GreenJackets to Welcome Millionth Fan Under Ripken
May 16, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - In their sixth season under the ownership of Ripken Baseball, the Augusta GreenJackets are set to reach an impressive milestone by the end of the month as the 1,000,000th GreenJackets fan under Ripken Baseball ownership is expected to cross through the turnstiles at Lake Olmstead Stadium before the end of May.
To help celebrate this milestone, the GreenJackets have teamed up with Augusta Vascular Center to send that lucky fan on a trip for four to Disney World. Fans can check the countdown number as they enter the ballpark each night. As the countdown drops closer to zero, the excitement builds.
"I want confetti, balloons and all the works when the one-millionth fan walks through these gates." said GreenJackets General Manager Nick Brown. "Being one of two left from the pre-Ripken days, I can truly appreciate the rise from where we've been to where we are now as an organization and that's what makes this occasion truly special."
Prior to Ripken's purchase of the Augusta GreenJackets, attendance averaged 1,765 fans per game with a season total of just 123,545 in 2005. In 2006 those numbers increased to 2,227 fans per game with a season total of 155,910 and didn't stop there. The numbers continued to increase with the attendance reaching a new single-season record of 201,760 in 2010 - the third time in the last five years that the GreenJackets have shattered a single-season attendance record.
"The rise in our attendance is a testament to how much our fans value the quality of our product once they step inside our gates - a quality that has only improved every year with the support of Ripken Baseball." Brown said. "We also want to thank Augusta Vascular Center for helping us make this special moment for us a very special moment for the lucky fan ends up with the trip to Disney World."
The GreenJackets wrap up a four-game road trip tonight against the Hickory Crawdads. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on WRDW-AM 1630 and www.greenjacketsbaseball.com . The next GreenJackets home game is Tuesday night when the Greenville Drive come to town for a three-game series and the countdown to one million continues. Tickets for tomorrow's game, and every home game, can be obtained by calling 706-922-WINS or online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
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