Minor League Baseball Attendance Reaches Nearly 40.5 Million in 2018 20 teams set single game attendance records, seven post season attendance records
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A total of 40,450,337 fans passed through the gates at Minor League Baseball games in 2018, marking the 14th consecutive season that Minor League Baseball’s 176 teams in 15 leagues drew more than 40 million fans.
The Triple-A Charlotte Knights led all teams in total attendance (619,639) and average attendance (8,980), while the Frisco RoughRiders (468,259) led the Double-A level for the 14th consecutive season, the Dayton Dragons (550,725) led the Class-A level and the Vancouver Canadians (239,086) topped the Short Season and Rookie level leagues.
“Minor League Baseball continues to be the best entertainment value in sports, and these numbers support that,” said Pat O’Conner, Minor League Baseball President & CEO. “For us to top 40 million fans for the 14th consecutive season despite the weather challenges our teams faced in April and May is a testament to the continued support of our loyal fan bases and the creative promotions and hard work done by all of our teams across the country.”
Twenty teams set single-game stadium attendance records in 2018 (Albuquerque Isotopes, Augusta GreenJackets, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Birmingham Barons, Charlotte Knights, Corpus Christi Hooks, Erie SeaWolves, Frisco RoughRiders, Grand Junction Rockies, Great Lakes Loons, Hillsboro Hops, Johnson City Cardinals, Louisville Bats, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Omaha Storm Chasers, Pulaski Yankees, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Salem Red Sox, Tri-City Dust Devils and Winston-Salem Dash).
Seven teams set franchise records for single-season attendance in their current ballparks (Augusta GreenJackets, Eugene Emeralds, Hartford Yard Goats, Johnson City Cardinals, Nashville Sounds, Pulaski Yankees and Spokane Indians).
Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversion program, consisting of 167 games where MiLB teams adopted Spanish-language identities, drew over 85,000 more fans than those teams drew on the same date last year, a 12 percent increase.
The Augusta GreenJackets drew 255,155 fans in the inaugural season at SRP Park, the only new ballpark to open in Minor League Baseball in 2018. Since 2000, Minor League Baseball teams have opened 65 new ballparks, with new stadiums scheduled to open in Amarillo, Texas, Fayetteville, North Carolina and Las Vegas in 2019.
The Dayton Dragons’ streak of consecutive sellouts, which began in 2000, and is the longest in professional sports history, sits at 1,316 games, and helped the team eclipse 11 million fans all time at Fifth Third Field. The Hartford Yard Goats recorded 47 sellouts, while the Tri-City Dust Devils set a franchise record for average attendance, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies had their highest average attendance in 25 years, and the West Michigan Whitecaps posted their highest average since 2001. The Boise Hawks reached their highest season attendance figure in 18 years and have increased season attendance by 44 percent in the last four seasons. The Fort Wayne TinCaps cracked four million fans all time and the Bowling Green Hot Rods topped two million fans all time.
The 2019 Minor League Baseball season will open on April 4.
###
About Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball® clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2018, Minor League Baseball attracted 40.5 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information visit MiLB.com.
Follow Minor League Baseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
=====================
Hundreds of Utahns to Gather on Climate Solutions During Utah Climate Week 2018
Annual event features dozens of community events from October 1 – 7
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – September 18, 2018 – More than two dozen organizations and businesses will come together for nearly 30 events such as film screenings and art exhibits, spanning from Logan to Kanab, for Utah Climate Week 2018 from October 1-7. Utah Climate Week 2018, organized by the Utah Climate Action Network, is a one-of-a-kind platform for organizations and leaders to highlight the impact climate change is having on Utah and to share ideas and innovations to address this challenge.
“We all have a role to play in turning the tide on climate change,” said Sarah Wright, executive director of Utah Clean Energy. “Climate change is an area where we, as a state, need to be more proactive and collaborative. Utah Climate Week is the perfect way for us to come together as a community, see new opportunities and move forward in combating climate change.”
The devastating wildfires in Utah and throughout the west this year, are a stark reminder that climate change is not a distant concern but happening now. Hot and dry conditions have led 2018 to be the most costly wildfire season in Utah in over a decade, with at least 370 structures consumed by wildfires this year and a cost of over $70 million in firefighting costs. Low snowpack has created severe drought conditions for much of Utah since January. Utah Climate Week 2018 is a unique opportunity to bring together our communities in a collective effort to educate, inspire and call for climate action in Utah.
“We are seeing firsthand the impact that rising temperatures are having on Utah’s snowpack and our outdoor industry,” says Protect Our Winters Alliance member and professional snowboarder Griffin Siebert. “We urge community members to join us in taking concrete action in our own lives and communities to address the major risks that climate change poses to our future.”
The overarching message throughout Utah Climate Week is on solutions. Energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative transportation options and sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly affordable and accessible across the nation and in Utah.
“Park City has taken a leadership role in climate action with North America’s most ambitious climate goals. Our community is already seeing the benefits. Our electric buses are a centerpiece of our transit, our e-bikes have gotten people out of their cars, and our work with the utility will lead to a clean renewable energy future that will create jobs in Utah. Utah Climate Week provides a great opportunity to highlight how communities can work together to find solutions to climate change,” said Park City Mayor Andy Beerman.
To learn more about Utah Climate Week 2018 and see a full list of participating organizations and events, visit utahclimateactionnetwork.com.
# # #
About the Utah Climate Action Network:
The Utah Climate Action Network is a partnership between government, research institutions, non-profits, faith-based organizations, the private sector and individuals working to address climate change in Utah. The Network’s mission focuses on “Fostering diverse conversation, leadership and coordinated action to ensure a collaborative response to climate change and its impacts on the people, economies and prosperity of Utah.” Since its public launch in spring 2016 the Network has been hosting regular convenings for participating organizations, plus numerous additional opportunities for sharing technical information on local climate risks and solutions.
=====================
Sen. Lee Introduces the Screening Partnership Reform Act
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Screening Partnership Reform Act, a bill that would make changes to the Transportation Safety Administration’s Screening Partnership Program.
“While the Screening Partnership program has existed for almost 20 years, only 22 airports participate in the program, despite its safety record and cost-effectiveness,” Sen. Lee said. “This bill would clear some of the bureaucratic red-tape surrounding this program in an attempt to unleash the potential cost-saving benefits of these private screening contractors, while also simplifying the application process and improving the efficiency of our screenings. Simply put – this bill would save American’s money and make them safer.”
The bill would codify reforms to TSA’s cost estimation process to make it more accurate by including all federal government costs, including government benefits, when assessing how much the government would spend on a contract. It would allow private screening companies to annually submit recommendations on how to improve the screening processes and also empowers airports to make the decision whether to go with a TSA contract or a TSA-approved private screening company.
An online version of this release can be found here.
