There will be a lot of attendance news in the next seven days, as the MiLB season winds down. Today: the Clearwater Threshers (High A; Florida State League) recorded the second-highest season attendance in team history in 2016.
All in all, 181,594 fans passed through the gates of Bright House Field during the Florida State League season. There were 67 openings this season for an average attendance of 2,710.
The 2016 total exceeds the 177,297 fans attending Threshers games in 2012 over 69 openings. The Threshers all-time single-season record is 195,063, set in 2014 when all 70 scheduled openings happened.
“The Threshers continued attendance records are the result of a great Threshers front office staff, a talented Phillies minor league system and tremendous fans in Clearwater and the surrounding area,” said Clearwater Threshers General Manager John Timberlake. “Our fans continue to embrace both the team and the ballpark and we cannot thank them enough for their support.”
The 2016 season was highlighted by an attendance of 9,012 on July 3, with seven games drawing over 5,000 patrons to the park. Opening Night on April 8 featured the arrival of the Threshers’ 2 Millionth Fan.