PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

New Orleans Zephyrs Finish With Increased Attendance, Wins

Published on September 6, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
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Metairie, LA - With an announced attendance of 3,915 in the team's final game of 2006 the New Orleans Zephyrs finished the year with a total attendance of 361,493 - a 9% increase over the teams attendance in 2005.

The Zephyrs - the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals - also finished the year with a record of 72-71, the first time the team has finished above .500 since 2002 (75-69). The Zephyrs, however, will not be participating in post-season play with the Round Rock Express (85-59) winning the division crown.

After canceling their final homestand of the 2005 season due to Hurricane Katrina and incurring $2 million in damages from the storm, Zephyr Field was used as a staging area for rescue operations by FEMA and the National Guard.

When the Zephyrs opened the 2006 season on April 6, they became the first professional sports team in the New Orleans area to begin a season in their home stadium since the hurricane and drew a crowd of 11,006 to the season opener.

"It was a great year, and finishing with a higher attendance says a tremendous amount about our fans considering what everyone went through," said Zephyrs GM Mike Schline. "At the end of the day it shows that people need a diversion from what they are going through, and there is most definitely the population in place to support professional sports in New Orleans."

Throughout the 2006 season the Zephyrs, along with the Pacific Coast League and its member teams were involved in a number of charitable causes benefiting victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Zephyrs participated in a national donation drive along with the Magical Builders Foundation to raise $40,000 in materials to renovate the West Bank Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana. Baseball America, the Zephyrs and the Pacific Coast League together donated $12,500 to help repair the Delgado Community College baseball field. Close to $8,000 has been donated to New Orleans musicians through the Zephyrs Thursday night concert series, and the team helped to raise $3,500 for an organization giving grants to small businesses in New Orleans with a shirt-off-your-back jersey auction.

2006 marked the Zephyrs 14th season in New Orleans. The Zephyrs can be reached at 504-734-5155 for more information.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from September 6, 2006


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