Bolstered by games played at the Miami Marlins' new ballpark, the Grapefruit League reported record-setting attendance this spring.
The 233 exhibition games played by Major League Baseball teams in Florida this year had a combined attendance of 1,622,957, or 6,965 per game, up from the previous record of 6,640 in 2010.
Floridas great weather and sporting events like Spring Training continue to draw people to our state, Gov. Rick Scott stated in a release. We are grateful to all of the visitors and businesses that made Spring Training a success and look forward to another exciting season of baseball.
The totals did not include games played between the pro teams and university squads.
The season benefited from expanded seating available at Boston Red Sox home games, as they played their first year at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, and the Marlins hosting the New York Yankees for two games at the new stadium in Miami.
A total of eight Florida Spring Training teams surpassed the 100,000 total attendance mark: The Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Marlins and Minnesota Twins each recorded more than 100,000 fans, while the Red Sox, Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies each topped 150,000.
2012 Team-by-Team Florida Spring Training Attendance:
ATLANTA BRAVES
- Disney's Wide World of Sports, Lake Buena Vista.
- Seventeen games (one cancellation): 127,321 total attendance; 7,489 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 10,755 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 10.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
- Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota.
- Fifteen games: 106,398 total attendance; 7,093 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 8,686 vs. New York Yankees, Sunday, March 18.
BOSTON RED SOX
- JetBlue Park, Fort Myers.
- Sixteen games: 151,417 total attendance; 9,464 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 10,002, vs. Washington Nationals, Monday, April 2.
DETROIT TIGERS
- Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland.
- Seventeen games; 134,899 total attendance; 7,935 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 10,115 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 24.
HOUSTON ASTROS
- Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee.
- Fourteen games (one cancellation): 56,379 total attendance; 4,027 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 5,774 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 31.
MIAMI MARLINS
- Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter.
- Sixteen games (14 at Roger Dean Stadium, two at Marlins Park): 126,961 total attendance; 7,935 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 32,005 vs. New York Yankees, Monday, April 2 at Marlins Park.
MINNESOTA TWINS
- Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers.
- Sixteen games: 117,503 total attendance; 7,344 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 8,285 vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, March 13.
NEW YORK METS
- Digital Domain Park, Port St. Lucie.
- Fifteen games; 80,377 total attendance; 5,358 average per game.
- Largest Crowd: 7,644 vs. New York Yankees, Tuesday, April 3 (all-time high attendance).
NEW YORK YANKEES
- Steinbrenner Field, Tampa.
- Fifteen games: 162,832 total attendance; 10,855 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 11,048, vs. Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, March 13.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
- Bright House Field, Clearwater.
- Sixteen games: 153,493 total attendance; 9,593 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 10,853, vs. Detroit Tigers, Monday, March 19.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
- McKechnie Field, Bradenton.
- Fifteen games: 82,390 total attendance; 5,493 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 6,595, vs. New York Yankees, Tuesday, March 6.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
- Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter.
- Thirteen games (one cancellation): 85,857 total attendance; 6,604 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 7,629, vs. Miami Marlins, Sunday, March 18.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
- Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte.
- Sixteen games: 87,916 total attendance; 5,495 average per game.
- Largest crowd: 7,826, vs. Boston Red Sox, Sunday, March 18.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
- Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin.
- Sixteen games: 76,008 total attendance; 4,751 per game average.
- Largest crowd: 5,541, vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, March 16.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
- Space Coast Stadium, Viera.
- Fifteen games: 73,206 total attendance; 4,880 per game average.
- Largest crowd: 7,246 vs. New York Yankees, Thursday, March 15.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
