Florida Spring Training sets record with more than 6,600 fans per game, topping 1.4 million in total attendance

 

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today announced an average of 6,640 fans attended the 33-day Florida Grapefruit League schedule, setting a new record for per game attendance.  During the 2010 Florida spring training, 215 games were played in 14 different locations. 

 

”This year's record setting numbers are exciting as baseball's spring training is an important component of Florida’s economy, and a major part of our annual $36 billion sports industry," said Governor Crist. "Spring training generates an economic impact of more than $752 million a year in Florida and is vital during the historic economic times we now face."

 

From March 2nd through April 3rd, a total of 1,427,627 fans watched the 15 teams comprising Florida's Grapefruit League.  The record-breaking per game average of 6,640 fans per game, surpassed the previous per game average high of 6,478, set during the 2008 season.  A total of 19 games* were cancelled due to rain, the most since the 2005 season when 24 games were not played because of weather.   

   

While 12 of the 15 teams holding spring training in Florida saw per game attendance totals increase, the largest was posted by the Baltimore Orioles, in their first season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.  The Orioles enjoyed a 33 percent increase in per game attendance, from 4,588 fans per game to 6,815.  The Orioles also showed a 28 percent increase in total attendance from 2008, as a record-setting 102,219 fans attended 15 games

 

Four more teams established per game attendance highs.  The Philadelphia Phillies drew an average of 9,452 fans per game at Bright House Field in Clearwater.  The Minnesota Twins drew more than 8,000 fans per game for the first time as an average of 8,055 fans were on hand at Hammond Stadium for 13 games.  The Tampa Bay Rays set new marks with 6,531 fans per game at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte and 97,971 total attendance at 15 games.   The Toronto Blue Jays were limited to 11 games due to three rainouts, but still set a record of 4,777 fans per game at Dunedin Stadium.   

 

(* The total attendance was compiled from daily box scores by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida, and verified by each team.)

 

Other 2010 Florida Spring Training Highlights and Notes

 

• On Friday, March 26, the Boston Red Sox hosted their 100th consecutive sellout, against the Toronto Blue Jays, at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers.  The streak dates back to the 2003 season and currently stands at 104 consecutive sellouts. 

 

• The Houston Astros/New York Yankees game on Saturday, March 20, had an announced attendance of 7,020, the first 7,000 plus crowd in the history of Osceola County Stadium.

 

• There were no available seats in Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday, March 28.  Nearly 10,220 fans, an all-time Lakeland record, watched the Yankees edge the Tigers, 2-1.  This number topped the previous high of 9,781 against Cleveland in 2008 and gave the Tigers four of the five biggest crowds in Lakeland history despite one of the coldest springs ever.

 

• In addition to having the highest home total attendance with 158,611 fans at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the New York Yankees provided the season high attendance for seven road opponents (Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays). 

 

• When the full slate of Florida spring training games were cancelled due to rain on Friday, March 12, it was the first time since March 9, 2005, all games in the state were rained out. 

 

Team by team individual attendance figures

Atlanta Braves, Disney's Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista

14 games (two cancellations); 106,065 total attendance; 7,576 average per game

Largest crowd: 11,112 vs. New York Yankees, Tuesday, March 30

 

Baltimore Orioles, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota

15 games (one cancellation); 102,219 total attendance; 6,815 average per game

Largest crowd: 8,208 vs. New York Yankees, Monday, March 29

 

Boston Red Sox, City of Palms Park, Fort Myers

16 games; 123,997 total attendance; 7,750 average per game

Largest crowd: 8,225 vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, March 8

 

Detroit Tigers, Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland

15 games (one cancellation); 112,560 total attendance; 7,504 average per game

Largest crowd: 10,219 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 27

 

Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter

15 games; 72,574 total attendance; 4,838 average per game

Largest crowd: 7,627 vs. Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, March 9

 

Houston Astros, Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee

15 games (one cancellation); 59,784 total attendance; 3,986 average per game

Largest crowd: 7,020 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 20

 

Minnesota Twins, William Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers

13 games (one cancellation); 104,712 total attendance; 8,055 average per game

Largest crowd: 8,272 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, Thursday, March 18

 

New York Mets, Digital Domain Park, Port St. Lucie

17 games; 84,707 total attendance; 4,983 average per game

Largest crowd: 6,803 vs. Detroit Tigers, Saturday, March 13

 

New York Yankees, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa

15 games (three cancellations); 158,611 total attendance; 10,574 average per game

Largest crowd: 11,083 vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, March 26

 

Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Field, Clearwater

14 games (one cancellation); 132,331 total attendance; 9,452 average per game

Largest Crowd, 10,724 vs. New York Yankees, Monday, March 22

 

Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton

14 games (one cancellation); 68,184 total attendance; 4,870 average per game

Largest crowd: 6,053 vs. Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, March 24

 

St. Louis Cardinals, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter

14 games; 96,910 total attendance; 6,922 average per game

Largest crowd: 8,129 vs. New York Mets, Saturday, March 20

 

Tampa Bay Rays, Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte

15 games (one cancellation); 97,971 total attendance; 6,531 average per game

Largest crowd in Port Charlotte: 7,834 vs. New York Yankees, Friday, March 19

Overall largest crowd:  13,133, vs. New York Mets, Friday, April 2 (Game played at Tropicana Field)

 

Toronto Blue Jays, Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin

11 games (three cancellations); 52,550 total attendance; 4,777 average per game

Largest crowd: 5,516, vs. New York Yankees, Thursday, April 1

 

Washington Nationals, Space Coast Stadium, Viera

12 games (three cancellations); 54,452 total attendance; 4,538 average per game

Largest crowd: 6,286, vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 14

 

2010 Florida Spring Training Totals

215 games; 1,427,627 total attendance; 6,640 average per game

  

Florida Spring Training (1999-2010)

2010:  1,427,627, total attendance; 6,640 average attendance

2009:  1,561,873, total attendance; 6,030 average attendance
2008:  1,677,858, total attendance, 6,478 average attendance
2007:  1,716,840, total attendance; 6,243 average attendance
2006:  1,604,393, total attendance; 5,855 average attendance
2005:  1,598,454, total attendance; 6,244 average attendance
2004:  1,557,934, total attendance; 5,792 average attendance
2003:  1,397,144, total attendance; 5,272, average attendance
2002:  1,538,444, total attendance; 5,028, average attendance
2001:  1,500,184, total attendance; 5,320, average attendance
2000:  1,598,255, total attendance; 5,473, average attendance
1999:  1,502,617, total attendance; 5,042, average attendance