Cubs, Mariners set single-game Spring Training attendance record

MESA, Ariz. -- Pete Crow-Armstrong has a pretty good view of Sloan Park from his spot in center field for the Cubs. On Saturday afternoon, it was hard for him to not notice the outfield berm packed from line to line with fans.

¡°You saw the crowd out there,¡± Crow-Armstrong said. ¡°That felt like a little bit more than a Spring Training game.¡±

In fact, it was a record-breaking crowd that filed into Sloan Park for a high-scoring 9-8 victory over the Mariners. The Cubs announced an attendance of 16,161, which set a new bar for both the Cactus League or Grapefruit League. The previous mark (16,152) was also set by the Cubs on Feb. 25, 2023, against the Giants.

Crow-Armstrong put on a show for the fans, too, belting a solo home run and a grand slam in the win.

Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd is experiencing his first Spring Training with the ballclub after 10 years spent between the Tigers, Guardians, Mariners and Blue Jays. Boyd worked into the fourth inning for Chicago and could feel the difference in Saturday¡¯s environment.

¡°It was fun to do that today out there with a huge crowd,¡± Boyd said. ¡°That was exciting. It¡¯s kind of cool to have that atmosphere in Spring Training.¡±

Earlier this spring, Cubs manager Craig Counsell -- in his second season at the helm -- raved about the crowds that consistently pack Sloan Park.

¡°I think our Spring Training venue is as good as it gets,¡± Counsell said. ¡°It almost recreates Wrigley in this mini version, which is so cool and really rare, I think, in Major League Baseball.¡±