Indians Again Top Minor Leagues in Attendance
The 12 millionth fan is expected at tonight's game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFor the second consecutive year, the Indianapolis Indians led Minor League Baseball in attendance. More than 641,000 fans visited Victory Field during the 2017 season, also marking the third time in five seasons the Indians led the MiLB.
The figure is an increase of approximately 5,000 fans over the previous year. The Indians also topped the league in average attendance with 9,159 fans per game.
"We’re very grateful the Indianapolis and central Indiana communities continue to support us year in and year out," Indians President and General Manager Randy Lewandowski said in a news release. “There are so many wonderful options for entertainment in our city, but there’s something special about a baseball game at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis. Our staff’s commitment to providing a first-class experience is unmatched, and we see that in achievements like this.”
Indians Chief Executive Officer Bruce Schumacher says the team received positive feedback on its $2.4 million investment in new video boards and an upgraded sound system. He says they will continue to invest in Victory Field, including the recently-announced $2 million plan to renovate the suites at the ballpark.
While the 2017 regular season has concluded, the Indians are preparing for its first-round playoff series with the Durham Bulls, which begins Wednesday in North Carolina. Victory Field will host game 3 of the best-of-five series on Friday and, if necessary, games 4 and 5 on Saturday and Sunday.
Two other Indiana Minor League teams showed strong attendance during the 2017 season. The South Bend Cubs broke a franchise record with more than 354,000 fans, while the Fort Wayne TinCaps recorded its second-highest attendance total with more than 409,000 fans.