Numbers Don't Lie: Fan interest in New York-Penn League is in decline

I love following New York-Penn League baseball. My wife and I have been season ticket holders for several years. Short season minor league baseball is an ideal summer activity for older people like me. The season runs from about June 15 until Labor Day, with a 76 game schedule. It allows you to focus on the season without interfering with the NHL playoffs or the late season MLB pennant races and playoffs. The season is over before the college football season starts.

I look forward to following former New York-Penn League prospects as they progress on the "road to the show" each season.

All that being said, numbers don't lie. Fan interest in the New York-Penn League is in decline.

At some point, if something doesn't happen to turn things around, some franchises will not be able continue operation in their current locations. Batavia is on life support with the league operating the team this year and the team may relocate in a year or two. That would be unfortunate. The league got its start back in 1939 (when it was known as the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League) after meetings were held in the old Richmond Hotel in downtown Batavia.

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Here's a look at what has happened to average game attendance over time going back to 2005. There are still 35 games left in the 2018 season. I'll leave an evaluation of what the numbers mean to someone else. See you at the ballpark.

Team	2018	2017	2016	2015	2010	2007	2005
Aberdeen	3,481	3,964	4,031	4,216	6,548	6,519	6,309
Auburn	1,241	1,281	1,427	1,408	1,535	1,790	1,835
Batavia	788	806	811	921	1,017	1,230	1,127
Brooklyn	5,253	5,190	5,614	6,234	7,147	8,194	7,522
Connecticut	2,318	2,225	2,291	2,311	1,486	(Oneonta)	(Oneonta)
Hudson Valley	3,875	3,998	4,231	4,426	4,415	4,391	4,526
Lowell	3,444	3,516	3,782	3,796	5,446	5,364	5,000
Mahoning Valley	2,917	2,997	2,632	3,002	3,015	3,703	4,159
State College	3,041	3,247	3,313	3,363	3,709	4,205	(New Jersey)
Staten Island	2,014	2,040	2,250	3,221	5,806	4,321	4,204
Tri-City	3,883	4,083	4,281	4,269	4,314	3,800	3,241
Vermont	2,274	2,362	2,332	2,243	2,524	2,737	2,876
West Virginia	2,016	2,029	2,188	2,265	(Jamestown)	(Jamestown)	(Jamestown)
Williamsport	1,998	1,797	1,727	1,780	1,774	1,916	2,086

 Source: MiLB.com

Photo Credit: NY-Penn League News

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