With the end of MiLB's regular season, attendance numbers are in. That means let's take a crack at a "Common Sense" MiLB - common sense in that classification is pegged to attendance. The 30 best attended MiLB teams become AAA, the next best 30 AA and so on. Short Season A and Advanced Rookie will be lumped together as "Short Season Leagues" since there aren't exactly 30 teams at each of those levels. I did this
two years ago and thought I'd give it another go especially given the relocations that took place this previous off-season.
AAA
Team
|
Current Level
|
Current League
|
Current Affiliate
|
2017 Avg Attendance
Indianapolis Indians|AAA|International|Pirates|9,159
Charlotte Knights|AAA|International|White Sox|9,109
Columbus Clippers|AAA|International|Indians|9,060
Nashville Sounds|AAA|Pacific Coast|Athletics|8,861
Round Rock Express|AAA|Pacific Coast|Rangers|8,724
Lehigh Valley IronPigs|AAA|International|Phillies|8,541
Buffalo Bisons|AAA|International|Blue Jays|8,101
Dayton Dragons|Low A|Midwest|Reds|8,038
Sacramento River Cats|AAA|Pacific Coast|Giants|8,032
Albuquerque Isotopes|AAA|Pacific Coast|Rockies|7,978
El Paso Chihuahuas|AAA|Pacific Coast|Padres|7,894
Iowa Cubs|AAA|Pacific Coast|Cubs|7,763
Durham Bulls|AAA|International|Rays|7,716
Toledo Mud Hens|AAA|International|Tigers|7,614
Salt Lake Bees|AAA|Pacific Coast|Angels|6,903
Louisville Bats|AAA|International|Reds|6,868
Frisco RoughRiders|AA|Texas|Rangers|6,812
Rochester Red Wings|AAA|International|Twins|6,553
Oklahoma City Dodgers|AAA|Pacific Coast|Dodgers|6,533
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders|AAA|International|Yankees|6,462
Pawtucket Red Sox|AAA|International|Red Sox|6,406
Vancouver Canadians|SS A|Northwest|Blue Jays|6,303
Fresno Grizzlies|AAA|Pacific Coast|Astros|6,208
Reading Fightin' Phils|AA|Eastern|Phillies|6,054
Richmond Flying Squirrels|AA|Eastern|Giants|6,034
Birmingham Barons|AA|Southern|White Sox|5,935
Fort Wayne TinCaps|Low A|Midwest|Padres|5,931
Kane County Cougars|Low A|Midwest|Diamondbacks|5,889
Hartford Yard Goats|AA|Eastern|Rockies|5,812
Portland Sea Dogs|AA|Eastern|Red Sox|5,653
AA
Team
|
Current Level
|
Current League
|
Current Affiliate
|
2017 Avg Attendance
Tulsa Drillers|AA|Texas|Dodgers|5,858
West Michigan Whitecaps|Low A|Midwest|Tigers|5,565
New Orleans Baby Cakes|AAA|Pacific Coast|Marlins|4,710
Norfolk Tides|AAA|International|Orioles|5,443
Tacoma Rainiers|AAA|Pacific Coast|Mariners|5,434
Omaha Storm Chasers|AAA|Pacific Coast|Royals|5,355
Spokane Indians|SS A|Northwest|Rangers|5,315
South Bend Cubs|Low A|Midwest|Cubs|5,285
Greensboro Grasshoppers|Low A|South Atlantic|Marlins|5,235
Lakewood BlueClaws|Low A|South Atlantic|Phillies|5,208
Akron Rubber Ducks|AA|Eastern|Indians|5,202
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp|AA|Southern|Marlins|5,171
Brooklyn Cyclones|SS A|New York-Penn|Mets|5,161
Trenton Thunder|AA|Eastern|Yankees|5,133
Memphis Redbirds|AAA|Pacific Coast|Cardinals|5,073
Las Vegas 51s|AAA|Pacific Coast|Mets|5,057
Tennessee Smokies|AA|Southern|Cubs|4,981
Arkansas Travelers|AA|Texas|Mariners|4,975
Greenville Drive|Low A|South Atlantic|Red Sox|4,899
Reno Aces|AAA|Pacific Coast|Diamondbacks|4,894
Corpus Christi Hooks|AA|Texas|Astros|4,871
Frederick Keys|High A|Carolina|Orioles|4,824
Springfield Cardinals|AA|Texas|Cardinals|4,801
Columbia Fireflies|Low A|South Atlantic|Mets|4,773
New Hampshire Fisher Cats|AA|Eastern|Blue Jays|4,735
Syracuse Chiefs|AAA|International|Nationals|4,636
San Antonio Missions*|AA|Texas|Padres|4,557
Charleston RiverDogs|Low A|South Atlantic|Yankees|4,494
Northwest Arkansas Naturals|AA|Texas|Royals|4,471
Lansing Lugnuts|Low A|Midwest|Blue Jays|4,468
High A
Team
|
Current Level
|
Current League
|
Current Affiliate
|
2017 Avg Attendance
Winston-Salem Dash|High A|Carolina|White Sox|4,415
Altoona Curve|AA|Eastern|Pirates|4,395
Lexington Legends|Low A|South Atlantic|Royals|4,326
Pensacola Blue Wahoos|AA|Southern|Reds|4,320
Midland RockHounds|AA|Texas|Athletics|4,211
Colorado Springs Sky Sox**|AAA|Pacific Coast|Brewers|4,208
Tri-City ValleyCats|SS A|New York-Penn|Astros|4,083
Hudson Valley Renegades|SS A|New York-Penn|Rays|4,012
Harrisburg Senators|AA|Eastern|Nationals|3,983
Aberdeen IronBirds|SS A|New York-Penn|Orioles|3,964
Potomac Nationals|High A|Carolina|Nationals|3,869
Wilmington Blue Rocks|High A|Carolina|Royals|3,845
Lowell Spinners|SS A|New York-Penn|Red Sox|3,675
Myrtle Beach Pelicans|High A|Carolina|Cubs|3,587
Bowie BaySox|AA|Eastern|Orioles|3,453
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers|Low A|Midwest|Brewers|3,438
Ogden Raptors|Rookie|Pioneer|Dodgers|3,409
Montgomery Biscuits|AA|Southern|Rays|3,409
Hillsboro Hops|SS A|Northwest|Diamondbacks|3,379
Erie SeaWolves|AA|Eastern|Tigers|3,350
Salem Red Sox|High A|Carolina|Red Sox|3,311
Eugene Emeralds|SS A|Northwest|Cubs|3,297
Binghamton Rumble Ponies|AA|Eastern|Mets|3,289
Quad Cities River Bandits|Low A|Midwest|Astros|3,286
State College Spikes|SS A|New York-Penn|Cardinals|3,249
Delmarva Shorebirds|Low A|South Atlantic|Orioles|3,236
Lake County Captains|Low A|Midwest|Indians|3,223
Boise Hawks|SS A|Northwest|Rockies|3,196
Chattanooga Lookouts|AA|Southern|Twins|3,181
Peoria Chiefs|Low A|Midwest|Cardinals|3,174
Low A
Team
|
Current Level
|
Current League
|
Current Affiliate
|
2017 Avg Attendance
Gwinnett Braves|AAA|International|Braves|3,135
Mahoning Valley Scrappers|SS A|New York-Penn|Indians|3,040
Great Lakes Loons|Low A|Midwest|Dodgers|3,021
Clearwater Threshers|High A|Florida State|Phillies|2,988
Billings Mustangs|Rookie|Pioneer|Reds|2,937
Everett AquaSox|SS A|Northwest|Mariners|2,899
Lake Elsinore Storm|High A|California|Padres|2,894
Inland Empire 66ers|High A|California|Angels|2,891
Mississippi Braves|AA|Southern|Braves|2,889
Bowling Green Hot Rod|Low A|Midwest|Rays|2,855
Carolina Mudcats|High A|Carolina|Brewers|2,800
Augusta GreenJackets|Low A|South Atlantic|Giants|2,743
Asheville Tourists|Low A|South Atlantic|Rockies|2,706
Stockton Ports|High A|California|Athletics|2,669
Biloxi Shuckers|AA|Southern|Brewers|2,572
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes|High A|California|Dodgers|2,452
Lancaster JetHawks|High A|California|Rockies|2,418
Idaho Falls Chukars|Rookie|Pioneer|Royals|2,390
Cedar Rapids Kernals|Low A|Midwest|Twins|2,378
Rome Braves|Low A|South Atlantic|Braves|2,374
San Jose Giants|High A|California|Giants|2,368
Vermont Lake Monsters|SS A|New York-Penn|Athletics|2,362
Pulaski Yankees|Rookie|Appalachian|Yankees|2,360
Tri-City Dust Devils|SS A|Northwest|Padres|2,275
Connecticut Tigers|SS A|New York-Penn|Tigers|2,225
Grand Junction Rockies|Rookie|Pioneer|Rockies|2,150
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes|SS A|Northwest|Giants|2,132
Hickory Crawdads|Low A|South Atlantic|Rangers|2,129
Modesto Nuts|High A|California|Mariners|2,108
Lynchburg Hillcats|High A|California|Indians|2,084
Short Season Leagues
Team
|
Current Level
|
Current League
|
Current Affiliate
|
2017 Avg Attendance
Daytona Tortugas|High A|Florida State|Reds|2,064
West Virginia Power|Low A|South Atlantic|Pirates|2,057
Staten Island Yankees|SS A|New York-Penn|Yankees|2,039
West Virginia Black Bears|SS A|New York-Penn|Pirates|2,029
Down East Wood Ducks|High A|Carolina|Rangers|2,025
Fort Myers Miracle|High A|Florida State|Twins|2,024
St. Lucie Mets|High A|Florida State|Mets|2,005
Johnson City Cardinals|Rookie|Appalachian|Cardinals|1,976
Charlotte Stone Crabs|High A|Florida State|Rays|1,916
Missoula Osprey|Rookie|Pioneer|Diamondbacks|1,906
Clinton LumberKings|Low A|Midwest|Mariners|1,838
Visalia Rawhide|High A|California|Diamondbacks|1,806
Williamsport Crosscutters|SS A|New York-Penn|Phillies|1,797
Jackson Generals|AA|Southern|Diamondbacks|1,775
Orem Owlz|Rookie|Pioneer|Angels|1,579
Mobile BayBears|AA|Southern|Angels|1,498
Tampa Yankees|High A|Florida State|Yankees|1,422
Hagerstown Suns|Low A|South Atlantic|Nationals|1,380
Bradenton Marauders|High A|Florida State|Pirates|1,301
Auburn Doubledays|SS A|New York-Penn|Nationals|1,274
Great Falls Voyagers|Rookie|Pioneer|White Sox|1,259
Greeneville Astros|Rookie|Appalachian|Astros|1,139
Florida Fire Frogs|High A|Florida State|Braves|1,082
Kannapolis Intimidators|Low A|South Atlantic|White Sox|1,080
Danville Braves|Rookie|Appalachian|Braves|1,053
Burlington Bees|Low A|Midwest|Angels|1,048
Jupiter Hammerheads|High A|Florida State|Marlins|1,046
Burlington Royals|Rookie|Appalachian|Royals|1,045
Beloit Snappers|Low A|Midwest|Athletics|959
Palm Beach Cardinals|High A|Florida State|Cardinals|934
Kingsport Mets|Rookie|Appalachian|Mets|901
Helena Brewers***|Rookie|Pioneer|Brewers|891
Lakeland Flying Tigers|High A|Florida State|Tigers|815
Batavia Muckdogs|SS A|New York-Penn|Marlins|815
Bluefield Blue Jays|Rookie|Appalachian|Blue Jays|697
Bristol Pirates|Rookie|Appalachian|Pirates|671
Elizabethton Twins|Rookie|Appalachian|Twins|586
Dunedin Blue Jays|High A|Florida State|Blue Jays|573
Princeton Rays|Rookie|Appalachian|Rays|536
Buies Creek Astros****|High A|Carolina|Astros|517
* = Relocation to Amarillo, TX scheduled for 2019 season
** = Relocation to San Antonio, TX scheduled for 2019 season
*** = Relocation to Colorado Springs, CO scheduled for 2019 season
**** = Buies Creek is temporary location until 2019 season when the team will move to Fayetteville, NC.