The Florida Marlins increased their attendance this season.
The Marlins drew 1,465,109 fans for 78 home dates or an average of 18,783 fans a game. That’s up from 1,335,075 or 16,688 fans a game for 80 dates in 2008. This season three games were postponed due to rain and doubleheaders were scheduled in which attendance was counted just once. The team wrapped up its home schedule at Land Shark Stadium Sunday getting shut out 4-0 by the New York Mets.
That’s still last in the National League, but up one spot from the basement, where the team dwelled (in attendance) for the past three seasons. The Oakland A’s, who are in 30th place right now, play three more games at home this week, but it’s unlikely their home attendance will surpass the Marlins'.
If the A's draw about an average of 35,000 per game in their final three games, we will once again be number 30. Personally, I don't care whether we are number 29 or 30.
I have been to the stadium and it is next to nowhere. I was staying in Deerfield Beach, great town by the way, and after the night games I never got back to the hotel before midnight. I can't imagine what the commute was like for people living in West Palm Beach or Miami.
Disclaimer: I got lost a lot.
If the attendance doesn't improve with the new stadium then I might raise an eyebrow. Until that time, I'm just impressed we get as many fans to the stadium as we do. And yes, I know, that many people never sat in the seats. But hey, those are the official stats.