We have attendance news today from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Gary SouthShore Railcats (independent; American Association).
Last night the Fisher Cats hit a huge milestone, welcoming their four millionth fan in team history to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium when John, Jocelyn and Owen Webber of Bow and Kelly and Patrick Owen from Concord crossed the turnstiles.
“We congratulate the Owen and Webber families for being the four millionth fans to enjoy Fisher Cats baseball,” said Fisher Cats President and General Manager Rick Brenner. “We are so grateful for their families and the millions of others who have provided us with such great support at each and every game. Moments like this one tonight energize and excite us to entertain the next million fans.”
Monday’s attendance of 4,645 pushed the Fisher Cats season total to 244,148, breaking the four million barrier in the process. After being recognized as the four millionth fans, the two families threw out a ceremonial first pitch and enjoyed the game in a Fisher Cats luxury suite.
The Fisher Cats reached the four million milestone less than three years after crossing three million in August 2012. Three years prior, 10-year-old Brendan Howard of Fremont, N.H. was recognized as the two millionth fan in franchise history. The one-million mark was reached during the 2007 season.
In Gary, the RailCats are set to welcome the franchise’s two-millionth fan through the turnstiles of U.S. Steel Yard on Wednesday as the team hosts the St. Paul Saints.
“We are beyond excited to welcome our two millionth fan to U. S. Steel Yard,” said RailCats GM Brian Lyter. “We are proud that our tradition of winning baseball and family fun allows us to continue serving the Northwest Indiana community. Two million fans is a credit to the tremendous support that the people of Northwest Indiana have shown over these past 13 season. We look forward to seeing the next two million at the stadium in the coming years.”
Founded in 2002, the RailCats are in their fifth season in the American Association and were crowned champions in 2013. The previous nine seasons, the RailCats played in the independent Northern League, where they won championships in 2005 and 2007 and advanced to the post-season six consecutive years from 2005-2010. The RailCats play 50 home games each summer at U. S. Steel Yard, their award-winning $45 million home ballpark, one of the premier minor league baseball venues in the country. Ballpark Digest’s annual ranking of independent baseball team’s average attendance listed the RailCats 10th among 48 independent teams with 164,286 fans in 2014. The 3,571 average attendance was a 4 percent increase from 2013.