Minor League Teams Hold Steady At The Gate
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Minor league baseball continued to fare well in a tough economic climate, as more teams saw an increase at the gate this season despite overall attendance dropping slightly in 2011.
Unofficially, the minor leagues drew 41,237,943 spectators this season, down 0.47 percent from last year’s total of 41,432,456. Like last year, staying flat in a recession—when most professional sports are seeing significant decreases at the gate—should be viewed as a success.
In 2011, 83 teams saw an increase at the gate compared to 63 teams last year and 58 in 2009. However, overall attendance dipped for a third straight season after the sport set attendance records for five straight years, culminating in 2008 with 43,263,740.
Unofficial attendance figures for every minor league team are listed below. (Minor League Baseball will announce official attendance figures, which includes the Triple-A Mexican League, in the coming days.)
Though 83 teams saw an increase at the gate, that included just 12 of 30 Triple-A teams. Just two (Gwinnett and Memphis) were up by more than 5 percent. Meanwhile, nine Triple-A teams’ attendance went down at least 5 percent compared to last season.
Gwinnett saw its attendance increase after struggling to gain footing in its market after relocating from Richmond in 2009. The Braves ranked 12th in the 14-team International League with a 5,085 per-game average after ranking 13th last season at 4,818.
Memphis, once one of minor league baseball’s flagship franchises, had been hit hard by the recession as it struggled to make its $5.5 million annual payment on AutoZone Park. The Redbirds ranked fifth in the 16-team PCL with a 7,050 average, up 8.33 percent from 6,508 average last season (seventh in the PCL).
Lehigh Valley topped the minors in attendance for a second straight season, averaging 9,249 fans to outpace fellow International League affiliates Louisville (8,716) and Columbus (8,704). Round Rock finished fourth with a 8,587 average, though its 618,261 total was second to Lehigh Valley (628,925).
Sacramento, which led the minors in attendance for nine straight seasons before finishing second to Columbus in 2009, dipped 7.47 percent in 2011 to finish fifth.
| NOTABLE GAINS | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Bradenton (HiA) | 103,978 | 1,507 | 823 | 83.11% |
| Orem (R) | 99,979 | 2,777 | 2,195 | 26.51% |
| Jupiter(HiA) | 82,071 | 1,207 | 994 | 21.43% |
| Connecticut (SS) | 62,317 | 1,780 | 1,486 | 19.78% |
| Tampa (HiA) | 117,162 | 1,775 | 1,534 | 15.71% |
| Dunedin (HiA) | 43,148 | 654 | 576 | 13.54% |
| Huntsville (AA) | 93,340 | 1,582 | 1,404 | 12.68% |
| San Jose (HiA) | 222,547 | 3,225 | 2,873 | 12.25% |
| Palm Beach (HiA) | 68,620 | 1,089 | 967 | 12.62% |
| Fort Myers (HiA) | 122,328 | 1,911 | 1,708 | 11.89% |
| Brevard County (HiA) | 93,903 | 1,491 | 1,339 | 11.35% |
| Salem-Keizer (HiA) | 105,973 | 2,788 | 2,532 | 10.11% |
| High Desert (HiA) | 119,028 | 1,725 | 1,585 | 8.83% |
| Visalia (HiA) | 118,065 | 1,736 | 1,598 | 8.64% |
| Memphis (AAA) | 493,528 | 7,050 | 6,508 | 8.33% |
| Midland (AA) | 308,810 | 4,541 | 4,194 | 8.27% |
| Savannah (LoA) | 135,415 | 1,963 | 1,825 | 7.56% |
| Salem (HiA) | 226,337 | 3,429 | 3,205 | 6.99% |
| New Britain (AA) | 363,759 | 5,867 | 5,500 | 6.67% |
| Gwinnett (AAA) | 351,565 | 5,095 | 4,818 | 5.75% |
| Lynchburg (HiA) | 169,367 | 2,455 | 2,341 | 4.87% |
| Trenton (AA) | 379,501 | 5,664 | 5,409 | 4.71% |
| Mississippi (AA) | 191,653 | 2,738 | 2,620 | 4.50% |
| NOTABLE LOSSES | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Bakersfield (HiA) | 40,056 | 572 | 932 | -38.63% |
| *Tucson (AAA) | 242,136 | 3,410 | 4,266 | -20.07% |
| Lake County (LoA) | 235,897 | 3,574 | 4,234 | -15.59% |
| Lowell (SS) | 167,222 | 4,645 | 5,446 | -14.71% |
| Jacksonville (AA) | 309,310 | 4,419 | 5,141 | -14.04% |
| South Bend (LoA) | 112,795 | 1,762 | 2,025 | -12.99% |
| Tulsa (AA) | 366,291 | 5,387 | 6,185 | -12.90% |
| Peoria (LoA) | 187,915 | 2,763 | 3,132 | -11.78% |
| Salt Lake (AAA) | 437,769 | 6,438 | 7,293 | -11.72% |
| Jackson (AA) | 106,689 | 1,641 | 1,823 | -9.98% |
| Burlington (LoA) | 54,284 | 835 | 917 | -8.94% |
| Birmingham (AA) | 261,623 | 3,847 | 4,180 | -7.97% |
| Scranton/WB (AAA) | 298,098 | 4,586 | 4,981 | -7.93% |
| Frisco (AA) | 509,331 | 7,276 | 7,886 | -7.74% |
| Durham (AAA) | 462,682 | 6,517 | 7,043 | -7.47% |
| Sacramento (AAA) | 600,306 | 8,455 | 9,138 | -7.47% |
| Auburn (SS) | 48,429 | 1,424 | 1,535 | -7.23% |
| Boise (SS) | 98,860 | 2,601 | 2,781 | -6.47% |
| Arkansas (AA) | 300,594 | 4,625 | 4,940 | -6.38% |
| Montgomery (AA) | 256,403 | 3,771 | 4,027 | -6.36% |
| Jamestown (SS) | 42,086 | 1,137 | 1,213 | -6.27% |
| Hagerstown (LoA) | 123,593 | 1,931 | 2,058 | -6.17% |
| Yakima (SS) | 66,545 | 1,751 | 1,860 | -5.86% |
| Las Vegas (AAA) | 314,032 | 4,486 | 4,739 | -5.34% |
| Buffalo (AAA) | 521,530 | 7,784 | 8,219 | -5.29% |
| New Orleans (AAA) | 372,017 | 5,315 | 5,596 | -5.02% |
| Portland (AA) | 369,424 | 5,514 | 5,832 | -5.45% |
| *Played in Portland, Ore. in 2010 | ||||
| INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Lehigh Valley | 628,925 | 9,249 | 9,227 | 0.24% |
| Louisville | 601,372 | 8,716 | 8,634 | 0.95% |
| Columbus | 591,884 | 8,704 | 8,946 | -2.71% |
| Pawtucket | 578,930 | 8,270 | 8,343 | -0.87% |
| Indianapolis | 580,082 | 8,170 | 8,028 | 1.77% |
| Toledo | 549,438 | 7,963 | 7,972 | -0.11% |
| Buffalo | 521,530 | 7,784 | 8,219 | -5.29% |
| Durham | 462,682 | 6,517 | 7,043 | -7.47% |
| Rochester | 448,024 | 6,493 | 6,600 | -1.62% |
| Syracuse | 374,680 | 5,854 | 6,123 | -4.39% |
| Norfolk | 397,889 | 5,684 | 5,455 | 4.20% |
| Gwinnett | 351,565 | 5,095 | 4,818 | 5.75% |
| Scranton/WB | 298,098 | 4,586 | 4,981 | -7.93% |
| Charlotte | 279,107 | 4,105 | 4,248 | -3.37% |
| TOTAL | 6,664,206 | |||
| PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Round Rock | 618,261 | 8,587 | 8,408 | 2.13% |
| Sacramento | 600,306 | 8,455 | 9,138 | -7.47% |
| Albuquerque | 578,328 | 8,145 | 8,159 | -0.17% |
| Iowa | 500,675 | 7,256 | 7,672 | -5.42% |
| Memphis | 493,528 | 7,050 | 6,508 | 8.33% |
| Fresno | 494,051 | 6,958 | 6,783 | 2.58% |
| Salt Lake | 437,769 | 6,438 | 7,293 | -11.72% |
| Reno | 432,314 | 6,089 | 6,218 | -2.07% |
| Omaha | 410,326 | 5,947 | 5,888 | 1.00% |
| Tacoma | 378,518 | 5,331 | 5,163 | 3.25% |
| New Orleans | 372,017 | 5,315 | 5,596 | -5.02% |
| Oklahoma City | 378,877 | 5,262 | 5,479 | -3.96% |
| Nashville | 335,143 | 4,857 | 4,765 | 1.93% |
| Colorado Springs | 339,009 | 4,843 | 4,824 | 0.39% |
| Las Vegas | 314,032 | 4,486 | 4,739 | -5.34% |
| *Tucson | 242,136 | 3,410 | 4,266 | -20.07% |
| TOTAL | 6,925,290 | |||
| * Team played in Portland last season | ||||
| EASTERN LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Reading | 456,957 | 6,720 | 6,615 | 1.59% |
| Richmond | 447,520 | 6,679 | 6,626 | 0.80% |
| New Britain | 363,759 | 5,867 | 5,500 | 6.67% |
| Trenton | 379,501 | 5,664 | 5,409 | 4.71% |
| New Hampshire | 373,482 | 5,574 | 5,516 | 1.05% |
| Portland | 369,424 | 5,514 | 5,832 | -5.45% |
| Harrisburg | 291,248 | 4,221 | 4,205 | 0.38% |
| Altoona | 285,906 | 4,205 | 4,150 | 1.33% |
| Akron | 266,265 | 3,916 | 3,791 | 3.30% |
| Bowie | 255,832 | 3,655 | 3,545 | 3.10% |
| Erie | 224,443 | 3,350 | 3,217 | 4.13% |
| Binghamton | 209,044 | 3,167 | 3,088 | 2.56% |
| TOTAL | 3,923,381 | |||
| SOUTHERN LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Jacksonville | 309,310 | 4,419 | 5,141 | -14.04% |
| Tennessee | 265,341 | 3,960 | 3,859 | 2.62% |
| Birmingham | 261,623 | 3,847 | 4,180 | -7.97% |
| Montgomery | 256,403 | 3,771 | 4,027 | -6.36% |
| Carolina | 255,216 | 3,699 | 3,811 | -2.94% |
| Chattanooga | 224,974 | 3,409 | 3,246 | 5.02% |
| Mobile | 210,956 | 3,057 | 3,053 | 0.13% |
| Mississippi | 191,653 | 2,738 | 2,620 | 4.50% |
| Jackson | 106,689 | 1,641 | 1,823 | -9.98% |
| Huntsville | 93,340 | 1,582 | 1,404 | 12.68% |
| TOTAL | 2,175,505 | |||
| TEXAS LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Frisco | 509,331 | 7,276 | 7,886 | -7.74% |
| Corpus Christi | 395,128 | 5,645 | 5,976 | -5.54% |
| Tulsa | 366,291 | 5,387 | 6,185 | -12.90% |
| Springfield | 337,166 | 5,109 | 5,333 | -4.20% |
| Nwest Arkansas | 310,613 | 4,779 | 4,856 | -1.59% |
| Arkansas | 300,594 | 4,625 | 4,940 | -6.38% |
| Midland | 308,810 | 4,541 | 4,194 | 8.27% |
| San Antonio | 294,176 | 4,203 | 4,190 | 0.31% |
| TOTAL | 2,822,109 | |||
| CALIFORNIA LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Lake Elsinore | 225,769 | 3,272 | 3,203 | 2.15% |
| San Jose | 222,547 | 3,225 | 2,873 | 12.25% |
| Stockton | 198,705 | 2,839 | 2,829 | 0.35% |
| Modesto | 180,785 | 2,659 | 2,692 | -1.23% |
| Inland Empire | 185,411 | 2,649 | 2,561 | 3.44% |
| Rancho Cuca | 155,903 | 2,227 | 2,153 | 3.44% |
| Lancaster | 147,129 | 2,132 | 2,241 | -4.86% |
| Visalia | 118,065 | 1,736 | 1,598 | 8.64% |
| High Desert | 119,028 | 1,725 | 1,585 | 8.83% |
| Bakersfield | 40,056 | 572 | 932 | -38.63% |
| TOTAL | 1,593,398 | |||
| CAROLINA LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Winston-Salem | 312,416 | 4,663 | 4,587 | 1.66% |
| Wilmington | 288,738 | 4,512 | 4,554 | -0.92% |
| Frederick | 296,296 | 4,422 | 4,222 | 4.74% |
| Salem | 226,337 | 3,429 | 3,205 | 6.99% |
| Myrtle Beach | 213,200 | 3,280 | 3,282 | -0.06% |
| Potomac | 171,096 | 2,950 | 3,064 | -3.72% |
| Lynchburg | 169,367 | 2,455 | 2,341 | 4.87% |
| Kinston | 112,181 | 1,781 | 1,799 | -1.00% |
| TOTAL | 1,789,631 | |||
| FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Clearwater | 177,117 | 2,567 | 2,679 | -4.18% |
| Charlotte | 166,375 | 2,483 | 2,540 | -2.24% |
| Daytona | 154,557 | 2,342 | 2,241 | 4.51% |
| Fort Myers | 122,328 | 1,911 | 1,708 | 11.89% |
| Tampa | 117,162 | 1,775 | 1,534 | 15.71% |
| St. Lucie | 105,379 | 1,647 | 1,506 | 9.36% |
| Bradenton | 103,978 | 1,507 | 823 | 83.11% |
| Brevard County | 93,903 | 1,491 | 1,339 | 11.35% |
| Jupiter | 82,071 | 1,207 | 994 | 21.43% |
| Palm Beach | 68,620 | 1,089 | 967 | 12.62% |
| Lakeland | 62,324 | 959 | 1,016 | -5.61% |
| Dunedin | 43,148 | 654 | 576 | 13.54% |
| TOTAL | 1,296,962 | |||
| MIDWEST LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Dayton | 571,886 | 8,288 | 8,535 | -2.89% |
| Kane County | 410,262 | 6,123 | 6,244 | -1.94% |
| Fort Wayne | 376,022 | 5,612 | 5,785 | -2.99% |
| West Michigan | 372,555 | 5,561 | 5,385 | 3.27% |
| Lansing | 345,089 | 5,392 | 5,302 | 1.70% |
| Great Lakes | 264,249 | 3,830 | 4,060 | -5.67% |
| Wisconsin | 240,998 | 3,766 | 3,759 | 0.19% |
| Lake County | 235,897 | 3,574 | 4,234 | -15.59% |
| Bowling Green | 237,070 | 3,538 | 3,514 | 0.68% |
| Quad Cities | 223,025 | 3,485 | 3,502 | -0.49% |
| Peoria | 187,915 | 2,763 | 3,132 | -11.78% |
| Cedar Rapids | 169,000 | 2,449 | 2,585 | -5.26% |
| South Bend | 112,795 | 1,762 | 2,025 | -12.99% |
| Clinton | 115,253 | 1,746 | 1,817 | -3.91% |
| Beloit | 66,982 | 1,030 | 1,096 | -6.02% |
| Burlington | 54,284 | 835 | 917 | -8.94% |
| TOTAL | 3,983,282 | |||
| SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Lakewood | 382,070 | 6,263 | 6,171 | 1.49% |
| Greensboro | 388,218 | 5,546 | 5,500 | 0.84% |
| Lexington | 312,349 | 4,880 | 4,872 | 0.16% |
| Greenville | 327,558 | 4,747 | 4,969 | -4.47% |
| Charleston | 265,465 | 3,962 | 3,899 | 1.62% |
| Delmarva | 211,993 | 3,072 | 3,251 | -5.51% |
| Augusta | 200,115 | 2,943 | 3,011 | -2.26% |
| Rome | 186,345 | 2,781 | 2,839 | -2.04% |
| West Virginia | 165,996 | 2,554 | 2,572 | -0.70% |
| Asheville | 157,199 | 2,346 | 2,353 | -0.30% |
| Kannapolis | 138,487 | 2,067 | 2,030 | 1.82% |
| Hickory | 131,131 | 2,049 | 2,070 | -1.01% |
| Savannah | 135,415 | 1,963 | 1,825 | 7.56% |
| Hagerstown | 123,593 | 1,931 | 2,058 | -6.17% |
| TOTAL | 3,125,934 | |||
| NEW YORK PENN LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Brooklyn | 245,087 | 7,002 | 7,147 | -2.03% |
| Aberdeen | 242,723 | 6,560 | 6,548 | 0.18% |
| Staten Island | 192,568 | 5,663 | 5,806 | -2.46% |
| Lowell | 167,222 | 4,645 | 5,446 | -14.71% |
| Hudson Valley | 149,243 | 4,522 | 4,415 | 2.42% |
| Tri-City | 156,297 | 4,341 | 4,314 | 0.63% |
| State College | 139,007 | 3,756 | 3,709 | 1.27% |
| Mahoning Valley | 111,048 | 3,001 | 3,015 | -0.46% |
| Vermont | 88,711 | 2,464 | 2,524 | -2.38% |
| Williamsport | 68,124 | 1,841 | 1,774 | 3.78% |
| Connecticut | 62,317 | 1,780 | 1,486 | 19.78% |
| Auburn | 48,429 | 1,424 | 1,535 | -7.23% |
| Jamestown | 42,086 | 1,137 | 1,213 | -6.27% |
| Batavia | 37,029 | 1,057 | 1,017 | 3.93% |
| TOTAL | 1,749,891 | |||
| NORTHWEST LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Spokane | 183,458 | 4,827 | 4,737 | 1.90% |
| Vancouver | 162,162 | 4,267 | 4,068 | 4.89% |
| Eugene | 114,690 | 3,018 | 2,831 | 6.61% |
| Salem-Keizer | 105,973 | 2,788 | 2,532 | 10.11% |
| Boise | 98,860 | 2,601 | 2,781 | -6.47% |
| Everett | 96,345 | 2,535 | 2,502 | 1.32% |
| Tri_City | 85,953 | 2,261 | 2,235 | 1.16% |
| Yakima | 66,545 | 1,751 | 1,860 | -5.86% |
| TOTAL | 913,986 | |||
| APPALACHIAN LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Greeneville | 45,015 | 1,364 | 1,392 | -2.01% |
| Kingsport | 31,988 | 940 | 901 | 4.33% |
| Pulaski | 30,236 | 889 | 980 | -9.29% |
| Danville | 28,523 | 864 | 928 | -6.90% |
| Elizabethton | 28,900 | 850 | 796 | 6.78% |
| Burlington | 28,427 | 836 | 917 | -8.83% |
| Princeton | 27,685 | 814 | 869 | -6.33% |
| Bluefield | 26,395 | 799 | 715 | 11.75% |
| Johnson City | 25,961 | 763 | 752 | 1.46% |
| Bristol | 22,433 | 701 | 667 | 5.10% |
| TOTAL | 295,563 | |||
| PIONEER LEAGUE | ||||
| Team | 2011 Total | 2011 Avg. | 2010 Avg. | Difference |
| Ogden | 130,817 | 3,443 | 3,495 | -1.49% |
| Billings | 104,002 | 2,971 | 2,744 | 8.27% |
| Orem | 99,979 | 2,777 | 2,195 | 26.51% |
| Idaho Falls | 94,518 | 2,487 | 2,409 | 3.24% |
| Missoula | 82,060 | 2,279 | 2,361 | -3.47% |
| Great Falls | 59,884 | 1,618 | 1,836 | -11.87% |
| Casper | 44,923 | 1,284 | 1,503 | -14.57% |
| Helena | 37,484 | 986 | 888 | 11.04% |
| TOTAL | 653,667 | |||
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