It was a disappointing season for the Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, who finished the regular season 76-67, missing the Triple-A playoffs. However, that didn’t stop Red Sox fans from showing out in Worcester as the team finished the season top 10 in attendance across 120 minor league baseball teams. 

As noted by Baseball America, the WooSox finished the season drawing 459,404 fans across 70 home games, the ninth most in the minors. 

After talks with the Rhode Island state legislature stalled over funding for a new stadium, the Red Sox ended a 50-year relationship with the city of Pawtucket and moved their Triple-A affiliate to Worcester, Mass., in the brand-new Polar Park, which opened for the 2021 season. 

Red Sox fans had plenty of reason to take the Mass Pike West to Worcester in 2026 to check out the future of the Red Sox organization. 

Prior to establishing himself as one of the best young pitchers in baseball, Payton Tolle began the season in Triple-A posting a 3.00 ERA in three starts before being promoted to Boston. He was joined in Worcester by former Red Sox top prospect Kristian Campbell, who began to rediscover the offensive form that made him a top 15 prospect in the sport in 2024. Later in the season, the Red Sox promoted top prospect shortstop Franklin Arias to Worcester, where he continued to cement himself as one of the sport's premier prospects. 

In addition to top prospects in the Red Sox system, Worcester saw several big-league players return from rehab assignments, including Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Roman Anthony, and the organizational debut of All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman. 

However, it takes more than a couple of top prospects and rehabbing big leaguers to draw fans to the minor leagues. For many fans, minor league games offer a cheaper way for families to spend a night at the ballpark, and Worcester recognized that by offering $10-12 “smiley meals” for children and $5 16-oz draft beers for adults.  

Beyond meal deals and cheap beer, Worcester’s front office team did an incredible job creating promotions and events to draw fans in, including Taylor Swift night, Friday night fireworks, and Taco Tuesdays. They also honored 23 surrounding towns with “Town Takeover” nights throughout the season. 

Two years after being named Sports Business Journal's No. 1 minor league city in America, the Portland Sea Dogs saw a total attendance of 379,046 in 66 games at Hadlock Field, the 23rd-highest total in the minors. 

Speaking of SBJ's No. 1 minor league city of the year, the Greenville, South Carolina, region, home of the Red Sox High-A affiliate Drive, received the honor in 2026. The Drive's Fluor Field drew 305,320 fans in 65 games, ranking as the 37th most attended minor league park. 

Finally, there's the Single-A Salem Ridge Yaks, whose home games are played at Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark. In 64 home games, Salem drew 170,239 fans, the 85th-best mark.  

With the Red Sox officially in offseason mode, Zach Coe and David Azer are back on the 'Entering Kenmore' Podcast discussing how close Boston is to winning a World Series, offseason needs, and whether or not the 2026 season was successful. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts, or in the YouTube player below: