The Quad Cities River Bandits reached a franchise milestone last night, welcoming the seven-millionth fan to attend a game since the team began playing in the Midwest League in 1960.
With the River Bandits’ crowd of 2,898 at Modern Woodmen Park for Saturday’s game against the Clinton Lumberkings, a total of 7,000,201 fans have witnessed Quad Cities Midwest League regular season baseball games over the past 53 seasons at the ballpark formerly known as John O’Donnell Stadium and Municipal Stadium.
“This milestone represents the tradition of Midwest League baseball for more than a half-century in the Quad Cities and the passionate commitment of the greatest fans in all of minor league baseball,” said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. “There are very few A-ball teams that have drawn seven million fans, and all the credit goes to our great fans and the City of Davenport, for helping build and maintain the best ballpark in minor league baseball.”
Since becoming the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2008 playing in Modern Woodmen Park, the franchise has drawn more than one million fans.
This season alone the River Bandits have already had three crowds of more than 7,000 fans, including a season-high 7,380 on Tuesday, July 3. That crowd was the largest since 7,538 attended the River Bandits game July 3, 2009. Since Quad Cities became an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2005 season, there have been six crowds of more than 7,000 – three in 2009 and three in 2012.
“We are excited to celebrate an incredible milestone in a season of already outstanding fan support,” said River Bandits General Manager Stefanie Brown. “We cannot wait to begin welcoming the next seven million fans to Modern Woodmen Park.”
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