Pelicans' Brown wins Falwell Award
"We enjoyed a tremendous season in the grandstand and on the field this past season," said Brown. "First and foremost we commend our fans and sponsors for continuing to prove that Pelicans baseball is the best entertainment value in Myrtle Beach. Our staff, both full-time and game day, works tirelessly to make the fan experience the best possible, and their dedication allows me to share this recognition from the Carolina League with them."
There were 11 openings when the Pelicans sold out of seats and five when the club reached its admission cap of 6,599. The club increased their total over the previous year for the first time since 2009, reaching 220,273 in 67 dates. The average attendance of 3,288 was the Pelicans' highest in four seasons.
The off-season leading up to 2012 represented a busy period for the Pelicans, starting with hosting the Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminar in late September of 2011. The team also worked in concert with the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County in overseeing a complete field re-construction project including updated drainage, irrigation, subsurface and the installation of a new turf surface that decreased the number of rainouts. A new stadium naming rights partnership with TicketReturn began before Opening Day. Significant upgrades in the concessions operation, including the grand opening of the Ring of Fire Grille, provided the fans with even higher quality and more food options at games. Finally, the team supervised the replacement of the original 21st Avenue North marquee sign replacing it with a full-color, animated message center.
"Scotty is a great choice for this award," said League President John Hopkins. "During his years in Myrtle Beach, he has always gone the extra mile to get things done right, and he has led a fantastic staff. We are proud that he was voted this honor."
Brown joined the Pelicans in March of 2010. Before moving to Myrtle Beach, he spent five years as the GM of the Binghamton (NY) Mets for whom he was honored as the Eastern League's version of the same award in 2005. Dating back to high school, 2012 marked the 31st season of working in baseball for the 47-year-old at the major and minor league levels. Previous stops included the Baltimore Orioles, St. Lucie Mets, New York Mets and the Binghamton Mets.
The Falwell award was named in 2006 for the man who had been president of the Lynchburg club since that city joined the league in 1966. Calvin Falwell died at 90 on August 20, 2011.