Minor League Baseball Attendance Improves By Four Percent In 2023
Image credit: (Photo by Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)
Across the affiliated minor leagues, attendance increased by four percent compared to 2022, giving minor league operators their best year since the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 season.
Minor League Baseball’s 120 ticket-selling clubs drew 32,137,365 fans in announced attendance in 2023. That’s up from 30,916,465 fans in 2022, which is a 3.95% increase. On a per-game basis, the average attendance improved to 4,076 fans per game, up from 3,910 fans per game in 2022. That’s a 4.25% increase. The discrepancy between total attendance increase and per-game averages was because there were slightly fewer games played in 2023.
It’s not all good news however. Comparing the 120 full-season clubs that remain after the MiLB reorganization to the 120 full-season clubs that existed in the 2010s, attendance remains significantly below where it was before the 2020 MiLB season was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The worst average attendance for the 120 full-season clubs in the 2010s was 2018 where teams averaged 4,184 fans per game.
In total attendance, when only looking at 120 full-season clubs to keep the comparisons equal, the 2023 attendance, while improved, remains more than one million fans below the worst season of the 2010s.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were the 2023 attendance champs with 567,322 fans. Nine teams drew more than 500,000.
Attendance By Average
| Team | Total | Openings | Openings Lost | Average |
| Lehigh Valley IronPigs | 567,322 | 71 | 6 | 7,990 |
| Columbus Clippers | 557,131 | 71 | 5 | 7,847 |
| Nashville Sounds | 556,962 | 72 | 4 | 7,736 |
| Indianapolis Indians | 556,775 | 71 | 5 | 7,842 |
| Albuquerque Isotopes | 521,521 | 74 | 1 | 7,048 |
| Dayton Dragons | 520,433 | 66 | 0 | 7,885 |
| Worcester Red Sox | 519,651 | 70 | 5 | 7,424 |
| El Paso Chihuahuas | 507,907 | 75 | 0 | 6,772 |
| Las Vegas Aviators | 506,047 | 74 | 1 | 6,838 |
| Charlotte Knights | 498,816 | 73 | 2 | 6,833 |
| Durham Bulls | 491,753 | 73 | 2 | 6,736 |
| Buffalo Bisons | 487,205 | 68 | 9 | 7,165 |
| St. Paul Saints | 460,918 | 71 | 5 | 6,492 |
| Toledo Mud Hens | 447,384 | 72 | 4 | 6,214 |
| Salt Lake Bees | 443,494 | 72 | 3 | 6,160 |
| Rochester Red Wings | 437,561 | 72 | 5 | 6,077 |
| Iowa Cubs | 432,246 | 72 | 5 | 6,003 |
| Richmond Flying Squirrels | 428,541 | 67 | 2 | 6,396 |
| Round Rock Express | 411,550 | 74 | 2 | 5,561 |
| Norfolk Tides | 411,429 | 71 | 4 | 5,795 |
| Portland Sea Dogs | 403,957 | 66 | 4 | 6,121 |
| Hartford Yard Goats | 402,731 | 64 | 6 | 6,293 |
| Oklahoma City Dodgers | 399,908 | 71 | 6 | 5,633 |
| Louisville Bats | 396,840 | 72 | 3 | 5,512 |
| Sacramento River Cats | 388,246 | 75 | 0 | 5,177 |
| Reading Fightin Phils | 384,563 | 65 | 6 | 5,916 |
| Tacoma Rainiers | 384,498 | 73 | 2 | 5,267 |
| Reno Aces | 372,926 | 74 | 1 | 5,040 |
| West Michigan Whitecaps | 360,999 | 63 | 3 | 5,730 |
| Tulsa Drillers | 356,002 | 68 | 1 | 5,235 |
| Amarillo Sod Poodles | 355,440 | 66 | 3 | 5,385 |
| Somerset Patriots | 352,293 | 68 | 1 | 5,181 |
| Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | 347,723 | 68 | 7 | 5,114 |
| Frisco RoughRiders | 343,606 | 67 | 3 | 5,128 |
| Fort Wayne TinCaps | 340,038 | 64 | 2 | 5,313 |
| Syracuse Mets | 336,492 | 67 | 10 | 5,022 |
| Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | 336,162 | 68 | 7 | 4,944 |
| Wichita Wind Surge | 322,637 | 69 | 0 | 4,676 |
| South Bend Cubs | 314,591 | 64 | 3 | 4,915 |
| Rocket City Trash Pandas | 314,306 | 64 | 5 | 4,911 |
| Altoona Curve | 308,003 | 67 | 2 | 4,597 |
| Arkansas Travelers | 307,607 | 67 | 2 | 4,591 |
| Omaha Storm Chasers | 304,129 | 73 | 3 | 4,166 |
| Greenville Drive | 303,328 | 61 | 4 | 4,973 |
| Lansing Lugnuts | 299,449 | 64 | 2 | 4,679 |
| Sugar Land Space Cowboys | 299,055 | 73 | 2 | 4,097 |
| Vancouver Canadians | 297,437 | 61 | 6 | 4,876 |
| Tennessee Smokies | 295,603 | 65 | 5 | 4,548 |
| Corpus Christi Hooks | 294,986 | 67 | 2 | 4,403 |
| Pensacola Blue Wahoos | 293,581 | 69 | 0 | 4,255 |
| Winston-Salem Dash | 290,534 | 62 | 5 | 4,686 |
| Jersey Shore BlueClaws | 287,602 | 60 | 7 | 4,793 |
| San Antonio Missions | 284,419 | 68 | 1 | 4,183 |
| Greensboro Grasshoppers | 279,061 | 62 | 7 | 4,501 |
| Fresno Grizzlies | 277,089 | 66 | 0 | 4,198 |
| Harrisburg Senators | 273,768 | 65 | 7 | 4,212 |
| Charleston RiverDogs | 270,170 | 63 | 3 | 4,288 |
| Myrtle Beach Pelicans | 268,600 | 64 | 2 | 4,197 |
| Fredericksburg Nationals | 265,960 | 64 | 3 | 4,156 |
| Akron RubberDucks | 265,938 | 66 | 3 | 4,029 |
| Augusta GreenJackets | 260,060 | 62 | 4 | 4,195 |
| Springfield Cardinals | 256,947 | 66 | 3 | 3,893 |
| Northwest Arkansas Naturals | 256,552 | 68 | 1 | 3,773 |
| Birmingham Barons | 253,232 | 66 | 3 | 3,837 |
| Spokane Indians | 249,012 | 63 | 5 | 3,953 |
| New Hampshire Fisher Cats | 236,809 | 60 | 11 | 3,947 |
| Bowie Baysox | 234,527 | 67 | 2 | 3,500 |
| Midland RockHounds | 233,724 | 69 | 0 | 3,387 |
| Gwinnett Stripers | 230,801 | 71 | 6 | 3,251 |
| Chattanooga Lookouts | 228,940 | 67 | 2 | 3,417 |
| Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | 227,119 | 65 | 2 | 3,494 |
| Memphis Redbirds | 223,751 | 73 | 3 | 3,065 |
| Columbia Fireflies | 219,277 | 61 | 6 | 3,595 |
| Erie SeaWolves | 207,555 | 67 | 2 | 3,098 |
| Binghamton Rumble Ponies | 206,911 | 65 | 4 | 3,183 |
| Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | 195,500 | 64 | 3 | 3,055 |
| Lake County Captains | 193,436 | 55 | 12 | 3,517 |
| Delmarva Shorebirds | 189,749 | 60 | 8 | 3,162 |
| Fayetteville Woodpeckers | 187,195 | 63 | 2 | 2,971 |
| Great Lakes Loons | 186,080 | 62 | 4 | 3,001 |
| Hudson Valley Renegades | 183,649 | 64 | 2 | 2,870 |
| Asheville Tourists | 183,034 | 61 | 7 | 3,001 |
| Brooklyn Cyclones | 182,875 | 64 | 2 | 2,857 |
| Salem Red Sox | 177,083 | 61 | 10 | 2,903 |
| Quad Cities River Bandits | 173,724 | 66 | 0 | 2,632 |
| Montgomery Biscuits | 168,751 | 66 | 3 | 2,557 |
| Mississippi Braves | 162,862 | 64 | 6 | 2,545 |
| Cedar Rapids Kernels | 161,205 | 65 | 1 | 2,480 |
| Hillsboro Hops | 158,723 | 66 | 0 | 2,405 |
| Biloxi Shuckers | 158,586 | 65 | 5 | 2,440 |
| Peoria Chiefs | 158,209 | 64 | 2 | 2,472 |
| Clearwater Threshers | 157,072 | 63 | 4 | 2,493 |
| Wilmington Blue Rocks | 156,200 | 62 | 6 | 2,519 |
| Bowling Green Hot Rods | 155,447 | 62 | 6 | 2,507 |
| Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | 151,082 | 66 | 0 | 2,289 |
| Eugene Emeralds | 145,896 | 63 | 3 | 2,316 |
| Aberdeen IronBirds | 141,019 | 64 | 2 | 2,203 |
| Everett AquaSox | 140,937 | 63 | 3 | 2,237 |
| Inland Empire 66ers | 139,534 | 65 | 1 | 2,147 |
| Carolina Mudcats | 138,299 | 60 | 9 | 2,305 |
| Visalia Rawhide | 126,235 | 66 | 0 | 1,913 |
| San Jose Giants | 124,129 | 66 | 0 | 1,881 |
| Tri-City Dust Devils | 120,444 | 66 | 0 | 1,825 |
| Stockton Ports | 117,377 | 66 | 0 | 1,778 |
| Hickory Crawdads | 112,287 | 61 | 5 | 1,841 |
| Fort Myers Mighty Mussels | 108,879 | 65 | 1 | 1,675 |
| Lynchburg Hillcats | 108,725 | 65 | 1 | 1,673 |
| Beloit Sky Carp | 104,411 | 65 | 2 | 1,606 |
| Down East Wood Ducks | 96,160 | 63 | 3 | 1,526 |
| Rome Braves | 95,120 | 62 | 4 | 1,534 |
| Lake Elsinore Storm | 94,385 | 61 | 8 | 1,547 |
| Daytona Tortugas | 93,894 | 62 | 6 | 1,514 |
| Modesto Nuts | 83,077 | 66 | 0 | 1,259 |
| St. Lucie Mets | 74,213 | 67 | 6 | 1,108 |
| Bradenton Marauders | 65,598 | 61 | 6 | 1,075 |
| Tampa Tarpons | 58,150 | 59 | 5 | 986 |
| Lakeland Flying Tigers | 38,202 | 62 | 5 | 616 |
| Jupiter Hammerheads | 35,515 | 40 | 7 | 888 |
| Palm Beach Cardinals | 33,067 | 38 | 4 | 870 |
| Dunedin Blue Jays | 31,210 | 63 | 3 | 495 |
The increases in attendance in 2023 were extremely broad based. More than half (62) of all MiLB clubs saw attendance gains of 5% or more in 2023 when compared to 2022. Only 18 clubs saw attendance drops of 5% or more.
On a percentage basis, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Wichita Wingnuts and Palm Beach Cardinals led the minors with attendance increases of more than 40% when compared to average attendance in 2022. Here’s a look at all 120 MiLB clubs in order of percentage change from 2022.
Attendance By Percentage Change
| Team | 2023 Avg Attendance | 2022 Avg Attendance | Difference | % Change |
| Binghamton Rumble Ponies | 3,183 | 2,237 | 946 | 42.3% |
| Wichita Wind Surge | 4,676 | 3,289 | 1,387 | 42.2% |
| Palm Beach Cardinals | 870 | 613 | 257 | 41.9% |
| Delmarva Shorebirds | 3,162 | 2,261 | 901 | 39.8% |
| Bowie Baysox | 3,500 | 2,531 | 969 | 38.3% |
| Everett AquaSox | 2,237 | 1,660 | 577 | 34.8% |
| Wilmington Blue Rocks | 2,519 | 1,913 | 606 | 31.7% |
| Dunedin Blue Jays | 495 | 389 | 106 | 27.2% |
| Erie SeaWolves | 3,098 | 2,438 | 660 | 27.1% |
| Peoria Chiefs | 2,472 | 1,957 | 515 | 26.3% |
| Cedar Rapids Kernels | 2,480 | 1,979 | 501 | 25.3% |
| Lake County Captains | 3,517 | 2,810 | 707 | 25.2% |
| Aberdeen IronBirds | 2,203 | 1,768 | 435 | 24.6% |
| Great Lakes Loons | 3,001 | 2,421 | 580 | 24.0% |
| Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | 3,494 | 2,843 | 651 | 22.9% |
| Stockton Ports | 1,778 | 1,466 | 312 | 21.3% |
| Jupiter Hammerheads | 888 | 741 | 147 | 19.8% |
| Bradenton Marauders | 1,075 | 904 | 171 | 18.9% |
| West Michigan Whitecaps | 5,730 | 4,826 | 904 | 18.7% |
| Jersey Shore BlueClaws | 4,793 | 4,057 | 736 | 18.1% |
| Hillsboro Hops | 2,405 | 2,040 | 365 | 17.9% |
| Norfolk Tides | 5,795 | 4,940 | 855 | 17.3% |
| Spokane Indians | 3,953 | 3,375 | 578 | 17.1% |
| South Bend Cubs | 4,915 | 4,203 | 712 | 16.9% |
| Harrisburg Senators | 4,212 | 3,673 | 539 | 14.7% |
| Asheville Tourists | 3,001 | 2,620 | 381 | 14.5% |
| Akron RubberDucks | 4,029 | 3,519 | 510 | 14.5% |
| Tri-City Dust Devils | 1,825 | 1,612 | 213 | 13.2% |
| Fort Wayne TinCaps | 5,313 | 4,704 | 609 | 12.9% |
| Eugene Emeralds | 2,316 | 2,066 | 250 | 12.1% |
| Tacoma Rainiers | 5,267 | 4,709 | 558 | 11.8% |
| Lynchburg Hillcats | 1,673 | 1,499 | 174 | 11.6% |
| Brooklyn Cyclones | 2,857 | 2,566 | 291 | 11.3% |
| Salt Lake Bees | 6,160 | 5,544 | 616 | 11.1% |
| Beloit Sky Carp | 1,606 | 1,447 | 159 | 11.0% |
| Hudson Valley Renegades | 2,870 | 2,589 | 281 | 10.9% |
| Gwinnett Stripers | 3,251 | 2,952 | 299 | 10.1% |
| Charleston RiverDogs | 4,288 | 3,910 | 378 | 9.7% |
| San Jose Giants | 1,881 | 1,719 | 162 | 9.4% |
| Hartford Yard Goats | 6,293 | 5,790 | 503 | 8.7% |
| Greensboro Grasshoppers | 4,501 | 4,144 | 357 | 8.6% |
| Altoona Curve | 4,597 | 4,233 | 364 | 8.6% |
| Portland Sea Dogs | 6,121 | 5,640 | 481 | 8.5% |
| Corpus Christi Hooks | 4,403 | 4,084 | 319 | 7.8% |
| Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | 2,289 | 2,126 | 163 | 7.7% |
| Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | 4,944 | 4,595 | 349 | 7.6% |
| Vancouver Canadians | 4,876 | 4,539 | 337 | 7.4% |
| Winston-Salem Dash | 4,686 | 4,367 | 319 | 7.3% |
| Durham Bulls | 6,736 | 6,288 | 448 | 7.1% |
| Biloxi Shuckers | 2,440 | 2,284 | 156 | 6.8% |
| Northwest Arkansas Naturals | 3,773 | 3,532 | 241 | 6.8% |
| Toledo Mud Hens | 6,214 | 5,821 | 393 | 6.8% |
| Buffalo Bisons | 7,165 | 6,715 | 450 | 6.7% |
| Lansing Lugnuts | 4,679 | 4,394 | 285 | 6.5% |
| Reno Aces | 5,040 | 4,741 | 299 | 6.3% |
| Lehigh Valley IronPigs | 7,990 | 7,522 | 468 | 6.2% |
| Columbus Clippers | 7,847 | 7,413 | 434 | 5.9% |
| Springfield Cardinals | 3,893 | 3,692 | 201 | 5.4% |
| Tampa Tarpons | 986 | 937 | 49 | 5.2% |
| Sacramento River Cats | 5,177 | 4,921 | 256 | 5.2% |
| Fredericksburg Nationals | 4,156 | 3,953 | 203 | 5.1% |
| St. Paul Saints | 6,492 | 6,176 | 316 | 5.1% |
| Tennessee Smokies | 4,548 | 4,338 | 210 | 4.8% |
| Hickory Crawdads | 1,841 | 1,758 | 83 | 4.7% |
| Indianapolis Indians | 7,842 | 7,500 | 342 | 4.6% |
| Rochester Red Wings | 6,077 | 5,845 | 232 | 4.0% |
| Omaha Storm Chasers | 4,166 | 4,010 | 156 | 3.9% |
| Richmond Flying Squirrels | 6,396 | 6,167 | 229 | 3.7% |
| Mississippi Braves | 2,545 | 2,457 | 88 | 3.6% |
| Salem Red Sox | 2,903 | 2,807 | 96 | 3.4% |
| Columbia Fireflies | 3,595 | 3,489 | 106 | 3.0% |
| Reading Fightin Phils | 5,916 | 5,755 | 161 | 2.8% |
| Augusta GreenJackets | 4,195 | 4,083 | 112 | 2.7% |
| Arkansas Travelers | 4,591 | 4,474 | 117 | 2.6% |
| Sugar Land Space Cowboys | 4,097 | 3,999 | 98 | 2.5% |
| Quad Cities River Bandits | 2,632 | 2,574 | 58 | 2.3% |
| Rome Braves | 1,534 | 1,501 | 33 | 2.2% |
| Frisco RoughRiders | 5,128 | 5,026 | 102 | 2.0% |
| Fort Myers Mighty Mussels | 1,675 | 1,643 | 32 | 1.9% |
| Iowa Cubs | 6,003 | 5,918 | 85 | 1.4% |
| Carolina Mudcats | 2,305 | 2,280 | 25 | 1.1% |
| Somerset Patriots | 5,181 | 5,134 | 47 | 0.9% |
| Pensacola Blue Wahoos | 4,255 | 4,242 | 13 | 0.3% |
| Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | 3,055 | 3,046 | 9 | 0.3% |
| Syracuse Mets | 5,022 | 5,009 | 13 | 0.3% |
| Bowling Green Hot Rods | 2,507 | 2,501 | 6 | 0.2% |
| Worcester Red Sox | 7,424 | 7,409 | 15 | 0.2% |
| Down East Wood Ducks | 1,526 | 1,526 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Dayton Dragons | 7,885 | 7,902 | -17 | -0.2% |
| Greenville Drive | 4,973 | 4,987 | -14 | -0.3% |
| Myrtle Beach Pelicans | 4,197 | 4,211 | -14 | -0.3% |
| Visalia Rawhide | 1,913 | 1,937 | -24 | -1.2% |
| Oklahoma City Dodgers | 5,633 | 5,742 | -109 | -1.9% |
| El Paso Chihuahuas | 6,772 | 6,909 | -137 | -2.0% |
| Fresno Grizzlies | 4,198 | 4,283 | -85 | -2.0% |
| Round Rock Express | 5,561 | 5,700 | -139 | -2.4% |
| Amarillo Sod Poodles | 5,385 | 5,542 | -157 | -2.8% |
| Las Vegas Aviators | 6,838 | 7,046 | -208 | -3.0% |
| Nashville Sounds | 7,736 | 8,002 | -266 | -3.3% |
| Lakeland Flying Tigers | 616 | 641 | -25 | -3.9% |
| San Antonio Missions | 4,183 | 4,359 | -176 | -4.0% |
| Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | 5,114 | 5,344 | -230 | -4.3% |
| Chattanooga Lookouts | 3,417 | 3,608 | -191 | -5.3% |
| Albuquerque Isotopes | 7,048 | 7,453 | -405 | -5.4% |
| Montgomery Biscuits | 2,557 | 2,710 | -153 | -5.6% |
| Daytona Tortugas | 1,514 | 1,606 | -92 | -5.7% |
| Louisville Bats | 5,512 | 5,855 | -343 | -5.9% |
| Clearwater Threshers | 2,493 | 2,658 | -165 | -6.2% |
| New Hampshire Fisher Cats | 3,947 | 4,216 | -269 | -6.4% |
| Inland Empire 66ers | 2,147 | 2,333 | -186 | -8.0% |
| Rocket City Trash Pandas | 4,911 | 5,361 | -450 | -8.4% |
| Charlotte Knights | 6,833 | 7,483 | -650 | -8.7% |
| Birmingham Barons | 3,837 | 4,205 | -368 | -8.8% |
| Midland RockHounds | 3,387 | 3,737 | -350 | -9.4% |
| Lake Elsinore Storm | 1,547 | 1,711 | -164 | -9.6% |
| Tulsa Drillers | 5,235 | 5,791 | -556 | -9.6% |
| Memphis Redbirds | 3,065 | 3,541 | -476 | -13.4% |
| St. Lucie Mets | 1,108 | 1,291 | -183 | -14.2% |
| Fayetteville Woodpeckers | 2,971 | 3,494 | -523 | -15.0% |
| Modesto Nuts | 1,259 | 1,642 | -383 | -23.3% |
