Another attendance record from the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League), as a record 444,639 fans passed through the Regions Field gates in 2015, making it the second consecutive year the organization has drawn an excess of 400,000 fans over its 70 home games.
It is the third year in a row Regions Field witnessed an increase in fan support from the community, drawing more than its inaugural 2013 campaign (396,820) and last season’s mark of 437,612. This season’s turnout is second in team history only to 1994’s “Jordan Year” record of 467,867.
Regions Field sold out 13 times over the course of the season. On August 15, a single-game best 8,577 packed the bleachers and berms for Star Wars Night and Pyropalooza, topping the ballpark’s previous record of 8,513 set March 28, 2014 as the Barons hosted the Chicago White Sox for an exhibition game.
Previous to 2015’s 13 sellouts, Regions Field sold out on six occasions in 2013 and 10 times in 2014. In all, including the White Sox exhibition, 29 sellouts have been recorded over the 210 regular-season games played at Regions Field.
“Regions Field is such a special ballpark, and we thank everyone who attended a Barons game in 2015,” Barons general manager Jonathan Nelson said. “Each year we aim to raise the bar in all areas of our operation, and we look forward to providing fun, exciting promotions along with great professional baseball in 2016.”
The Barons currently lead the Southern League in attendance with five games to go in the regular season. It will be the third year in a row Birmingham has accomplished the feat. The only team in all of Double-A to total more fans than Birmingham in 2015 was the Firsco Rough Riders. Frisco’s attendance stands at 450,104 with three games left to play.
Birmingham averaged 6,352 fans per game, up exactly 100 than last season’s average. As a whole, Regions Field has averaged 6,091 over its three-year history.
Regions Field’s all-time attendance record, including five playoff games from the 2013 season, stands at 1,299,705. The ballpark garnered its millionth fan during the season for its 196th game – a feat not accomplished at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium until its 252nd game in the venue’s fourth season. “The Met” did not surpass Regions Field’s current all-time mark until its fifth year of existence.