Fans Flock to Ballparks for Florida Spring Training Games
A total of 1,374,478 fans attended 234 Florida Spring Training Games in the 2026 season, for an average of 5,874 fans per game. Three games were cancelled due to weather. The 2026 Florida Spring Training season began on Friday, February 21 and concluded on Tuesday, March 24.
The Florida Grapefruit League is host to 15 teams, playing in 12 facilities in 13 Florida locations. The annual Major League Baseball pilgrimage to Florida for pre-season preparation dates back to the 1888 season when the Washington Nationals traveled south to Jacksonville for pre-season workouts.
Besides giving fans an up close and personal look at Major League Baseball games in smaller venues, Florida Spring Training is an economic benefit to the State of Florida as a 2022 survey showed a total economic impact of $679.8 million in the Florida economy for the fiscal years of 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Highlights from the 2026 season included:
- The most attended day was Friday, March 14 when 65,769 fans attended nine games statewide.
- The New York Yankees led the way with a total attendance of 152,604 fans at George M. Steinbrenner Field, in Tampa. Not far behind were the Boston Red Sox (145,547) and the Philadelphia Phillies (143,392).
- The most-attended game of the year was the Philadelphia Phillies vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at BayCare Ballpark on Saturday, March 7, with 10,707 fans in Clearwater.
- The Toronto Blue Jays celebrated their 50th season in Dunedin and TD Ballpark. The Blue Jays are the only MLB team to have played in the same host community for the entirety of their existence.
- Two of Florida’s longest standing relationships between a MLB team and host communities also celebrated milestone anniversaries. The Detroit Tigers celebrated their 90th year in Lakeland, the longest-standing relationship between a team and host community in Major League Baseball. Clearwater has hosted the Philadelphia Phillies for 80 years.
Since 2000, a total of 38,554,861 fans have attended Spring Training games in Florida.
The 2026 Florida Spring Training attendance figure accounts for all games between Major League teams, played in the State of Florida. The 2026 totals also included games against WorlD Baseball Classic teams. Attendances are compiled daily by the Florida Sports Foundation, the State of Florida’s lead sports promotion and development organization and verified by each team.
Follow the Florida Grapefruit League at www.floridagrapefruitleague.com, or on X at @flaspringtrain.
2026 Team-by-Team Florida Spring Training Attendance
Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park, North Port
16 Games: 90.714 total attendance; 5,670 average per game
Largest Crowd: 7,473 vs. New York Yankees, Friday, March 13 and vs Boston Red Sox, Saturday, March 14
Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
15 Games (two rainoutS): 89,877; 5,922 average per game
Largest Crowd: 7,886, vs. New York Yankees, Friday, February 20
Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
16 Games: 145,547 total attendance; 9,097 average per game
Largest Crowd: 9,635, vs. Minnesota Twins, Thursday, March 19
Detroit Tigers – Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
15 Games: 97,375 total attendance; 6,955 average per game
Largest Crowd: 9,628 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 21
Houston Astros – CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
15 Games: 46,717 total attendance; 3,114 average per game
Largest Crowd: 4,400 vs. New York Mets, Thursday, March 19
Miami Marlins – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
15 Games: 49,247 total attendance; 3,283 average per game
Largest Crowd: 5,923 vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 8
Minnesota Twins – Lee Health Sports Complex, Fort Myers
17 Games: 112,875 total attendance; 6,640 average per game
Largest Crowd: 8,903 vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, March 8
New York Mets – Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
16 Games: 88,600 total attendance; 5,538 average per game
Largest Crowd: 7,277 vs. New York Yankees, Sunday, March 8
New York Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
16 Games: 152,604 total attendance; 9,538 average per game
Largest Crowd: 10,024 vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, March 22
Philadelphia Phillies – BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater
17 Games: 143,392 total attendance; 8,435 average per game
Largest Crowd: 10,707 vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, March 7
Pittsburgh Pirates – LECOM Park, Bradenton
17 Games: 91,806 total attendance; 5,400 average per game
Largest Crowd: 6,980 vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, March 21
St. Louis Cardinals – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
15 Games: 68,388 total attendance; 4,274 average per game
Largest Crowd: 5,612 vs. New York Mets, Saturday, March 7
Tampa Bay Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
14 Games: 60,534 total attendance; 4,324 average per game
Largest Crowd: 6,285 vs. New York Yankees, Tuesday, March 17
Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark, Dunedin
15 Games: 88,434 total attendance; 5,896 average per game
Largest Crowd: 7,269, vs Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, March 18
Washington Nationals – CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
14 Games (One Rainout): 48,368 total attendance; 3,455 average per game
Largest Crowd: 7,372 vs. New York Yankees, Saturday, March 7
Florida Spring Training Total Attendance
234 Games (3 games rained out): 1,374,478 total attendance; 5,874 average per game
Largest Crowd: 10,707, Toronto Blue Jays vs Philadelphia Phillies, BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater, Saturday, March 7