Over 1.6 million fans attended Cactus League games
Mar 31, 2014, 3:37 PM | Updated: 7:24 pm
PHOENIX — Spring training in Arizona just ended its 68th season, and despite fewer game days, over 1.6 million fans came to cheer on their favorite teams.
In 2013, 1.73 million fans attended Cactus League games, compared to 1.686 million this year. This year’s schedule was a little different, however, and a few factors played into the slightly lower attendance total.
There were 32 game days this year, as opposed to 37 in 2013, but the “daily turnout far outpac[ed] last year’s attendance mark after 32 game days,” according to a press release. After 32 days of game play this year, “attendance was 121,000 higher than the same period last year.”
In addition to fewer game days, Arizona lost both the Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers to a series in Australia, which also led to an overall lower attendance.
The opening of Cubs Park set attendance records this year, and in spring 2015, the Oakland A’s will move into their new ballpark at a renovated Hohokam Stadium.