Pelicans' Attendance Records Continue To Fall
Published on July 6, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -The Myrtle Beach Pelicans announced today that attendance figures for the club's first Fourth of July home series were the second highest for any four-game set in franchise history.
For the first time ever, the Pelicans were home for Independence Day, and baseball fans on the Grand Strand embraced the American game in record fashion. In total, 19,594 fans came through the BB&T Coastal Field turnstiles for the Thursday-Sunday series with the Salem Red Sox, a mark that ranks behind just one other four-game set. From August 14-18 of last season, 20,622 fans attended the Pelicans' four-game series with the Potomac Nationals, one series after Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine made a rehab appearance with the club.
This weekend's games featured a series of unique promotions including a Pelicans Patriotic Baseball giveaway on Free Stuff Friday and a miniature American Flag giveaway on the Fourth as well as special Fourth of July fireworks shows on Saturday and Sunday.
"This series was historic in more ways than one," said Pelicans General Manager North Johnson. "For the first time in our club's history, we were fortunate to celebrate the Fourth of July with our fans at our ballpark. Time and time again this season, our fans have proven why they are the best in the Carolina League by continuing to come to games in record numbers despite a difficult economy. We thank them and look forward to all of the records still to be broken in the future through their unwavering support."
Myrtle Beach's homestand continues Tuesday-Thursday with three games against the Potomac Nationals. The Pelicans have lined up more special promotions for the set including the return of Dollar Hot Dog Night for Tuesday night's series opener. With Tuesday night comes another edition of the Pelicans Team Tuesday Poster Series as well. Wednesday's middle game of the series is Camper Appreciation Night, and Thirsty Thursday rounds out the seven-game homestand with dollar Budweiser, Bud Light and Bud Select drafts on sale from 5:30 to 7:30 Thursday evening.
The impressive numbers for the Salem series come on the heels of other attendance benchmarks already reached by the Pelicans in 2009. Myrtle Beach's season-opening eight-game homestand saw an Opening Day crowd of 6,599, tying the record for largest in club history. The 27,774 fans who attended the Birds' first two series of the 2009 campaign were part of the Pelicans' third-largest homestand ever.
As the Pelicans closed the first half of the 2009 season, fans continued to flock to the ballpark. The team's six-game homestand from June 15-21 drew 24,023 in attendance, the largest six-date stay in franchise history. That block of games was highlighted by an appearance by wrestling legend George "The Animal" Steele on the 20th as well as a thrilling 7-5 comeback win over the Frederick Keys followed by postgame fireworks on the 21st.
Following three home dates with the Nationals this week, the Pelicans depart the Grand Strand for a seven-game road trip with stops at Frederick and Wilmington on the schedule. Tickets for the Tuesday- Thursday games with Potomac are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, by calling the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.
Carolina League Stories from July 6, 2009
- Four Sox Pitchers Combine in 4-0 Shutout of Dash - Salem Red Sox
- Red Sox Stifle Dash In Series Opener - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans' Attendance Records Continue To Fall - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Attendance Records Continue to Fall - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Kuhn Named Player of the Week - Winston-Salem Dash
- Freeman Named Carolina League's June Player Of The Month - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Twice is Nice for Meyers - Potomac Nationals
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