MiLB breaks attendance record again

In what's becoming an increasing trend, Minor League Baseball has continued to raise its popularity in 2006, setting the all-time attendance record for the third straight season.

This season, Minor League teams drew a combined 41,710,357 fans, an increase of 377,078 over the 2005 record-setting total. The total includes 176 teams in the 14 affiliated domestic leagues in the United States and Canada, plus the 16 teams in the Triple-A Mexican League.

The 2004 season marked the first year in which Minor League Baseball had increased its attendance in more than 50 years, drawing 39,887,755. The record didn't stand long as the 2005 season brought a boost of almost a million and a half more fans.

"The new record is a wonderful recognition of our club officials and their hard work. The more interesting fact to me is the continued trend of increases over the past few years indicating we are a major player for affordable, family entertainment," said Mike Moore, president and CEO of Minor League Baseball. "Our attendance, combined with MLB's total, makes professional baseball's future look very strong."

The overall attendance increase was spread evenly across the leagues, with 10 of the 15 leagues drawing more fans than in 2005. Of those 10, the Pacific Coast League, Texas League, South Atlantic League and Pioneer League all set attendance records for 2006.

"I think it's a combination of each operator getting better at their business," the Greenville Drive's general manager Mike deMaine said. "In addition, the Minor League stadium craze has put tremendous facilities in some great towns across the country."

The Pacific Coast League led all leagues in the Minors with 7,413,505 fans, and the International League followed at 6,416,200.

The Sacramento River Cats of the PCL, who finished behind the league-champion Tucson Sidewinders in their division, led all domestic teams with 728,227. This season marks the seventh consecutive year in which the River Cats have led the Minors in attendance. Monterrey of the Mexican League led all 192 teams with 989,454.

"Sacramento's almost a Major League market, but they've done a great job providing a product that's enjoyable and fun," deMaine said. "It's a good model for us to follow."

The Drive, who play in the Class A South Atlantic League, is beginning to do just that. Greenville made, by far, the most dramatic improvement in attendance in the Minors this season. The Drive's West End Field, modeled after Boston's Fenway Park, drew almost three times as many fans as last year in going from 115,161 to 330,078.

"I think it was combination of a new stadium and putting on a product that was not just throwing out your balls and bats and letting the players play," deMaine said. "You have to entertain fans from the start of the game to when they get in their cars and go home."

Among Double-A teams, the Frisco RoughRiders led with 580,480, the Dayton Dragons of the Midwest League finished on top of Class A with 582,903, and the Brooklyn Cyclones topped the short-season circuit with 289,323.

"The one thing about Minor League teams is that it's really tied into customers and fans at the ballpark," deMaine said. "We don't have the luxury of 50,000 season tickets sold, we have to work for every ticket that we sell."