MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Transcription

1 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2007 ATTENDANCE ANALYSIS Written by David P. Kronheim 2008

2 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE This report is an analysis of minor league baseball attendance for the 2007 regular season. It includes: An overview of key highlights. Attendance notes for each league and for individual teams. Listing of 2007 total attendance and per game average attendance for every league and team. A comparison of 2007 vs total attendance. A table shows attendance increases and decreases for all leagues and teams. It also notes the year nearly all current U.S./Canadian minor league stadiums opened. Another page lists the teams with the biggest gains and worst declines in attendance in A feature on the growth of minor league baseball in Major League Baseball markets. A section about the tremendous increase in minor league baseball attendance over the past 38 years. Tables show how attendance has grown vs and SOURCES The Media Relations Department of Minor League Baseball (also known as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues), provided attendance data for the developmental leagues of Major League Baseball for the years 1994 through Independent league data is from each league s official web site. Attendance for the Continental League was estimated by the league office. Information from individual teams generally came from each team s website. Major League attendance data is from the Major League Baseball Information System. NAPBL data prior to 1994 is from The Sporting News Official Baseball Guides, and from Mud Hens and Mavericks by Judith Blahnik and Phillip S. Schulz (1995 Viking Penguin). Independent league data prior to 1998 came from the Independent Baseball Page website. The websites oursportscentral.com, baseballparks.com, and ballparkdigest.com, plus the Baseball America Directory, were sources of some information about ballparks. The raw data was compiled and analyzed by David P. Kronheim, Director of Marketing Research for Number Tamer, which is a marketing research service with clients in the sports industry. David has visited more than 110 minor league stadiums over the past two decades. Figures in this report are for regular season games only. Attendance for exhibition, all-star, and post-season games is not included. Baseball s minor leagues follow the current policy of all North American professional sports leagues, which is that official announced attendance is for tickets sold, not for actual in-stadium attendance. It includes no-shows, which are tickets sold, but not used. ATTENTION, ENGLISH TEACHERS: Team names in this report are spelled exactly as they appear in the 2007 Information Guide of Minor League Baseball and on the websites of the independent leagues. NOTE TO LEAGUES, TEAMS, AND MEDIA You can download this report, and the 2007 Major League Baseball Attendance Analysis, in PDF form, at numbertamer.com. Go to the website s Samples page for the PDF links to each report. Permission is granted for you to copy, distribute, publish, and use any of the material, including statistical tables, appearing in these attendance analyses. Credit to numbertamer.com would be appreciated. Please contact David Kronheim if you have any questions about these reports. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please note that this material is copyrighted.

3 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 2 WARMING UP - AN OVERVIEW OF HOW BASEBALL S MINOR LEAGUES ARE ORGANIZED There are two types of leagues in minor league baseball. The majority of them are affiliated with Major League Baseball, as part of its player development program, or farm system. NAPBL LEAGUES The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL), also known as Minor League Baseball, is the governing body of those minor leagues which are affiliated with Major League Baseball. These leagues are divided into five classifications: AAA (International and Pacific Coast Leagues); AA (Eastern, Southern and Texas Leagues); full-season A (California, Carolina, Florida State, Midwest and South Atlantic Leagues); short-season A (New York-Penn and Northwest Leagues); Rookie (Appalachian and Pioneer Leagues). In addition, there is the Mexican League, which is a member of the NAPBL, but whose teams are not affiliated with any Major League teams. Five additional rookie leagues (Arizona, Gulf Coast, Dominican, Venezuelan, and Mexican Academy) do not charge admission to their games, and are not included in this report. The AAA, AA, and full-season A teams play a game season, starting in early April. Short-season teams in the leagues that charge admission, play games, beginning around mid-june. All these leagues conclude their seasons with playoffs in early through mid-september. The Mexican League plays a 110 game schedule starting in late March, and continuing through late July, with playoffs in August. Each Major League team has one Class AAA farm team, one AA team, two full-season A teams, and at least one short-season team in a league that charges admission. INDEPENDENT LEAGUES The independent leagues are not affiliated in any way with Major League Baseball. Their players, managers, and coaches are under contract to their individual leagues or teams. (Uniformed personnel in NAPBL leagues, other than the Mexican League, are under contract to their specific Major League parent teams.) Major League teams can, and often do, sign independent league players to contracts. Independent leagues were once the rule in minor league baseball. But as the modern Major League farm systems developed, minor leagues began to affiliate with Major League teams, and independent leagues pretty much disappeared. The current generation of independent leagues began in 1993 with the start of the Northern and the Frontier Leagues. All independent leagues have been through major reorganizations, and in some cases, name changes. The Can-Am League first played in 1995, as the Northeast League. The American Association is a combination of former Northern League and Central League teams. The Central League began as the Texas-Louisiana League in Numerous other independent leagues were started. Some, such as the Heartland League and the Prairie League, managed to last three seasons. Others were unable to survive even one full season. In 2007, the 9 independent leagues that operated were the Atlantic, Can-Am, Northern, Frontier, American Association, United Baseball, Golden Baseball, Continental, and South Coast Leagues. Most of these leagues played game schedules. But scheduled season length ranged from 60 games for the Continental League (their teams actually played only games due to rainouts), to 76 games for the Golden Baseball League, all the way up to 126 games in the Atlantic League. In 2008, the Atlantic League will play a 140 game schedule, while the Continental and Golden Baseball Leagues will increase their schedules to 72 and 88 games, respectively. In order to avoid confusion, this report will refer to leagues affiliated with Major League Baseball as NAPBL Minor Leagues. Attendance listings and individual league analyses will be kept separate from data from the independent leagues, unless otherwise noted.

4 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 3 COMBINED NAPBL MINOR LEAGUES AND INDEPENDENT LEAGUES OVERVIEW In 2007, regular season combined NAPBL and independent minor league baseball attendance surpassed 50 million for the first time! The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which is affiliated with the Major Leagues, had its highest attendance ever, breaking a record set in Total attendance for the 9 independent leagues, which are not affiliated with Major League Baseball, also reached a new high. This was the 9 th year in a row that a new combined NAPBL/independent leagues record has been set. Combined NAPBL and independent league attendance has gone up for 23 straight years! NAPBL attendance had increased every year from 1985 through There have been 3 years since then with small declines in NAPBL attendance. But when attendance for independent leagues, which began play in 1993, is added to the NAPBL figures for those years, the combined minor league attendance shows an increase. COMBINED NAPBL AND INDEPENDENT LEAGUE ATTENDANCE SINCE ,754, ,227, ,805, ,851, ,258, ,278, ,049, ,268, ,173, ,051, ,593, ,298, ,747, ,229, ,445,630 Total combined NAPBL Minor League and independent league regular season attendance was an all-time high 51,298,733 in This was a 4.1% increase from This increase occurred partly as a result of 512 more playing dates in 2007 than in Two new independent leagues were added, and other independent leagues expanded, resulting in 514 more home dates among independent league teams. The 175 NAPBL Minor League teams that charge admission attracted a record high 42,812,812 to their games in The 9 independent leagues, with 67 teams that played home games, had an all-time high total attendance of 8,485,921. Average attendance per home date rose by 107 for NAPBL leagues, fell by 182 for the independent leagues, and was up by a combined total of 6 for all minor leagues. The decline in average attendance per date for independent leagues is mainly due to the addition of two new leagues that drew fairly poorly. The 7 independent leagues that played in both 2007 and in 2006 had an average per date of 2,912, up 4 from New records were set for NAPBL average per date, and for the combined NAPBL/independent leagues average per date. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE PER HOME DATE Year NAPBL Leagues Independent Leagues All Minor Leagues ,155 2,726 3, ,048 2,908 3, ,986 2,785 3, ,962 3,000 3, ,861 2,588 3, ,732 2,689 3, ,738 2,541 3, ,658 2,475 3, ,386 2,559 3, ,431 2,054 3, ,469 N.A. N.A. TOTAL PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ATTENDANCE SETS A NEW RECORD Major League Baseball regular season attendance was a record high 79,503,175 in The combined Major League/Minor League attendance in 2007 reached an all-time high of 130,801,908.

5 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 4 MORE PLAYING DATES FOR INDEPENDENT LEAGUES IN 2007 Minor league teams played a combined 512 more home dates in 2007 than in 2006, as the independent leagues added teams, and 514 more playing dates. The South Coast League had its first season, playing 246 dates. The new Continental League had 70 dates. The Can-Am League played 123 more dates in 2007 than in 2006, as it added one new team, along with a team that played all of its games on the road. That resulted in extra home games for all other teams in the league. The Frontier League added 88 dates, with two new teams, one of which played only a partial home schedule. NAPBL teams had a combined two fewer playing dates in 2007 than in of the 15 NAPBL leagues had more games than a year ago. The Mexican League had 15 more dates in 2007 than in 2006, and South Atlantic League teams had a total of 10 more dates. The Appalachian League played with one less team in 2007, and had 35 fewer playing dates than in There were 17 fewer dates in the Texas League. Record-setting rainfall during the summer was a major problem for nearly all teams in Texas. # OF HOME DATES YEAR NAPBL LEAGUES NAPBL - EXCL. MEXICAN LEA. INDEPENDENT LEAGUES ,303 9,455 3, ,305 9,472 2, ,369 9,503 2, ,067 9,378 2, ,119 9,256 2, ,354 9,486 2, ,382 9,424 2,360 TEAMS WITH ATTENDANCE GROWTH In 2007, 171 NAPBL teams were located in the same market as they were in of these teams had increases in total attendance in That was exactly double the number of teams whose attendance declined. It is by far the best increase ratio in the past decade. In average attendance per home date, 110 teams posted increases vs. 2006, 60 were down, and one team had no change. # NAPBL TEAMS IN SAME MARKETS SHOWING TOTAL ATTENDANCE GAIN/LOSS VS. PREVIOUS YEAR Year # of Teams # With Gain # With Loss # No Change By classification, NAPBL teams with the biggest 2007 gains were: Scranton/Wilkes Barre (among all AAA teams); Arkansas (AA); Rancho Cucamonga (full-season A); Staten Island (short-season A); Idaho Falls (Rookie). By classification, NABPL teams with the worst losses in total attendance in 2007 were: Memphis (AAA); Wichita, KS (AA); Kane County, IL (full-season A); Hudson Valley (short-season A); Casper (Rookie). 35 of 54 independent league teams playing in the same market (but not necessarily in the same league) as in 2006, had growth in total attendance in independent teams had gains in average attendance per game.

6 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 5 BIGGEST GAINS AND WORST DECLINES IN BIGGEST GAINS IN TOTAL ATTENDANCE 2007 vs NAPBL TEAMS TEAM LEAGUE 2007 ATTENDANCE CHANGE vs Scranton/Wilkes Barre International 580, ,624 Arkansas (N. Little Rock) Texas 372, ,968 N. Hampshire (Manchester) Eastern 371,710 71,661 Oaxaca Mexican 187,493 64,128 Campeche Mexican 113,700 61,230 Laguna Mexican 335,931 55,929 Aguascalientes Mexican 158,307 52,126 Staten Island New York-Penn 164,207 48,812 Tabasco Mexican 157,320 42,916 Monclova Mexican 247,497 40,650 Scranton/Wilkes Barre had a new affiliation with the Yankees. Arkansas moved into a new ballpark. 10 BIGGEST DECLINES IN TOTAL ATTENDANCE 2007 vs NAPBL TEAMS TEAM LEAGUE 2007 ATTENDANCE CHANGE vs Monterrey Mexican 491,628 (497,826) Wichita, KS Texas 113,368 (64,390) Memphis Pacific Coast 633,129 (59,297) Akron Eastern 355,376 (57,619) Saltillo Mexican 502,992 (39,349) Tulsa Texas 296,017 (37,746) Buffalo International 572,635 (35,294) Frisco Texas 545,421 (35,059) Springfield, MO Texas 460,063 (32,309) Kane County, IL Midwest 468,869 (31,183) Ironically, Monterrey had the best gain (556,293) in the minors in 2006, and drew 989,454 in just 55 home dates. Wichita, with the biggest loss in 2007 among U.S./Canadian teams, moves to Springdale, AR in BIGGEST GAINS IN TOTAL ATTENDANCE 2007 vs INDEPENDENT TEAMS TEAM LEAGUE 2007 ATTENDANCE CHANGE vs El Paso American Assn. 211,316 55,665 Amarillo United 153,262 46,465 San Angelo United 106,411 31,724 Sioux Falls, SD American Assn. 144,025 23,489 Quebec City Can-Am 161,789 23,413 5 BIGGEST DECLINES IN TOTAL ATTENDANCE 2007 vs INDEPENDENT TEAMS TEAM LEAGUE 2007 ATTENDANCE CHANGE vs Kalamazoo Frontier 54,950 (64,580) Fort Worth American Assn. 141,330 (36,564) St. Joseph, MO American Assn. 30,244 (29,020) Coastal Bend, TX American Assn. 58,715 (27,147) Bridgeport Atlantic 167,372 (25,724) Atlantic City s attendance was down 29,751 in But that team is not on the list above because it moved from the Atlantic to the Can-Am League, and played 18 fewer home dates in 2007 than in 2006.

7 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 6 NAPBL MINOR LEAGUES ATTENDANCE HIGHLIGHTS In 2007, NAPBL Minor Leagues set another new attendance record, and total attendance increased vs. the previous season for the 29 th time in the last 33 years. NAPBL MINOR LEAGUE ATTENDANCE SINCE ,984,263 $ ,103, ,179, ,726, ,541,674 * ,244, ,647, ,134, ,178, ,590, ,808, ,986, ,637, ,180, ,639, ,828, ,559, ,022, ,069, ,562, ,580, ,355, ,887, ,021, ,380, ,126, ,333, ,324, ,456, ,293, ,710, ,004, ,215, ,721, ,812, ,012, ,659, ,427,618 $ - Does not include season attendance of 8,817 by one Gulf Coast League team that charged - Includes estimated attendance for Inter-American League which folded during the season. * - Figure provided by 1981 Sporting News Official Guide. Mexican League season ended early due to a strike. Major League Baseball attendance has gone up vs. the previous season in 22 of the past 33 years. NAPBL Minor League attendance set a record for the fourth straight year in Prior to 2004, the alltime record was 39,640,443, set in 1949, when there were 448 teams in 59 leagues. In 2007, there were 175 teams in the 15 NAPBL leagues that charge admission to their games. The last 7 seasons have seen 7 of the 8 highest totals in the 106 year history of the NAPBL minor leagues. Minor league attendance declined very sharply through the 1950 s, and most leagues and teams disbanded. By 1964, there were only 20 leagues and 132 teams left. A post World War II low period of NAPBL attendance occurred from 1960 to During those years, attendance was basically flat ranging from a low of 9,732,582 in 1962, to a high of 10,726,470 in Among the causes of the huge drop in minor league attendance during this period were television, Major League expansion, easier access to Major League ballparks, fewer minor league teams, a rise in popularity of other sports, and home air conditioning average season attendance per team, including short-season leagues, was a record high 244,645. In 1949, the 448 teams averaged 88,483. By 1969, the season average per team had fallen to 67, NAPBL leagues had increases in total attendance in The Pacific Coast (AAA), South Atlantic and Midwest (both full-season A), and Pioneer (short-season Rookie) Leagues set new records for total attendance. The Pioneer League had the biggest gain, up 8.6%. The Midwest League posted a 7.0% increase. Only two leagues had losses in total attendance. The Texas League was down 1.0%, playing 17 fewer dates. Appalachian League attendance dropped 10.4%, with 35 fewer dates, and one less team, in 2007 than in leagues had gains in average attendance per home date, led by the Midwest League, up 271. The International League s average per game rose by 269, and the Pioneer League was up 211. No NAPBL league averaged smaller crowds per game in 2007 than in The Pacific Coast League had the same average attendance per date in both of these years. GAINS AND LOSSES - A listing of total attendance gains and losses in 2007 vs for each NAPBL team and league can be found starting on page 21. This same information for independent league teams starts on page 31. IT S NOT A TYPO The number 42,812,812 may look like unusual. But it is the official figure for NAPBL attendance in 2007.

8 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 7 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE PER HOME DATE NAPBL AND INDEPENDENT LEAGUES Average attendance per date for NAPBL teams was a record high 4,155 in 2007! The International League averaged 7,009 per date, likely the highest figure ever for any minor league. Records for average attendance per home date were also set by the Texas, Midwest, South Atlantic, New York-Penn, and Pioneer Leagues. The Pacific Coast League tied its all-time high. Sacramento averaged more than 10,000 per date for the 8 th straight year, and was the only team to top the 10,000 mark. Saltillo of the Mexican League had done it five years in a row, but fell a bit short in Louisville, Monterrey, Saltillo, and Round Rock each averaged over 9,000 per date. Albuquerque, Frisco, Buffalo, Toledo, Iowa, Indianapolis, Pawtucket, Scranton-Wilkes Barre, Memphis, Tijuana, Brooklyn and Dayton were other teams that averaged 8,000+ per date. So 17 teams drew at least 8,000 per home date in The number of teams reaching this level was 13 in 2006, 11 in 2005, 13 in 2004, 12 in both 2003 and 2002, 11 in 2001, 8 in 2000, and only 4 teams in Ottawa s average crowd was 1,923. They were the only AAA team whose average was under 3,900. Reading, Portland ME, Frisco, Corpus Christi, and Springfield, MO were the Class AA teams that averaged more than 6,000 per date in The same 5 teams, plus Akron, did it in both 2006 and AA teams averaged 6,000+ per game in 2004, and 6 AA teams reached this level in West Tenn (Jackson, TN) again had the lowest Class AA average, attracting only 1,643 per date. A total of 12 Class A, including short-season, teams topped 5,000 per game in This level was achieved by 10 teams in 2006, 11 in 2005, 10 in both 2004 and 2003, 9 in 2002, 10 in 2001, and 6 teams did it in Dayton averaged 8,608 per date to lead Class A for the 8 th straight year. Kane County, Greensboro, and Lakewood once again were the other full-season A teams who attracted more than 6,000 fans per game. Sarasota had the lowest average (599) among all NAPBL teams. Dunedin, Lakeland, Burlington IA, and Vero Beach also did not reach the 1,000 per game mark among full-season teams. Brooklyn averaged 8,194 per home date, leading all short-season teams for the 7 th year in a row. 3 more short-season teams Aberdeen (6,519), Lowell (5,364), and Spokane (5,053) topped a 5,000 per game average. Hudson Valley, State College, and Staten Island were the other short-season teams that averaged more than 4,000 per game. 5 short-season teams, all in the Appalachian League, averaged fewer than 1,000 fans per game. Among independent league teams, Winnipeg, of the Northern League, again had the highest average attendance per home date (6,542). St. Paul, of the American Association, averaged 6,205. The Long Island Ducks (6,108) once more led the Atlantic League. Kansas City (Northern League) averaged 6,024. Somerset and Lancaster of the Atlantic League, and Southern Illinois of the Frontier League, were the other independent league teams that averaged more than 5,000 a game. 6 independent teams topped 5,000 in both 2006 and teams drew over 5,000 per game in 2004, 4 did it in both 2003 and teams reached that level in both 2001 and independent league teams averaged below 1,000 per game. Bay Area and Lewisville of the Continental League, averaged an estimated 500 per date. St. George, UT (Golden Baseball League) drew 628 per date. In 2006, and also in 2004, no independent team failed to average at least 1,000 per date. 3 fell below this level in of the 59 independent league teams (including the Canadian League, which folded in mid-season) were below 1,000 per game in 2003, as were 8 teams in 2002, 9 in both 2001 and 2000, and 5 in 1999.

9 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 8 NAPBL MINOR LEAGUES ATTENDANCE HIGHLIGHTS NEW MARKETS NEW BALLPARKS The 6 teams listed below opened new ballparks, and/or were relocated in Attendance still was up overall for the 169 NAPBL teams that played in the same ballpark in both 2007 and League 2007 City 2007 Attendance 2006 City 2006 Attendance Chg. vs Mexican Cancun 214,556 Angelopolis 118,062 96,494 Mexican Chihuahua 159,565 San Luis Potosi 61,270 98,295 Mexican Minatitlan 134,948 Cordoba 123,248 11,700 Midwest Midland, MI 324,564 Battle Creek 84, ,595 Texas N. Little Rock 372,475 Little Rock 207, ,968 Pioneer Idaho Falls 104,960 Idaho Falls 73,802 31,158 Total-above teams 1,311, , ,210 All other NAPBL teams 41,501,744 41,041, ,245 NOTE: The Cancun team temporarily moved for 2006 only, due to hurricane damage to its ballpark. More details about the attendance growth for these teams can be found in the league summaries. TOTAL ATTENDANCE HIGH MARKS AND LOW GRADES 5 teams drew at least 600,000 in teams did it in 2006, while 5 teams reached that mark in teams drew at least 500,000 fans in The number of teams topping 500,000 in attendance was 19 in 2006, 20 in 2005, 16 in 2004, 15 in 2003 and 2002, 14 in 2001, 10 in 2000, 6 in 1999, 9 in 1998, and 10 in Sacramento had the best attendance in 2007, drawing 710,235. They ve led all U.S./Canadian teams in attendance for 8 straight years, and have been the top draw in the minors 7 times in the last 8 years. Round Rock topped 662,000 in its third AAA season, after setting both a Class AA and Texas League record for 5 consecutive years. Louisville finished third in attendance. Memphis slipped to 4 th place, after 7 consecutive top 3 finishes. Frisco, which like Round Rock, is owned by Nolan Ryan, was Class AA leader for the third straight year. Dayton of the Midwest League was the leader in Class A for the 8 th year in a row. The Brooklyn Cyclones led all short-season teams for the 7 th consecutive year. 13 full-season teams drew under 100,000 in of these teams play in the Florida State League. The number of full-season teams below 100,000 was 14 in 2006, 15 in 2005, 18 in 2004, 22 in 2003, 21 in 2002, 20 in 2001, 24 in 2000, and 25 in both 1999 and Ottawa (126,894), had the lowest AAA attendance, and was the only AAA team to draw less than 270,000 in The team moves to Allentown, PA in 2008, and becomes the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. West Tenn in the Southern League (113,351), again had the lowest AA attendance. Lowest attendance among full-season teams was the Sarasota s (A) total of 38,313. For the 3 rd straight year, Bristol of the Appalachian (Rookie) League had the lowest short-season attendance.

10 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 9 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN MAJOR LEAGUE MARKETS Includes Independent League Teams A major factor in the growth of minor league baseball over the past 15 years has been its return to areas which have Major League teams. Now, some of the most successful minor league teams, in terms of attendance, play in the same television markets as Major League clubs. Nearly all have new, or thoroughly rebuilt, ballparks. Until the 1950 s, it was common to find minor league teams near Major League cities. During that decade, increased car ownership, new high-speed roads, and television, made it easier for fans to attend and watch Big League games. The minor league teams in those areas couldn t stay in business. By 1976, the only teams close to Major League cities were Pawtucket, about 40 miles from Boston, Reading, 60 miles from Philadelphia, and San Jose, around 40 miles from San Francisco and Oakland. In the New York City area, an Eastern League team played in Jersey City in 1977 and That team s combined attendance for those two years was just 88,993. But starting in the 1990 s, more minor league teams began operating near Major League clubs. By 2007, 61 minor league teams played in the same television market as a Major League franchise. Three more teams (Pawtucket, Dayton and Tijuana) are located in non-major League TV markets, but their ballparks are within about 50 miles of a Major League city. So in 2007, 20 of the 26 Major League TV markets, had a minor league team located either in their TV market, or in a city that is less than 60 miles away, but is officially in a different TV market. In 1976, Pawtucket, Reading and San Jose drew a combined attendance of 275,641. This was just 2.4% of the total 1976 minor league attendance. In 2007, these same 3 teams, playing in the same ballparks as in 1976, drew a combined 1,248,792. Also in 2007, the 61 minor league teams in Major League markets, plus Pawtucket, Dayton and Tijuana, had a combined attendance of 13,783,134. That was 26.9% of the year s total minor league attendance. It was also higher than the total attendance (11,324,947) for all minor league teams in New York, Boston and Philadelphia are Major League markets that have had much recent success with minor league baseball. In 1992, there was only one minor league team in the Boston area (Pawtucket which is in the Providence TV market), one in the Philadelphia market, and none in New York. In 2007, the New York TV market had 10 teams, including 2 within New York City. The Boston area had 7 clubs, while there were 5 teams in the Philadelphia market. As the following three tables show, many of these teams have done remarkably well. New York Area Teams 2007 Attendance Notes Long Island (Central Islip), NY 427,536 Top total independ. attendance each year: Bridgeport, CT 167,372 Attendance cut in half since 1999 high of 342,857 Newark, NJ 186,807 Slight increase in 2007 Somerset (Bridgewater), NJ 371,520 Average more than 5,000 per game every year New Jersey Jackals (Montclair) 107,663 Attendance up by over 18,000 in 2007 Lakewood, NJ 442,256 Led league for 7 th straight year, averaged 6,410 Brooklyn, NY 294,972 7 highest attend. totals ever by short-season team Staten Island, NY 164,207 Up 48,812 4 th best gain among U.S. NAPBL teams Sussex (Augusta), NJ 101,638 19% increase in 2007 Hudson Valley (Fishkill), NY 153,697 Record high in 2006, sellouts the rule since 1994 New York Market Total 2,417,168 Overall 3.1% increase in total attendance in 2007 Boston Area Teams 2007 Attendance Notes Pawtucket (Providence TV market) 611,379 8 straight years above 560,000, 7 of 8 above 600,000 New Hampshire (Manchester) 371,710 Set another team record high in 2007 Lowell, MA 198,453 Record high in 2007, 308 straight sellouts since 1999 Nashua, NH 80, attendance up 39% North Shore (Lynn, MA) 110,336 Slight gain in Team will not operate in 2008 Brockton, MA 169,999 Led Can-Am League for 4 th straight year Worcester, MA 120,145 Up a bit in 2007, play at Holy Cross University Boston Area Total 1,662, % gain for this market in 2007

11 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 10 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN MAJOR LEAGUE MARKETS Includes Independent League Teams Philadelphia Area Teams 2007 Attendance Notes Reading, PA 466,385 Eastern League attendance champ 5 of last 6 years Wilmington, DE 306,430 Has led Carolina Lea. in attendance 10 straight years Trenton, NJ 412,312 Class AA record 13 straight seasons above 400,000 Camden, NJ 258,177 Slight gain in 2007 Atlantic City, NJ 105,149 Moved from Atlantic to Can-Am League in 2007 Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA) 0 Gets a new International League (AAA) team in 2008 Philadelphia Market Total 1,548,453 Total market attendance down 1.6% in 2007 There have been many success stories in the other 17 Major League markets with minor league teams. Los Angeles Chicago 7 minor league teams Rancho Cucamonga has led the California League for 15 straight years. 5 teams Kane County has topped 400,000 for 14 consecutive seasons, and been above 500,000 in 6 of the last 7 years Gary has set a team record high every year of operation. San Francisco 1 team San Jose set a record high in total and average per game attendance in Dallas Washington 4 teams Frisco has led all Class AA teams in attendance for 3 straight years. 4 teams Frederick is a good draw every year in the Class A Carolina League. Seattle 2 teams In 2007, Tacoma had its best attendance since Tampa 6 teams Clearwater had the highest attendance of any Florida State League team since was Lakeland s best year in attendance since Minneapolis 1 team St. Paul has sold out nearly every game since they began play in Cleveland 2 teams Akron has led the Eastern League in attendance 6 times since 1997, and is one of only 6 Class AA teams to ever top 500,000 Lake County is one of the best draws in Class A. St. Louis 2 teams Gateway set the Frontier League record in 2004 (broken by Southern Illinois in 2007). Pittsburgh 1 team Washington, PA had 34 sellouts (including playoffs) in Baltimore Atlanta Houston Kansas City 1 team Aberdeen is the second-biggest draw (after Brooklyn) among short-season teams. 1 team Rome has been a consistently good draw in its 5 years of operation. 1 team Bay Area team plagued by rainouts in its first season. 1 team Kansas City (KS) set new team record in 2007, and is a top independent league draw. San Diego 1 team Tijuana (not in the San Diego TV market) topped 450,000 in both 2006 and Cincinnati 2 teams Dayton (a separate TV market) has surpassed 570,000 in all 8 years of operation, has a pro baseball record 565 consecutive sellouts, and is the most successful Class A team ever. The New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco/Oakland TV markets each have two Major League teams. Detroit, Phoenix, Miami, Milwaukee, Denver, and Toronto are the Major League TV markets that did not have any minor league teams in Toledo is a little more than 60 miles from Detroit, and the Mud Hens drew a team record 590,159 in 2007.

12 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 11 NAPBL INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE AND TEAM HIGHLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE (AAA) (14 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 6,758,757 (2002); Team Buffalo - 1,188,972* (1991), Buffalo - 743,463 (1998) (*Buffalo was in the American Association when it set this all-time Minor League record.) Attendance rose 305,265, the biggest increase that any minor league achieved in The league s average attendance per date of 7,009 is probably an all-time minor league high. 11 of the league s 14 teams posted gains in total attendance, while 9 teams had a higher average per date. Louisville drew 653,915, best in the league, and third best in the minors. The Bats have topped 640,000 every year since opening a new park in In 1983, Louisville was the first minor league team to draw one million. A new affiliation with the Yankees was a big boost to Scranton/Wilkes Barre. They drew a team record high 580,908. That was up 204,624 from 2006, and was the biggest increase in the minor leagues in Pawtucket had a slight decline. But in 2005, they drew the most fans in the league since Buffalo attracted 743,463 in This team has come a long way since 1977, when it was bankrupt, and drew only 70,344. PAWTUCKET RED SOX ATTENDANCE Year Attendance Year Attendance Year Attendance , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , teams averaged more than 6,000 per home date, and 8 teams surpassed 500,000 for the year. The Toledo Mud Hens drew 590,159, setting a new team record high for the 4 th time in the last 6 years. The Durham Bulls also achieved a team record high, attracting 520,952. Indianapolis has surpassed 500,000 every year since 1996, when the Indians moved into Victory Field. Buffalo lost 8 dates due to weather, and attendance fell 35,294, the biggest decline of any team in this league. From 1988 through 1999, the Bisons led the minor leagues in attendance every year. In 6 of those seasons ( ), their attendance topped one million, including an all-time minor league record 1,188,972 in 1991, when the Bisons were in the American Association. That league, (no relation to the independent league of the same name) broke up in 1998, and its teams were placed in either the International or Pacific Coast Leagues. Columbus topped the 500,000 mark for the third straight year. The Clippers had surpassed 500,000 for 19 consecutive seasons from 1979 through They get a new ballpark in Rochester had its best attendance since Norfolk has surpassed 460,000 for 15 straight years. Ottawa drew 126,894 in its final season, and had the lowest Class AAA total for the 8 th time in the last 9 years. The Lynx were outdrawn by 28 of 30 Class AA teams, 39 full-season Class A teams, 26 independent league teams, and even 11 short-season teams. This team drew 663,926, with 44 sellouts, in 1993, its first season. But by 1996, attendance had been cut in half. Total attendance fell below 200,000 in each of the last 6 years. In 2008, this team moves to Allentown, PA, and will be called the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs.

13 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 12 NAPBL INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE AND TEAM HIGHLIGHTS PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (AAA) (16 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 7,420,095 (2007); Team Sacramento - 901,214 (2001) The P.C.L. set another new record, drawing 7,420,095, the highest attendance ever by any minor league! This league had 4 of the 6 teams with the best attendance in the minors in Total attendance rose 0.1%, and average per game was exactly the same as in Sacramento s attendance fell slightly to 710,235, but that was still good enough to lead the minors for the 7 th time in the last 8 years. The River Cats have drawn more than 6 million since starting play in 2000, probably the quickest any team has ever reached that mark. In 2007, they were the only team that averaged over 10,000 per home date. This team has averaged 11,019 per date in its 8 year history. SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS ATTENDANCE Year Total Attendance Avg./Date Year Total Attendance Avg./Date ,808* 12,312* ,156* 10,433^ ,214* 12,517* ,750* 10,497# ,317* 11,512* ,227# 10,257# ,326* 10,643# ,235* 10,003* * - Best in minor leagues # - Led U.S./Canadian teams ^ - 2 nd among U.S./Canadian teams Memphis, down 59,297, had the league s biggest decline, but still had the 4 th best attendance in the minors. Round Rock had rain on 22 of its home dates, yet still drew 662,595, which was second best in the minors. Tacoma posted the largest increase in the P.C.L., and had its best attendance since teams surpassed 500,000 in attendance in teams did it in Omaha topped 300,000 for the 19 th consecutive season. Nashville s attendance was its second highest in the last 14 years. Iowa s attendance total of 576,310 in their remodeled park, was another team record high, and was also 6 th best among all minor league teams. 10 teams in the league had gains in total attendance. 10 teams posted increases in average per game. In 2006, the New Orleans Zephyrs were the first New Orleans pro team to play a full season back home since Hurricane Katrina. Attendance that year was actually up from In 2007, the Zephyrs drew 368,210, their best mark since The team s all-time record is 519,584, set in Tucson had the lowest attendance in the league in 2007, and the team s smallest crowds since The Sidewinders will likely move to Reno in 2009.

14 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 13 NAPBL INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE AND TEAM HIGHLIGHTS MEXICAN LEAGUE (16 teams 110 game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 4,591,286 (1979); Team 989,454 Monterrey (2006) This league does not have any Major League Baseball affiliates, but is an NAPBL Minor League member. The Mexican League had its best attendance in more than a decade. Total attendance rose 2.2%. Total attendance in this league is up more than 850,000 since Average attendance per game has risen 1,071 during the same period. In 2006, Monterrey drew 989,454 in only 55 home dates, an average of 17,990 per date! Those were the top figures in the minors in 2006, and the biggest crowds since Buffalo topped one million in Sultanes attendance was up 556,293 from 2005, by far the largest increase of any minor league team! But in 2007, Monterrey s attendance was sliced in half, falling 497,826, by far the biggest decline in all of professional baseball. The Chicago White Sox, down 273,016, had the largest drop in the Major Leagues. Saltillo drew 502,992, to lead the league. The Sarape Makers have drawn over 500,000 fans each year since 2000, despite never having more than 57 home dates in any of these seasons. Oaxaca s attendance rose 64,128, which was the league s best increase. 10 of the 13 teams that played in the same markets as in 2006 had increases in total attendance. 10 of those teams also posted gains in average attendance per game. Tijuana s attendance topped 450,000 for the second straight year. Three teams were relocated in 2007, and all of these teams posted increases in their new cities. Cancun s team returned after their ballpark s hurricane damage was repaired. Chihuahua and Minatitlan got new teams. The Mexican League is the only NAPBL minor league whose average attendance per team was lower in 2007 than it was in The league only had 8 teams in There were 16 teams in SOUTHERN LEAGUE (AA) (10 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 2,596,339 (1994); Team Birmingham (with Michael Jordan) - 467,867 (1994) The Southern League had its best total attendance since 1994, the year Michael Jordan played in the league total attendance rose 72,017 (2.9%) to 2,517,817. The average per game was up 79. Jacksonville had the biggest loss (8,980), but still drew 396,012 to lead the league for the 5 th consecutive year. The Carolina Mudcats posted the biggest increase in the league, and had their highest attendance since Mobile attracted its biggest total attendance since teams had increases in total attendance, while average per game rose for 5 teams. West Tennessee (Jackson, TN) still had the lowest attendance of any Class AA team, even though they did post an increase of 17,865 for the 2007 season.

15 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 14 NAPBL INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE AND TEAM HIGHLIGHTS EASTERN LEAGUE (AA) (12 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 3,944,195 (2005); Team Akron - 522,459 (1999) The Eastern League s total attendance rose 74,452 (2.0%) in The average per game increased 64 to 4,890, the second highest figure in league history. The record is 4,904 per game, set in teams had gains in total attendance, and 6 teams posted average per game increases. Reading led the league in total attendance for the 5 th time in the last 6 years, and is the first Eastern League team to top 450,000 for 8 straight years. In 2007, the Phillies also became the first Class AA team to draw 10 million in its franchise-history. It s been two decades of spectacular attendance growth in Reading. (Attendance in the table below for 1996, 1998, and 2000 includes an exhibition game with the parent Philadelphia Phillies.) READING PHILLIES ATTENDANCE Year Attendance Year Attendance Year Attendance Year Attendance , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,570 New Hampshire, which plays in Manchester, posted a 71,661 increase. This was the third biggest gain among all minor league teams, as the Fisher Cats drew a team record-high 371,710. Akron had the biggest drop. Their loss of 57,619 was the 4 th biggest decline among all NAPBL teams in There has been a significant dip in attendance for Akron since 1999, when they drew 522,459 to set the Eastern League record. Attendance in 2007 was 355,376. In 1998 and 1999, the Aeros became only the second Class AA team to draw 500,000 fans in a season. Nashville had done it 4 times ( ). 4 Texas League teams have achieved this level more recently (Round Rock , Springfield , Frisco , and Corpus Christi ). The Portland Sea Dogs lost 7 dates to rain. But they averaged 6,483 per date, and set a team record high for average attendance per home date for the 5 th straight year. It was another record-setting season for New Britain. The Rock Cats had an all-time high in total attendance for the 7 th time in the last 8 years. They also set new marks for average per game and number of sellouts. Trenton became the first Class AA team to draw more than 400,000 for 13 straight seasons. 7 of the 12 teams in the league averaged more than 5,000 per home date. Harrisburg topped the 200,000 mark for the 21 st straight year, the longest such streak in Class AA. Binghamton had its best attendance since 1992, which was the franchise s first season.

16 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 15 NAPBL INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE AND TEAM HIGHLIGHTS TEXAS LEAGUE (AA) (8 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 2,842,013 (2006); Team Round Rock - 689,286 (2004) Into every life, a little rain must fall would be a fitting description of the Texas League in Rainouts caused the league to have 17 fewer home dates than in Total attendance fell 27,899 (1.0%). 4 of the 9 NAPBL teams with the biggest declines in total attendance in 2007 (Wichita, Tulsa, Frisco, Springfield), play in the Texas League. Each of these 4 teams played fewer home dates in 2007 than in Average attendance per game was up 117 to 5,370, an all-time high. Frisco drew 545,421, down 35,059, with 3 fewer home dates, from But for the third straight year, the RoughRiders still posted the best total in Class AA. Arkansas moved into a new ballpark and drew a team record high 372,475. The Travelers attendance was up 164,968 from 2006, which was the second highest increase in all of minor league baseball. Corpus Christi was hit with 18 inches of rain in July, and played 3 fewer home dates than in Attendance did fall from the team record-high 506,398 set in 2006, but was still second-best in Class AA. In 2005, this team replaced Round Rock, which moved to the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. In each of its five years in the Texas League, Round Rock had set a Class AA attendance record, including an all-time high of 689,286 in The ballpark in Round Rock seats around 10,000, while capacity at Corpus Christi is about 7,500. Total attendance rose for 3 teams, and 3 teams also had increases in average per date. Wichita played its final Texas League season in Attendance was down 64,390, the largest decline among U.S. based teams. In 21 years in the Texas League, Wichita topped 200,000 just 6 times ( ), and the best year was 1993, when the Wranglers drew 236,378. The team moves to Northwest Arkansas in 2008, and will play in Springdale. That city is located between Bentonville and Fayetteville. Wichita will have a team in the independent American Association in CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (FULL-SEASON A) (10 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 2,061,889 (1997); Team Rancho Cucamonga - 446,146 (1995) The California League had its best attendance since Total attendance rose 4.8%. This followed 7 declines in the last 9 years. Average attendance per game was up 83. Stockton set another team record high. Attendance there has more than doubled since teams had gains in total attendance, and 8 teams were up in average per game. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, whose ballpark is named The Epicenter, drew 290,843 to lead the league in attendance for the 15 th straight year. Attendance rose 30,369, the best gain among full-season Class A teams. San Jose achieved all-time highs in both total attendance and average per game. For the second straight year, the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernadino had the biggest decline. Visalia s average per game topped 1,000 for the first time since The Oaks drew a total of 83,452. That doesn t sound like much, but actually, it is a 35% increase from 2006, and is the team s highest attendance since The all-time record in Visalia is 104,311, which was set in That may be the oldest team record among current minor league teams. In the Major Leagues, the Cincinnati Reds have gone the longest time since setting a team attendance record. Their all-time high was reached in 1976.

17 2007 MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ATTENDANCE Page 16 NAPBL INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE AND TEAM HIGHLIGHTS CAROLINA LEAGUE (FULL-SEASON A) (8 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 1,816,193 (1995); Team Durham - 390,486 (1995) Total attendance rose 4.2% to 1,668,811 in Average per game was up 99. Both the total attendance and the average per game figures were highest for this league since Wilmington, Delaware led the league for the 10 th straight season. The Blue Rocks have topped 300,000 every year since they began play in However, they were the only team in the league with a decline in Attendance fell 5,828, as they played two fewer home dates than in The other 7 Carolina League teams all had increases in total attendance, led by Salem, up 20,745. Lynchburg set a new attendance record for the 4 th straight year. Salem also set a new team record, drawing 258,469. Myrtle Beach renovated its ballpark, and drew its best season attendance since Potomac hopes to get a new ballpark for the 2009 season. FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE (FULL-SEASON A) (12 teams game schedule) RECORD HIGHS: League 1,133,210 (1997); Team St. Petersburg - 202,383 (1989) The Florida State League is unique as nearly all its teams are operated by their Major League parent clubs. The league had its highest attendance since 1997, when it had two more teams than now. Total attendance rose 0.1%. Average per date was up 5 to 1,391, the best average attendance per date since at least But it is still the lowest average of any full-season NAPBL league. The short-season Appalachian League averages less. Clearwater led the league for the 4 th consecutive year, drawing 166,359. That was a team record high, and the highest total in this league since St. Petersburg drew 190,146 in Dunedin posted the biggest gain in total attendance, while Palm Beach had the largest decline. St. Lucie had a record high total for the 5 th year in a row. 6 teams had increases in total attendance, and 8 were up in average per date. Lakeland had its highest attendance since Sarasota drew only 38,313, which was the lowest attendance for any full-season NAPBL team, and lower than any short-season team not in the Appalachian League. Their average of 599 per home date was the smallest of any NAPBL team. Two teams in the independent Continental League averaged slightly less. Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter is the home for both the Palm Beach Cardinals and the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League. That ballpark is also used as a spring training site by the Florida Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Marlins and Cardinals Gulf Coast League affiliates also play in the same complex. So in a typical year, there are about 30 Major League spring training games, 140 Florida State League regular season games, and 60 Gulf Coast League games scheduled for Jupiter. Pro baseball s busiest facility is also host to minor league spring training, the fall Florida Instructional League, and high school and college games.