Attendance Slides Across the Minors
The latest attendance figures released by Minor League Baseball show a continued downward trend, with the league reporting 23,118,375 fans through the early season, down from 23,515,079 at the same point a year ago.
That translates to an average of 3,696 spectators per game, a modest dip of 76 fans compared with the previous season, and it represents the third straight year of decline after peaks of 32.148 million in 2023, 31.345 million in 2024 and 30.365 million in 2025.
Bright Spots in a Sea of Declines
While the majority of the 120 clubs are seeing reductions, the data does reveal pockets of growth. The Ontario Tower Buzzers have surged to 4,035 fans per game, up from just 1,272 a year earlier, and the Chattanooga Lookouts, who opened a new stadium, are up 1,923 fans per game.
Conversely, the Winston‑Salem Dash experienced the steepest drop, losing 1,142 fans per game, falling from 3,902 to 2,760. Other clubs such as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs remain among the attendance leaders, holding the second‑most popular spot behind the Dayton Dragons.
Looking Ahead
The mixed picture underscores the challenges facing the minors as they balance stadium upgrades, market outreach and economic pressures. New ballparks can spark short‑term spikes, yet the broader pattern suggests that fan interest is waning across many regions.