Gems Win Business Award
January 22, 2012 - West Coast League (WCL)
Klamath Falls Gems News Release
KLAMATH FALLS, OR - The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce honored the Klamath Falls Gems with the 2011 Business of the Year on January 21 at the Chamber's 91st Annual Awards Gala. The honor was voted to the Gems by a committee of peers, and awarded to Gems General Manager Chuck Heeman by Debra Gisriel of Fisher Nicholson Realtors and Gems Owner Eric Baker. The Gala took place at The Ross Ragland Theater in downtown Klamath Falls.
"Even though we had a two-person staff in 2011, so many people contributed to this award," Heeman said. "From the four local owners who believed in us, to the corporate partners who saw the Gems as a great community asset, to the thousands of fans who came out to Kiger Stadium, to the game-day staff, interns, coaches and players who put together the show on and off the field - none of this could have happened without them. We are humbled and honored to receive this award."
Among the highlights of 2011 for the Gems:
Setting the West Coast League single-game attendance record on July 22, with a paid attendance of 4,156;
Finishing first among all first-year college wood-bat teams in average paid attendance, with 1,163 per game;
Finishing 46th among approximately 250 college wood-bat teams in North America in average paid attendance;
Finishing fifth in the WCL in average paid attendance, in the smallest market in the league;
Winning 19 games, a record for first-year teams in the West Coast League;
Helping to raise nearly $25,000 in funds for local organizations, including the Klamath Animal Shelter, Children's Miracle Network, Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank, American Legion Baseball program, and many others.
"We're very proud of our attendance achievements, because it's such a great testament to our fans," Heeman said, "but beyond that, our ability to help others is one of our most important missions. It's very important to all of us, from our local ownership group to our staff, coaches and players, to give back. Being able to use the Gems as a tool to help, by working with our fans to raise badly-needed funds, is a credit to our fans and our community. We look forward to doing even more in 2012 and beyond."
Klamath County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Charles "Chip" Massie said "They (the Gems) had a huge impact. They were high profile. They jumped into the community." (thanks to the Herald and News)
The Gems begin the 2012 season June 1 at Kiger Stadium.
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West Coast League Stories from January 22, 2012
- Gems Win Business Award - Klamath Falls Gems
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