Minor League Baseball Sets Attendance Mark
Published on September 30, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Attendance at minor league ballparks during 2008 topped the 43-million mark for the first time in 107 years, establishing a new record for a fifth straight season.
A report from Minor League Baseball shows that for the third consecutive year, Corpus Christi ranked second in attendance among 30 clubs at the Double-A level. The Hooks drew 479,651 fans to Whataburger Field over 70 home dates. Only Frisco, also of the Texas League, drew more (562,166).
The 15 leagues and 176 clubs comprising Minor League Baseball drew a total of 43,263,740 fans this year, an increase of over 450,000, or 1.1% over 2007.
"Our fan base is strong, and we also enjoyed a slight increase at the gates this year," Hooks GM Michael Wood said. "Our 'Vote Hooks' campaign for affordable family entertainment was embraced by the fans, an indication there's a lot to enjoy when it comes to the Whataburger Field experience."
The Texas League and Triple-A International League led the way in the attendance climb for the minors. All eight Texas League clubs improved on their figures from the previous season, a first in league history. The circuit also eclipsed the 3-million mark, another first. The International League, with 14 clubs, drew in excess of 7 million fans for the first time in its history.
The Hooks ranked 24th among all 176 clubs with an average of 6,852 fans per game, 22nd among domestic teams. The Round Rock Express, also owned and operated by Ryan Sanders Baseball, ranked third with an average of 9,286 fans per night. The Express were second in overall attendance in the minors, drawing 668,623 fans to The Dell Diamond in 2008.
The Hooks have drawn 1,970,527 in four seasons at Whataburger Field.
2008 Double-A Attendance Leaders
Team -- Attendance -- Openings
Frisco RoughRiders (Texas) 562,166 69
Corpus Christi Hooks (Texas) 479,651 70
Springfield Cardinals (Texas) 461,020 69
Reading Phillies (Eastern) 436,789 68
Portland Sea Dogs (Eastern) 412,403 66
Trenton Thunder (Eastern) 409,131 71
Arkansas Travelers (Texas) 377,997 68
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Eastern) 373,227 70
New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern) 365,756 69
Jacksonville Suns (Southern) 364,365 67
Texas League Stories from September 30, 2008
- Minor League Baseball Sets Attendance Mark - Corpus Christi Hooks
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