Chiefs Enjoy Best July Ever in Attendance
July 29, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs announced today that the team set a franchise record for average attendance in the month of July as 57,769 fans attended 12 home games for an average of 4,814 per game.
Despite having the least amount of July home games on the schedule over the last five seasons at O'Brien Field, the Chiefs drew eight crowds over 4,000 and five over 5,000. The always popular Jimmy Buffett night drew in the second best crowd of the season at 7,796 on Saturday July 21st. The rehab assignments of Kerry Wood and Henry Blanco helped last week as 5,255 came in for Wood's first appearance on Tuesday July 22nd. Other big nights included 5,174 for a July 2nd fireworks show, 6,101 for the July 15th CAT/FBI baseball bat giveaway and 6,507 for the July 28th fireworks show.
The Chiefs have welcomed 196,577 fans overall this season and will surpass the 200,000 mark during the August 7-10 home-stand, marking the earliest in the season the team has ever exceeded 200,000 fans. Previous to this season, the July record average was 4,225 in 2002 which was the inaugural season of O'Brien Field. The team averaged 4,161 in July 2005 helped by two Nomar Garciaparra rehab games and 3,481 was the July average last season.
O'Brien Field has seen six sellouts this season so far and 13 crowds of 5,000 or more in the 50 openings. The mark for 5,000 plus crowds is 16 set in 2005 is in reach while the Chiefs also have a good shot at the overall attendance record of 256,612 also set in 2005. With 14 home games in August and three in September the Chiefs need to average 3,550 to set a new record.
The first-place Chiefs head to Michigan for an eight game road trip on Monday with a four-game series against West Michigan and a four game set against Lansing. The team returns home for a four game home stand on Tuesday, August 7th against Great Lakes. The remaining home schedule features four fireworks shows (Aug 10, Aug 18, Aug 25 & Sep 1), three jersey auctions (Chiefs throwbacks on Aug 9, Rivermen jerseys on Aug 10 & Cubs 1984 jerseys on Aug 18), six giveaways (25th Anniversary T-Shirt on Aug 9, Cubs T-Shirt on Aug 10, 25th Anniversary baseball card set on Aug 19, Jody Davis bobblehead on Aug 24, Chiefs stocking cap on Aug 25 and Chiefs baseball card set on Aug 26), two Senior Nights (Aug 8 & Aug 29), three Kids Day Sundays (Aug 19, Aug 26 & Sep 2), an appearance by Myron Noodleman on Aug 24, two free hot dogs and popcorn nights (Aug 7 & Aug 14), and three Mountain Dew Half-Price Mondays (Aug 13, Aug 27 & Sep 3) and Fan Appreciation Weekend (Sep 1-3).
Tickets are available for all remaining home games by calling 1-866-MYTICKET, online at www.peoriachiefs.com or in person at the O'Brien Field Box Office from 10 am to 5 pm weekdays or until the 7th inning on game days. Club Box Seats are $10, Box Seats are $9 and Lawn Seats are $6. Group tickets are also available for all remaining games by calling 309-680-4000.
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