Levine: Cubs Relish Fan Support In Memorable Season

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- In the eighth inning of the Cubs' makeup game against the Royals on Monday night that served as the home regular-season finale, director of media relations Peter Chase announced the total season's attendance was 2,959,812. The final tally was up more than 307,000 from 2014 and a whopping 600,000 from 2013.

The attendance number was significant on many different levels, including giving the Cubs the ultimate 10th man this season in which they went 49-32 at home. Chicago had 13 walk-off wins this season for the Wrigley Field faithful to go crazy for, including Monday's 1-0 win in 11 innings, which was won on Chris Denorfia's walk-off homer.

Before's Monday's game, the Cubs threw baseballs into the stands to thank their fans.

"What a night -- fan appreciation night -- we got to do that cool thing before the game (throwing baseballs)," Denorfia said. "Hopefully we did not hurt anybody. All year they were great. Maybe they were a little skeptical at first. After that first month, they started believing. Now we have everyone clapping along with the dugout (on Starlin Castro's walk-up music). It is great when you can bring the fans along with you, and they are on board."

The 13 walk-off wins were the most for the Cubs in a regular season since they accrued that many in 1932. The team tipped its hats to the great fan base and the energy they have added to the mix.

The Cubs were also the top road draw in baseball during 2015, averaging over 36,000 on the road.

"These fans have been terrific, and we also get the extra energy on the road, where we hear Cub fans all over the league " Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "You cannot quantify that in wins, but you sure can as far as the extra juice a team gets."

The nearly 2.96 million fans the Cubs drew is their most at home since 2011, the last time they drew 3 million. The Cubs would've topped 3 million this season if not for having the bleachers closed during renovations for all of April and part of May and June. More than 100,000 bleacher seats weren't available for purchase during the early part of the year.

The extra revenue should help up the baseball budget for next season. The payroll was around $120 million for 2015. The average ticket price is $48 at Wrigley Field, and the average per-capita (other food, clothes items purchased at a game, etc.) is $20 per per ticket sold. Accounting for no-shows, that would bring the approximate increase in ticket revenue to between $18 million to $19 million more than 2014.

Owner Tom Rickets said Monday that revenue alone won't determine what will constitute the  development of the 25-man roster each season.

"The life blood of our organization should continue to revolve around scouting and player development," Ricketts said. "We will have more revenue, but the budget will be determined by Theo (Epstein) and the baseball people projections of our  young players."

The Cubs' 49 home wins were the most for them at Wrigley Field since 2008, when they won 55.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.