MLB sets spring training attendance mark

MLB;-Toronto-Blue-Jays

MLB said Tuesday that spring training attendance was up 11.7 per cent from last season's total of 3,610,738, and the record average was a 3.8 per cent increase from a year ago. (Kathy Willens/AP)

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has set a spring training attendance record, breaking the 4 million mark this year and averaging nearly 8,400 fans a game.

The league said Tuesday that attendance was up 11.7 per cent from last season’s total of 3,610,738, and the record average was a 3.8 per cent increase from a year ago.

This time, the 481 dates drew 4,034,708 fans for an average of 8,388. That topped the previous record of 3,823,479 set in 2013, while the average attendance eclipsed the previous best of 8,078 in 2014.

The Chicago Cubs drew 222,415 fans to Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, the largest spring training attendance total for any team in history.

The Boston Red Sox sold out each of their 15 completed home games. They have sold out all 63 Grapefruit League games at JetBlue Park since its 2012 opening.

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