The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) both hit attendance milestones over the weekend.
On Sunday, the Sky Sox welcomed 10-year-old Granger Kinne of Divide, CO through the front gates of Security Service Field as the six-millionth fan to attend a regular season Sky Sox game. Granger was attending the game with mother Karen and family friend JoDee Weaver, when he was stopped just inside the gate where he was met by a large group of Sky Sox staff and much fanfare.
For being the six millionth fan, Granger was awarded with an authentic Sky Sox jersey with a special 6,000,000 fan designation across the back, a Sky Sox team autographed baseball, and two season tickets for the 2013 season. In addition, Granger was invited onto the field before today’s game and threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
The Sky Sox have surpass 300,000 fans for four straight seasons and are on pace for their fifth straight this year. In 2012, the Sky Sox have already drawn a team-record seven crowds over 8,000 with 13 openings still to come.
The Keys welcomed the seven-millionth fan in franchise history Saturday night.
Since the team’s inception in 1989, the Keys have never finished worst than third in league attendance, and overall through 24 years of play, have averaged 4,479 fans per game. Six times the Keys have led the Carolina League in attendance.
The Keys currently lead the Carolina League in average attendance, bringing in fans at a rate of 4,737 per game – the most of any of the 30 Advanced-A teams in the country. The mark currently puts the Keys on pace to bring in their most fans since 2001 when 320,262 patrons came out to Harry Grove Stadium.
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