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Spirit aim for continued success on field, at box office

April 14, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
North Shore Spirit News Release


LYNN – Most professional sports teams would be understandably pleased with a 35 percent increase in total attendance (20 percent in average attendance) in their second season, and the North Shore Spirit are no exception. It would be a mistake, however, to think the Spirit are content to rest on their laurels.

"We are extremely gratified with the way we have been embraced by the fans of Lynn and the North Shore," said Spirit owner Nick Lopardo. "We have delivered on our promise to provide quality, affordable, family entertainment, and the fans have responded. We certainly aren't content, however, and we will continue to do everything in our power to attract more fans to the New Fraser Field."

In their inaugural season in 2003, the Spirit averaged 1,850 fans, including the playoffs, in which they lost in the championship series to the Brockton Rox. Last year, the averaged jumped to 2,210, which included another trip to the finals, this one ending in a 5-game loss to the New Jersey Jackals. The total attendance in the first two seasons combined was more than 210,000.

Asked what he would consider a successful season in terms of attendance this year, Lopardo set the bar high – but realistically. "We would like to have at least 3,000 a night and 150,000 overall," he said. "There's no reason why we can't attain those numbers."

The Spirit will play in the newly-formed Canadian-American Professional Baseball League – the CanAm League – along with the six other teams who were in the Northeast League last year (Bangor, Brockton, Elmira, New Haven, New Jersey and Quebec City), and Worcester, a new team that will play its home games at Holy Cross' Fitton Field.

Having three teams from Massachusetts in the league should lead to increased fan interest, said Brent Connolly, who took over as Spirit general manager in the off-season. "We already have a great rivalry with Brockton and we expect the same with Worcester," Connolly said. "It's nice that our loyal fans have the opportunity to follow the team on the road by driving an hour or less."

Season tickets and 12-game mini-plans have been on sale for weeks, and individual game tickets (priced at $5, $7 and $9) go on sale Saturday at the Spirit's annual Open House at Fraser Field from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Players and coaches will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs, there will be refreshments and ticket giveaways, and fans can even bring their glove and play catch on the field. WESX (1230), the Spirit flagship station, will broadcast live from 11 a.m. to noon, and young fans (age 12 and under) can sign up for the Spirit Sprouts club.

"This gives us an opportunity to welcome back our fans and get them thinking about the 2005 season," Connolly said. "Baseball is in the air and we're only about a month away from our spring training. Everyone in the organization, from Nick on down can't wait for opening day (May 28 on the road; June 2 at Fraser)."

Fireworks displays return to Fraser Field this year on June 4, July 2, July 30 and August 20. The Spirit, who normally play at 7:05 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2:05 on Sunday, will have two noon weekday games (July 13 and August 10), and several 5:05 p.m. starts (July 3, 4 and 16, Aug. 13 and 14).

"We are trying to mix it up to give all fans a chance to get to the park this year," Connolly said. "We are anticipating a good response to the alternate game times."

Manager John Kennedy returns for a third season, as do coaches Jim Tgettis, Frank Carey and Tom Donahue. Rich Gedman left to become manager of the Worcester team, and the Spirit were saddened by the death of pitching coach Dick Radatz in March.

Fans wishing to hold a function at the park now have several options, as a third party deck as been added above the stands on the first-base side, to go with a similar deck on the third-base aide and the field-level one at field level behind third base.

"Our focus has not changed at all since we arrived in 2002 (in advance of the 2003 season)," Lopardo said. "We want families to consider this a viable, enjoyable, affordable entertainment option. Almost without exception, the fans that have come the last two years have expressed satisfaction with our product. All we have to do is get someone here once and they're hooked."



Canadian American League Stories from April 14, 2005


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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