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Press Release of April 7, 2008 in pdf format
Florida Grapefruit League tops 1.6 million total attendance for third consecutive year
The new average per game attendance topped the previous mark of 6,244 fans per game during the 2005 season. Florida Spring Training Baseball experienced only eight rain out games this season. The total number of games was also less during the 2008 season due to the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles not playing a full month of games in Fort Myers and Vero Beach, respectively. The Red Sox traveled to Japan for games and the Dodgers played games on the west coast.
Los Angeles Dodgers,
Holman Stadium, Vero Beach – 6,404
The Cincinnati Reds record attendance of 90,489, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, topped the previous record set last year by more than 3,000 fans.
With expansions to their stadiums, the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees set individual game attendance records during the 2008 season. The Tigers hosted the Cleveland Indians at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland before a record crowd of 9,781 on Sunday, March 23. The Yankees packed Steinbrenner Stadium with a record attendance of 11,079 when they faced the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, March 21.
Jupiter’s Roger Dean Stadium, the only Florida Spring Training venue to host two teams, the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, drew a total of 152,335 fans to 30 games.
Team by team individual attendance figures
Atlanta Braves, Champion Stadium, Disney's Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista 15 games; 135,367 total attendance; 9,024 average per game Largest crowd: 11,606 vs. Detroit Tigers, Thursday, March 20
Baltimore Orioles, Fort Lauderdale Stadium 14 games (one cancellation); 74,373 total attendance; 5,312 average per game Largest crowd: 8,391 vs. Boston Red Sox, Friday, March 7
Boston Red Sox, City of Palms Park, Fort Myers 11 games; 86,893 total attendance; 7,899 average per game Largest crowd: 8,048 vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Thursday, March 13
Cincinnati Reds, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota 17 games; 90,489 total attendance; 5,318 average per game Largest crowd: 7,564 vs. Detroit Tigers, Monday, March 17
Cleveland Indians, Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven 15 games; 87,301 total attendance; 5,826 average per game Largest crowd: 8,826 vs. New York Yankees, Tuesday, March 25
Detroit Tigers, Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland 16 games; 123,484 total attendance; 7,718 average per game Largest crowd: 9,781 vs. Cleveland Indians, Sunday, March 23
Florida Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter 18 games; 127,093 total attendance; 7,061 average per game Largest crowd: 32,229 vs. New York Yankees (at Dolphin Stadium), Saturday, March 29
Houston Astros, Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee 15 games (one cancellation); 61,027 total attendance; 4,068 average per game Largest crowd: 6,726 vs. New York Mets, Sunday, March 16
Los Angeles Dodgers, Holman Stadium, Vero Beach 11 games; 72,649 total attendance; 6,604 average per game Largest crowd: 9,293 vs. Boston Red Sox, Sunday, March 9
Minnesota Twins, William Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers 16 games; 124,934 total attendance; 7,808 average per game Largest crowd: 8,207 vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, March 21
New York Mets, Tradition Field, Port St. Lucie 16 games; 97,929 total attendance; 6,121 average per game Largest crowd: 7,353 vs. Boston Red Sox, Monday, March 10
New York Yankees, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa 13 games (one cancellation); 139,497 total attendance; 10,731 average per game Largest crowd: 11,079 vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, March 21
Philadelphia Phillies, Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater 14 games (one cancellation); 114,715 total attendance; 8,194 average per game Largest crowd: 10,178 vs. Minnesota Twins, Saturday, March 15
Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field, Bradenton 15 games (one cancellation); 81,067 total attendance; 5,404 average per game Largest crowd: 6,106 vs. Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, March 26
St. Louis Cardinals, Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter 14 games; 87,596 total attendance; 6,257 average per game Largest crowd: 7,798 vs. Atlanta Braves, Sunday, March 16
Tampa Bay Rays, Progress Energy Field at Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg 11 games (two cancellations); 54,960 total attendance; 4,996 average per game Largest crowd: 6,759 vs. Cincinnati Reds, Friday, March 28
Toronto Blue Jays, Knology Park, Dunedin 14 games; 64,444 total attendance; 4,603 average per game Largest crowd: 5,510, three occasions
Washington Nationals, Space Coast Stadium, Viera 13 games (one cancellation); 54,040 total attendance; 4,157 average per game Largest crowd: 5,914 vs. Florida Marlins, Sunday, March 2
Florida Spring Training Totals 259 games; 1,677,858 total attendance; 6,478 average per game
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