yankees drew the most fans of the 15 teams, a total of 160,849 with an average attendance of 10,053. The Boston Red Sox attracted 149,397 (9,960 avg.) fans to JetBlue Park while the Minnesota Twins pulled in the third-most fans at 121,005 (8,067).
The Tampa Bay Rays averaged 5,267 fans in Port Charlotte for a total of 68,584.
The total attendance for 215 games played in Florida was 1,525,570. The 2016 season, played between March 1 and April 2, marks the 14th time in the last 17 years that Spring Training attendance has surpassed 1.5 million. Since 2000, a total of 26,576,761 fans have attended Spring Training games in Florida.
Attendance figures are compiled by the Florida Sports Foundation from daily box scores of the games and verified by each of the 15 teams in the Grapefruit League.
“The State of Florida continues to enhance its Spring Training Baseball experience for all fans of the game and Major League players,” said foundation president John Webb. “Our teams do a wonderful job of creating an entertaining environment and quality baseball that the entire family can enjoy.”
The Houston Astros, playing in Kissimmee’s Osceola County Stadium, showed a 15.3 percent per game attendance increase. The 2015 National League Champion New York Mets, playing at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, had a 13.2 percent increase. The St. Louis Cardinals, playing at Jupiter’s Roger Dean Stadium, had a 6.4 percent average per-game attendance increase, and the Toronto Blue Jays, playing at Dunedin’s Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, saw a 5.1 percent per-game attendance increase.
Renovations to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota (Baltimore Orioles), McKechnie Field in Bradenton (Pittsburgh Pirates), Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex (Twins) and construction of JetBlue Park in Fort Myers (Red Sox) have helped increase seating capacities.
By next season, Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland will receive renovations and the new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach is expected to open. The Detroit Tigers also will complete a $48 million renovation and the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals will debut in the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
1. New York Yankees – Steinbrenner Field, Tampa. 16 Games: 160,849 total attendance; 10,053 average per game. Largest Crowd: 11,159, vs. Tampa Bay Rays (Thursday, March 24).
2. Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park, Fort Myers. 15 Games: 149,397 total attendance; 9,960 average per game. Largest Crowd: 10,103, vs. Minnesota Twins (Thursday, March 10).
3. Minnesota Twins – Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers. 15 Games: 121,005 total attendance; 8,067 average per game. Largest Crowd: 9,109 vs. New York Yankees (Sunday, March 20).
4. Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota. 16 Games: 119,029 total attendance; 7,439 average per game. Largest Crowd: 8,518 vs. Boston Red Sox (Saturday, March 28).
5. Detroit Tigers – Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland. 15 Games (2 rained out): 116,061 total attendance; 7,737 average per game. Largest Crowd: 9,074 vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Tuesday, March 22).
Tampa Bay Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte. 13 Games (1 rain out): 68,584 total attendance; 5,276 average per game. Largest Crowd: 6,876 vs. Boston Red Sox (Friday, March 18).
Florida Spring Training Total Attendance – 215 Games (15 rain outs): 1,525,570 total attendance; 7,096 per game.