Squirrels home games were averaging an Eastern League-high 5,738 fans per game before yesterdayflying squirrels
The Double-A Eastern League Richmond Flying Squirrels in '10 decided to reduce capacity of their ballpark The Diamond by "installing advertising banners over 2,574 seats," but each July 4 raises the question of whether they should be removed to allow "more customers to share in the team’s biggest day of the year," according to John O'Connor of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH. The team's annual July 4 game features a fireworks show afterward, and Squirrels VP & COO Todd Parnell said, "From a consistency standpoint, when you make a move like we did nine years ago, you’ve got to stick with it through sellouts." The Squirrels, "averaging an Eastern League-leading 5,738 at home" before yesterday, with the banners were "aiming to add color to a gray ballpark, consolidate fans in the stands, and create a demand for tickets." Operators also "recognized the opportunity for a new revenue stream with six advertising banners (there are now seven), at about $25,000 apiece annually." Squirrels CEO Chuck Domino said that "removing the banners on the team’s most popular home date would be unfair to sponsors that invested in the advertising." He added that two or more days "would be required to reinstall the banners" and that roughly 2,500 more fans in the upper deck "would exacerbate the stadium’s problem of not having enough restrooms and concessions stands upstairs." Yesterday's attendance was 9,810, "more than the listed capacity of The Diamond because of occupied standing-room areas" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 7/5).
JULY FIREWORKS: In Jacksonville, Phillip Heilman notes the Double-A Southern League Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp saw their "largest crowd in more than 10 years" on Tuesday. The sellout of 11,762 was the "fourth-largest Southern League crowd in the 15-year history of the ballpark" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/5). Triple-A Int'l League Charlotte Knights VP/Communications Tommy Viola said that the team last night "broke an attendance record" with 10,831 fans (WBTV.com, 7/5).
