Minor League Baseball Crowds Up 3.6 Per Cent
Published on May 18, 2004 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, FL--Minor League Baseball attracted more than five million fans to its games in April for the fourth consecutive season and registered a 3.6 per cent increase over last season, based on average crowd per playing date.
The total attendance for 176 teams in 11 full-season leagues was 5,309,883 for 1,526 playing dates, an average of 3,480 per date. Last season's April average was 3,358. Eight of the 11 leagues registered increases in average attendance, five of them in double digits.
Both the Southern League and the Carolina League increased their average crowds by more than 600 fans, the largest gains reported. The Southern increase was 18.4 per cent to an average of 3,855 while the Carolina was up 28.7 per cent to 2,751.
The largest increase on a percentage basis was the Florida State, up 31.8 per cent to 1,383. Other leagues showing increases were the International (4%); Mexican (1.2%); Eastern (15.2%); Midwest (11.6%); and South Atlantic (1.6%).
The International League had the top average crowd of 5,266, followed by the Pacific Coast League at 5,060 and the Texas League at 4,102.
A key factor was improved weather conditions this year, when the season opened several days later than in 2003. The leagues usually most affected by bad early April weather are the International, Eastern and Midwest with most teams located in the North. Collectively, they had only 42 April postponements this season after struggling through 100 in 2003.
Southern League Stories from May 18, 2004
- Bye Bye Byrdie - Montgomery Biscuits
- Smokies Lose to Diamond Jaxx - Knoxville Smokies
- Suns drop 7th road game in a row - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Biscuits Batter G-Braves - Mississippi Braves
- Minor League Baseball Crowds Up 3.6 Per Cent - SL1
- Atlanta's Paul Byrd to pitch for G-Braves tonight - Mississippi Braves
- Biscuits Hold On For Split - Montgomery Biscuits
- Thompson Looks to Record Book, Smokies Look to Future - Knoxville Smokies
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