MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

River Bandits Continue To Smash Attendance Marks

Published on August 1, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


A banner year in the history of Quad Cities baseball continued on Thursday, as the River Bandits surpassed the 2007 attendance figure with over a month still remaining in the 2008 season.

"When we took over this franchise in the off-season, we were confident that we were going to get things heading in the right direction," said team owner Dave Heller. "But even we could not have envisioned such a quick turnaround. This really is a testament to the tremendous fans here in the Quad Cities, who have responded to our new fan-friendly approach and our emphasis on affordable, family-friendly entertainment. We have brought back a sense of pride to baseball in this town, and the fans have embraced our philosophy."

Since Main Street Iowa purchased the team from Seventh Inning Stretch on November 29, 2007, the organization has gone through a series of changes that have resulted in the most successful season in recent memory. In addition to changing the name of the team back to River Bandits and the name of the stadium to Modern Woodmen Park, the organization showed a commitment to enhancing the fan experience by lowering ticket prices, revamping the concessions menu, and adding a series of ballpark additions that include the Jumer's Casino Hot Tub Deck, the Tiki Village, and the Crop Production Services Corn Field.

As a result, the fans have come back in record numbers. The River Bandits hosted 6,822 fans for a June 10 win over the Peoria Chiefs, marking the organization's largest single-game attendance since 1999. One month later, Modern Woodmen Park welcomed 30,026 fans for a homestand during the first week of July, a seven-game stretch that outdrew the entire month of June 2007 and was the busiest such period since the turn of the century.

The latest attendance milestone came on Thursday, when 3,315 passed through the turnstiles on the final day of July to raise the River Bandits' total 2008 attendance to 149,458. Though the current season still has the entire month of August remaining on the schedule, that figure is good enough to surpass the total 2007 attendance of 148,773.

"Making strides like this are very satisfying," said River Bandits' Vice President/General Manager Kirk Goodman. "We've assembled what we believe to be the best staff in all of Minor League Baseball, and they have poured their hearts and souls into this team. They have tirelessly worked around the clock to make sure that River Bandits baseball once again becomes a marquee attraction in the Quad Cities. Its days like this that reward their hard work and reaffirm to all of us that we're going about doing things the right way."

The current attendance total puts the River Bandits in a position to reach 200,000 by the end of the season, which would mark just the sixth time in franchise history that the organization clipped the 200,000 fan plateau. All six of those campaigns came in a seven-year stretch from 1990-1996, with the lone exception being the flood year of 1993.

"One of the reasons that Dave Heller and I bought this team was because we knew this was a great baseball town," added co-owner Bob Herrfeldt. "Our goal has always been not merely to set attendance records, but to make the River Bandits and Modern Woodmen Park the premier entertainment attraction in the Quad Cities, and set a new standard for baseball and family fun."

UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue their six-game homestand with a visit from the Dayton Dragons on Friday, kicking things off with a Rally Towel giveaway sponsored by the Quad City International Airport and a Fireworks Friday. A Rockin' Saturday featuring a live post-game concert by Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls will also be Credit Union Night to benefit the Children's Miracle Network. The homestand will then wind down on a busy U.S. Bank Family Sunday that will also include a baseball giveaway and Bark in the Park, giving fans the opportunity to bring their dogs out to the ballpark. Bandit Wear featuring the new team name and logo is currently available by visiting the Modern Woodmen Park team store, and prorated versions of season ticket packages, mini-packages, and the popular You-Pick-10 Plan are on sale at the park or by calling (563) 3-BANDITS!

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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