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http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/new...b&fext=.jspA record total of 76,043,902 fans attended Major League Baseball games in the 2006 regular season, representing a 1.5 percent increase over the previous record of 74,926,174 in 2005, it was announced today. The overall attendance record has now been broken for three straight years (2004: 73,022,969; 2005: 74,926,174).
"Reaching 76 million is simply a stunning accomplishment," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "On behalf of Major League Baseball, I thank the fans for their remarkable support as we continue to reach new heights. Baseball fans all over the world will be rewarded with another outstanding October."
Eight Clubs topped the three million mark in attendance, 14 drew over 2.5 million and 24 eclipsed two million.
Highlights among the 30 Clubs included the following:
• New records were set in New York, Chicago and the Los Angeles area. The Yankees and Mets combined to draw 7,627,602; the Cubs and the White Sox totaled 6,080,629; and the Dodgers and the Angels combined for 7,165,335.
• The New York Yankees broke last year's American League and franchise records by drawing 4,248,067 fans. The Yankees joined the Toronto Blue Jays (1991-93) as the only teams in history to attract four million fans in a season twice. The Yankees, who played before 3,080,265 fans on the road this season, also established a new record for combined home and road attendance, totaling 7,328,332 fans to top the 1993 Colorado Rockies (7,178,421 total; 4,483,350 at home; 2,695,071 on the road).
• The Los Angeles Dodgers set a franchise record with 3,758,545, the sixth largest in National League history, and registered 16 sell-outs.
• The St. Louis Cardinals sold out every game at new Busch Stadium en route to drawing 3,407,104 fans, the second highest total in franchise history.
• The New York Mets set a franchise record by attracting 3,379,535 fans, eclipsing their 1988 mark of 3,047,724.
• The Chicago White Sox set a new club record by hosting 2,957,414 fans, breaking their 1991 club record of 2,934,154. The White Sox had 52 sell-outs in 2006, shattering the previous high of 18 last year.
• The Boston Red Sox broke its club attendance record for the seventh consecutive year, finishing at 2,930,588. The Red Sox are believed to be the only team in baseball history to set its franchise record for seven straight years.
• The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim set a new club record by attracting 3,406,790 fans, marking their fourth straight year over three million, and posted 44 sell-outs.
• The Detroit Tigers established a Comerica Park record by drawing 2,595,937 fans, ranking second in franchise history behind only their 1984 total of 2,704,794.
• At 3,022,763, the Houston Astros reached the three million mark for the third time in club history, and their 26 sell-outs trailed only the 27 in 2000, the first year that Minute Maid Park was open. The Astros drew five of the 10 largest crowds in Minute Maid Park history in 2006.
• The San Francisco Giants surpassed the three million mark (3,130,313) for the seventh consecutive year.
• The San Diego Padres drew 2,659,757 fans to PETCO Park in 2006, the third highest total in club history. San Diego surpassed the 2,000,000 mark in attendance for the 13th time in franchise history and for the 11th consecutive season.
• The Chicago Cubs topped the three million mark (3,123,215) for the third straight year, reaching the second best total in club history.
• The Milwaukee Brewers had their third highest single-season attendance at 2,335,643. The Brewers have hosted over two million fans for three consecutive seasons for the first time in club history and their sell-outs increased from five in 2005 to 14 in 2006.
• The Philadelphia Phillies registered the fourth highest attendance in club history at 2,701,815.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates finished with the fifth highest attendance in team history and topped 1.8 million for the seventh time in the team's 120-year history.
• The Tampa Bay Devil Rays drew 1,368,950 fans, marking their best total since 2000. In addition, Minor League Baseball set its all-time attendance record for the third straight season as well this year, drawing 41,710,357 fans. Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball combined in 2006 to draw 117,754,259 fans, the most in history.
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."
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