Big year for the Fort Myers Miracle (High A; Florida State League), as the team set three attendance marks, including per-game and overall attendance, in their first season at the newly renovated Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex.
In all, the Miracle welcomed a record 133,817 fans through gates over 66 openings during the 2015 campaign.
The Miracle completed the season with the best overall win-loss record in the Florida State League South Division at 76-63 and posted the second most wins at home in the league with a 43-35 mark. The previous record of 124,749 was set during the 2008 season with the Miracle breaking the 130,000 mark for the first time in team history.
“We want to thank all of the fans that attended a Miracle game in 2015 and helped us set these new records,” said SJS Beacon Baseball President and Miracle owner Jason Hochberg. “These records are a testament to the hard work of our staff, team and the beautifully renovated Hammond Stadium.”
The 2015 season got off to a tremendous start with the home opener setting a Miracle record for single game attendance. On April 10, the Miracle hosted the Charlotte Stone Crabs and 9,209 fans watched a 3-0 win for the home team.
In addition to the overall attendance record, the Miracle also boasted the highest average attendance for a single season in team history. Over 66 home openings, the Miracle averaged 2,028 fans. The previous highest average attendance per game was set in 2011 at 1,911 fans.
The home schedule featured seven dates with over 4,000 fans at the ballpark including 8,011 on the first-ever fireworks show at Hammond Stadium on July 4. The Miracle also drew 5,129 on May 8 for an appearance by Butch Patrick, who was Eddie Munster on The Munsters television show in the 1960s. The next day on May 9, the gates were opened to 4,009 fans that had the opportunity to meet local radio legends Stan and Haney from 96 K-ROCK and donate for a bobblehead in the likeness of the two hosts.
“We want to beat these records in 2016,” said Hochberg. “We will do so with exciting new promotions and the hosting of the Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday, June 18. Thank you again Miracle fans.”