MiLB Projected To Draw Under 30 Million Fans For First Time In Decades
Image credit: Hodgetown Stadium (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
With less than a month to go in the season, it seems quite clear that this is going to be the worst “normal” season for MiLB attendance in years.
Attendance is much better than it was during the 2021 season that saw teams deal with attendance-limiting social distancing rules and a shortened schedule. But other than that, MiLB is projected to see its lowest number of fans on a per-game basis in decades.
Last year, MiLB full-season clubs drew 31.345 million fans, with an average per-game attendance of 3,962. So far this season, MiLB teams have drawn 26.171 million total fans and 3,778 per game. Traditionally, the final weeks of the season are not robust for attendance, so it’s unlikely these numbers will go up before the season ends.
If MiLB continues to draw at the same rate for the remainder of the year, it will total 29.857 million fans in 2025. It is not a direct comparison, as there used to be more minor league teams until MLB reduced the minors to 120 full-season clubs beginning with the 2021 season, but this will be the first time the minors have drawn fewer than 30 million fans in a season since 1992, when 27,180,170 people came through the gates. MiLB drew more than 40 million fans in announced attendance in every season from 2005-2019.
Using average attendance, which eliminates the difference in number of teams, attendance has not dipped below 3,900 fans per game in any non-coronavirus-affected season since 2005. It is almost assured of doing so this year.
Of the 120 MiLB teams, 85 are drawing fewer fans this year than last year, and more than half (61) are down more than 100 fans per game. A pair of teams that moved to new locales this year (Low-A Hub City and Double-A Columbus) are the only teams to see an increase of 300 or more fans compared to last year’s average per game announced attendance, and only 17 teams have increased attendance by 100 or more fans per game.
Memphis, Lehigh Valley, Gwinnett, Tacoma, Stockton and Beloit are the only teams not to relocate that are averaging 200 or more fans per game compared to last year. In comparison, there are 41 teams drawing 200 or more fewer fans per game compared to 2024. Salt Lake, Arkansas and Sacramento (which is sharing its park with the Athletics) are down more than 1,000 fans per game.
These numbers aren’t as bleak as they may look for MiLB operators. Teams have adjusted their ticket models, concessions and other aspects of operations to make more money per fan in many cases.
But at a time when MLB attendance is effectively flat despite two teams playing in MiLB parks (Sacramento and Tampa Bay), the minors are seeing attendance drops. As recently as 2019, MiLB had 41,504,077 fans attend games, with an average per-game announced attendance of 4,044. This year is expected to see nearly 12 million fewer fans overall (in large part because of fewer teams) but with an average attendance dip of roughly 275 fans per game, as well.
Biggest 2025 Attendance Gainers
| Team | PER GAME INCREASE |
|---|---|
| *Hub City Spartanburgers | 2,274 |
| *Columbus Clingstones | 1,492 |
| Akron RubberDucks | 277 |
| Memphis Redbirds | 265 |
| Carolina Mudcats | 255 |
| Hillsboro Hops | 249 |
| Lehigh Valley IronPigs | 242 |
| Gwinnett Stripers | 220 |
| Tacoma Rainiers | 217 |
| Stockton Ports | 204 |
| Beloit Sky Carp | 201 |
| Frisco RoughRiders | 193 |
| Jupiter Hammerheads | 172 |
| Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | 130 |
| Knoxville Smokies | 127 |
| Birmingham Barons | 120 |
| Somerset Patriots | 117 |
| Bradenton Marauders | 98 |
| Daytona Tortugas | 98 |
| Columbia Fireflies | 96 |
| *Moved to new city in 2025 |
Biggest 2025 Attendance Decliners
| TEAm | PER GAME DECREASE |
|---|---|
| Sacramento River Cats | -1,603 |
| Arkansas Travelers | -1,186 |
| Salt Lake Bees | -1,069 |
| Indianapolis Indians | -885 |
| Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | -836 |
| *Tampa Tarpons | -728 |
| Lake County Captains | -688 |
| Jersey Shore BlueClaws | -615 |
| Norfolk Tides | -614 |
| Fort Wayne TinCaps | -541 |
| Rochester Red Wings | -507 |
| Louisville Bats | -471 |
| Charlotte Knights | -461 |
| Fredericksburg Nationals | -460 |
| Quad Cities River Bandits | -432 |
| Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | -430 |
| Wichita Wind Surge | -400 |
| Fresno Grizzlies | -394 |
| Binghamton Rumble Ponies | -390 |
| Buffalo Bisons | -358 |
| *Playing in smaller stadium because of Tampa Bay Rays |
