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2018 Affiliated Attendance by League

Ballpark DigestWith affiliated, independent and summer-collegiate 2018 regular seasons now finished, it’s time to look at how individual teams and leagues fared. We begin today’s attendance reviews with a listing of Minor League Baseball attendance by league.

In the course of the day we’ll review MiLB attendance by level, by total, and by average. We’ll then follow those listings with independent-baseball attendance, followed by a master listing of 2018 affiliated, independent and summer-collegiate attendance.

Here are the complete attendance figures of affiliated baseball teams, as listed by league, with a comparison of 2017 attendance figures. All stats come directly from league websites and last year’s Ballpark Digest attendance rankings.

It was a mixed year on the MiLB attendance front: plenty of bad weather in April and May did not provide teams with a great start to the season. Add in some unseasonably hot temperatures across the country in the summer, and you saw leagues reporting some down numbers in 2019. There are some bright spots in these league listings: The Appalachian League recorded a 12 percent increase from 2017 to 2018, as a lot of young talent has injected new life in that Rookie league. The Tim Tebow effect was seen in the Eastern League, which was steady despite horrendous weather to begin the season. It was also seen in the Florida State League, which was down 11 percent when compared to 2017.

Appalachian League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Pulaski Yankees 91,226 33 2,764 2,360 0.17
2 Johnson City Cardinals 68,861 31 2,222 1,976 0.12
3 Greeneville Reds* 48,021 31 1,549 1,139 0.36
4 Burlington Royals 36,541 32 1,142 1,045 0.09
5 Danville Braves 34,766 33 1,054 1,053 0.00
6 Kingsport Mets 28,928 32 904 901 0.00
7 Princeton Rays 23,549 31 760 536 0.42
8 Bristol Pirates 21,941 31 708 671 0.06
9 Bluefield Blue Jays 20,018 31 646 697 -0.07
10 Elizabethton Twins 15,329 29 529 586 -0.10
TOTALS 389,180 314 1,239 1,103 0.12

California League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Lake Elsinore Storm 214,955 70 3,071 2,894 0.06
2 Inland Empire 66ers 193,992 70 2,771 2,891 -0.04
3 Stockton Ports 187,966 69 2,724 2,669 0.02
4 RC Quakes 171,767 70 2,454 2,452 0.00
5 Lancaster JetHawks 155,573 70 2,222 2,418 -0.08
6 San Jose Giants 147,668 70 2,110 2,368 -0.11
7 Modesto Nuts 145,028 70 2,072 2,108 -0.02
8 Visalia Rawhide 124,208 70 1,774 1,806 -0.02
TOTALS 1,341,157 559 2,399 2,450 -0.02

Carolina League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Winston-Salem Dash 292,774 66 4,436 4,415 0.00
2 Frederick Keys 275,001 64 4,297 4,824 -0.11
3 Wilmington Blue Rocks 249,746 65 3,842 3,845 0.00
4 Potomac Nationals 237,244 63 3,766 3,869 -0.03
5 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 219,589 66 3,327 3,587 -0.07
6 Salem Red Sox 192,621 66 2,919 3,311 -0.12
7 Carolina Mudcats 181,122 68 2,800 2,800 0.00
8 Lynchburg Hillcats 112,228 63 1,781 2,084 -0.15
9 Down East Wood Ducks 116,835 66 1,770 2,025 -0.13
10 Buies Creek Astros 24,068 67 359 517 -0.31
TOTALS 1,901,228 654 2,907 3,183 -0.09

Eastern League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Rich. Flying Squirrels 396,686 64 6,198 6,034 0.03
2 Hartford Yard Goats 408,942 68 6,014 5,812 0.03
3 Reading Fightin Phils 388,510 68 5,713 6,054 -0.06
4 Portland Sea Dogs 346,341 61 5,676 5,653 0.00
5 NH Fisher Cats 319,099 63 5,065 4,735 0.07
6 Trenton Thunder 351,297 70 5,019 5,133 -0.02
7 Akron RubberDucks 344,754 69 4,996 5,202 -0.04
8 Altoona Curve 297,118 65 4,571 4,395 0.04
9 Harrisburg Senators 259,243 65 3,988 3,983 0.00
10 Bing. Rumble Ponies 220,279 62 3,553 3,289 0.08
11 Bowie Baysox 230,347 67 3,438 3,453 0.00
12 Erie SeaWolves 205,055 64 3,204 3,350 -0.04
TOTALS 3,767,671 786 4,793 4,773 0.00

Florida State League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Clearwater Threshers 181,686 68 2,672 2,988 -0.11
2 Daytona Tortugas 120,728 59 2,046 2,064 -0.01
3 Fort Myers Miracle 123,862 67 1,849 2,024 -0.09
4 Charlotte Stone Crabs 104,193 62 1,654 1,916 -0.14
5 St. Lucie Mets 98,823 65 1,520 2,005 -0.24
6 Bradenton Marauders 79,874 67 1,192 1,301 -0.08
7 Tampa Tarpons^ 71,835 65 1,105 1,422 -0.22
8 Jupiter Hammerheads 69,095 65 1,063 1,046 0.02
9 Palm Beach Cardinals 64,008 62 1,032 934 0.10
10 Lakeland Flying Tigers 49,551 59 840 815 0.03
11 Florida Fire Frogs 33,017 55 600 1,082 -0.45
12 Dunedin Blue Jays 30,569 68 450 573 -0.21
TOTALS 1,027,241 762 1,348 1,521 -0.11

International League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Charlotte Knights 619,639 69 8,980 9,101 -0.01
2 Indianapolis Indians 619,122 70 8,845 9,159 -0.03
3 Columbus Clippers 587,067 68 8,633 9,109 -0.05
4 Lehigh Valley IronPigs 561,745 66 8,511 8,541 0.00
5 Buffalo Bisons 527,988 64 8,250 8,101 0.02
6 Durham Bulls 536,304 70 7,661 7,716 -0.01
7 Toledo Mud Hens 507,965 69 7,362 7,614 -0.03
8 Louisville Bats 466,026 70 6,658 6,868 -0.03
9 Rochester Red Wings 437,974 67 6,537 6,553 0.00
10 SWB RailRiders 386,819 63 6,140 6,462 -0.05
11 Pawtucket Red Sox 394,811 66 5,982 6,406 -0.07
12 Norfolk Tides 341,369 64 5,334 5,443 -0.02
13 Syracuse Chiefs 277,332 66 4,202 4,636 -0.09
14 Gwinnett Stripers** 195,955 64 3,062 3,135 -0.02
TOTALS 6,560,116 936 7,009 7,082 -0.01

Midwest League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Dayton Dragons 550,725 70 7,868 8,038 -0.02
2 WM Whitecaps 386,609 67 5,770 5,565 0.04
3 Fort Wayne TinCaps 376,422 66 5,703 5,931 -0.04
4 Kane County Cougars 350,028 64 5,469 5,889 -0.07
5 South Bend Cubs 343,763 70 4,911 5,285 -0.07
6 Lansing Lugnuts 313,592 68 4,612 4,468 0.03
7 WI Timber Rattlers 225,897 65 3,475 3,438 0.01
8 QC River Bandits 215,061 68 3,163 3,286 -0.04
9 Peoria Chiefs 208,275 66 3,156 3,174 -0.01
10 Lake County Captains 202,124 66 3,062 3,223 -0.05
11 Great Lakes Loons 187,220 65 2,880 3,021 -0.05
12 Bowling Green Hot Rods 178,329 66 2,702 2,855 -0.05
13 Cedar Rapids Kernels 160,165 68 2,355 2,378 -0.01
14 Clinton LumberKings 121,678 67 1,816 1,838 -0.01
15 Beloit Snappers 64,574 63 1,025 959 0.07
16 Burlington Bees 53,259 62 859 1,048 -0.18
TOTALS 3,937,721 1,061 3,711 3,789 -0.02

Northwest League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Vancouver Canadians 239,086 38 6,292 6,303 0.00
2 Spokane Indians 198,423 38 5,222 5,315 -0.02
3 Hillsboro Hops 130,286 38 3,429 3,379 0.01
4 Boise Hawks 126,192 38 3,321 3,196 0.04
5 Eugene Emeralds 125,967 38 3,315 3,297 0.01
6 Everett AquaSox 111,599 38 2,937 2,899 0.01
7 Tri-City Dust Devils 86,283 37 2,332 2,275 0.03
8 Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 72,094 38 1,897 2,132 -0.11
TOTALS 1,089,930 303 3,597 3,594 0.00

NY-Penn League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Brooklyn Cyclones 202,495 38 5,329 5,190 0.03
2 Tri-City ValleyCats 140,036 34 4,119 4,083 0.01
3 Hudson Valley Renegades 148,156 37 4,004 3,998 0.00
4 Aberdeen IronBirds 121,907 35 3,483 3,964 -0.12
5 Lowell Spinners 118,319 35 3,381 3,516 -0.04
6 State College Spikes 119,986 37 3,243 3,247 0.00
7 Mahoning Valley Scrappers 97,204 36 2,700 2,997 -0.10
8 Vermont Lake Monsters 83,956 38 2,209 2,362 -0.06
9 Staten Island Yankees 72,894 35 2,083 2,040 0.02
10 Connecticut Tigers 75,810 37 2,049 2,225 -0.08
11 Williamsport Crosscutters 68,475 36 1,902 1,797 0.06
12 West Virginia Black Bears 69,430 38 1,827 2,029 -0.10
13 Auburn Doubledays 43,343 36 1,204 1,281 -0.06
14 Batavia MuckDogs 29,005 37 784 806 -0.03
TOTALS 1,391,016 509 2,733 2,836 -0.04

Pacific Coast League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Round Rock Express 616,636 70 8,809 8,724 0.01
2 Nashville Sounds 603,135 69 8,741 8,861 -0.01
3 Albuquerque Isotopes 556,330 70 7,948 7,978 0.00
4 El Paso Chihuahuas 539,520 69 7,819 7,894 -0.01
5 Sacramento River Cats 538,785 69 7,808 8,032 -0.03
6 Iowa Cubs 463,399 63 7,356 7,763 -0.05
7 Salt Lake Bees 477,528 69 6,921 6,903 0.00
8 Oklahoma City Dodgers 463,195 69 6,713 6,533 0.03
9 Fresno Grizzlies 405,403 67 6,051 6,208 -0.03
10 Tacoma Rainiers 372,780 69 5,403 5,434 -0.01
11 Omaha Storm Chasers 345,830 65 5,320 5,355 -0.01
12 Reno Aces 351,298 70 5,019 4,894 0.03
13 Memphis Redbirds 340,476 68 5,007 5,073 -0.01
14 Las Vegas 51s 332,224 70 4,746 5,057 -0.06
15 Col Springs Sky Sox 262,657 64 4,104 4,208 -0.02
16 New Orleans Baby Cakes 252,614 66 3,827 5,554 -0.31
TOTALS 6,921,810 1,087 6,368 6,548 -0.03

Pioneer League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Ogden Raptors 129,285 38 3,402 3,378 0.01
2 Idaho Falls Chukars 101,448 37 2,742 2,390 0.15
3 Billings Mustangs 93,466 35 2,670 2,903 -0.08
4 Grand Junction Rockies 84,416 38 2,221 2,150 0.03
5 Missoula Osprey 65,919 35 1,883 1,893 -0.01
6 Great Falls Voyagers 47,625 34 1,401 1,244 0.13
7 Orem Owlz 51,092 38 1,345 1,513 -0.11
8 Helena Brewers 31,086 37 840 891 -0.06
TOTALS 604,337 292 2,070 2,046 0.01

South Atlantic League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 G’boro Grasshoppers 322,156 66 4,881 5,235 -0.07
2 Greenville Drive 313,507 65 4,823 4,899 -0.02
3 Lakewood BlueClaws 293,413 63 4,657 5,208 -0.11
4 Charleston RiverDogs 305,040 68 4,486 4,494 0.00
5 Lexington Legends 281,134 63 4,462 4,326 0.03
6 Augusta GreenJackets 255,155 63 4,050 2,743 0.48
7 Columbia Fireflies 251,586 67 3,755 4,773 -0.21
8 Delmarva Shorebirds 201,329 65 3,097 3,236 -0.04
9 Asheville Tourists 170,389 60 2,840 2,706 0.05
10 Rome Braves 146,276 64 2,286 2,374 -0.04
11 Hickory Crawdads 125,394 66 1,900 2,129 -0.11
12 West Virginia Power 112,273 61 1,841 2,057 -0.11
13 Hagerstown Suns 64,957 56 1,160 1,380 -0.16
14 Kannapolis Intimidators 64,688 58 1,115 1,080 0.03
TOTALS 2,907,297 885 3,285 3,352 -0.02

Southern League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Birmingham Barons 391,061 68 5,751 5,935 -0.03
2 Jville Jumbo Shrimp 317,335 63 5,037 5,171 -0.03
3 Tennessee Smokies 308,069 66 4,668 4,981 -0.06
4 Pensacola Blue Wahoos 300,002 69 4,348 4,320 0.01
5 Montgomery Biscuits 238,538 70 3,408 3,409 0.00
6 Chattanooga Lookouts 214,811 67 3,206 3,181 0.01
7 Biloxi Shuckers 160,364 66 2,430 2,572 -0.06
8 Mississippi Braves 151,352 67 2,259 2,889 -0.22
9 Jackson Generals 110,798 67 1,654 1,775 -0.07
10 Mobile BayBears 69,504 62 1,121 1,489 -0.25
TOTALS 2,261,834 665 3,401 3,571 -0.05

Texas League

Team Total Gms Av. 2017A +/-
1 Frisco RoughRiders 468,259 68 6,886 6,812 0.01
2 Tulsa Drillers 350,396 67 5,230 5,597 -0.07
3 San Antonio Missions 327,276 67 4,885 4,557 0.07
4 Springfield Cardinals 326,362 67 4,871 4,801 0.01
5 Corpus Christi Hooks 340,607 70 4,866 4,944 -0.02
6 Arkansas Travelers 296,847 66 4,498 4,975 -0.10
7 NW Arkansas Naturals 304,526 68 4,478 4,471 0.00
8 Midland Rockhounds 263,024 68 3,868 4,211 -0.08
TOTALS 2,677,297 541 4,949 5,051 -0.02
*Played last season as Greeneville Astros
^Played last season as Tampa Yankees
**Played last season as Gwinnett Braves

RELATED STORIES: 2018 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Average2018 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Total2018 Summer Collegiate Attendance by League

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