IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Home Finale Sold Out; 2008 Attendance Exceeds 600,000

Published on August 30, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


(Allentown, Pa.) - Tickets for tonight's Lehigh Valley IronPigs home finale are sold out, bringing the yearly attendance total at Coca-Cola Park to 602,033 fans. By becoming one of just five Minor League franchises to surpass the 600,000 mark for total attendance so far this year, the IronPigs have emerged as one of the top draws in Minor League Baseball. In 71 regular season home dates, the IronPigs averaged 8,479 fans per game - a staggering number that actually exceeds Coca-Cola Park's fixed seating capacity of 8,089.

The total capacity of Coca-Cola Park increases to 10,000 when factoring in multiple standing room locations and the Capital BlueCross Lawn. The IronPigs reached 10,000 fans on 12 occasions.

"The continued support of our fans goes above and beyond our wildest expectations for this first season," exclaimed IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. "We are so thankful to have a passionate, hog wild fan base and I can't wait to welcome each and every one of them back to Coca-Cola Park in 2009!"

Remarkably, the IronPigs exceeded fixed seating capacity during 50 of the 72 home games (including the March 30 IronPigs-Phillies exhibition game). Moreover, the club is likely to finish the year ranked fifth among 160 Minor League Baseball teams in overall attendance. Also particularly noteworthy, Coca-Cola Park's fixed seating capacity is the smallest in all of Triple-A baseball.

The last Triple-A team to eclipse the IronPigs total attendance in their first season was the Sacramento River Cats in 2000 with 861,808 total fans. By comparison, Sacramento is among the top 50 most populous cities in the United States while Allentown, Pa., the largest city in the Lehigh Valley, ranks 235th.

The opening of Coca-Cola Park this spring signified the return of affiliated baseball to the Lehigh Valley for the first time in 47 years.

Anticipation for the first-ever game at Coca-Cola Park -- and exhibition between the Phillies and the IronPigs on March 30 -- was met with unrivaled fanfare in the Lehigh Valley as fans camped out overnight despite snowfall and temperatures in the teens. In fact, by the time the ticket office opened its windows for single-game ticket sales on March 1, there was an inch of snow on the ground and an estimated crowd of 1,000 people waiting line.

All of this achievement has occurred despite a slow 0-11 start by the IronPigs and, while the team went 43-34 during a portion of their schedule, their 55-86 record is still the worst in all of Triple-A baseball.

Bolstered by the success of Coca-Cola Park and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the International League also established a single-season attendance record and is on pace to crack the 7-million fan threshold for the first time in the league's 125-year history.

Preparation is already underway for the second season of IronPigs baseball at Coca-Cola Park and 2009 season tickets are currently on sale by calling (610) 841-PIGS or at the Coca-Cola Park Ticket Office. Existing season ticket and plan holders will be receiving renewal information shortly. The IronPigs 2009 season is presented by Capital BlueCross.

Check out the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Statistics

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International League Stories from August 30, 2008


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