Pelicans shatter attendance mark
Saturday night's game against the Kinston Indians drew 3,936 fans to BB&T Coastal Field, bringing the Pelicans' overall attendance to 234,713, passing the mark established in 2000, when 234,020 fans attended games during the Pelicans' second season.
The milestone season has certainly included individual highlights as the team and its fans gradually approached the record. The Pelicans tied the BB&T Coastal Field venue record, when 6,599 fans attended a game against the Kinston Indians on Aug. 4. That mark matched the record the team established during the 2008 California-Carolina League All-Star Game, which also drew 6,599 fans but didn't count toward the Pelicans 2008 attendance.
The tone to the season was set when 6,336 fans flocked to the ballpark for the 2008 home opener on April 4 against the Frederick Keys. The Pelicans have topped 5,000 fans for single games nine times during the 2008 season and have attracted more than 6,000 fans on four separate occasions.
"We are extremely pleased with the reaction to our ever-expanding efforts to provide the best and most affordable family-oriented entertainment on the Grand Strand," said Pelicans general manager North Johnson. "Our fans should take tremendous pride in the fact that they have turned BB&T Coastal Field into one of the most electric atmospheres in all of minor league baseball."
The Pelicans rewarded fans for their achievements throughout the ascent to the record, with a lucky fan winning the chance to take part in an assortment of specially tailored ceremonial ballpark activities every time the Pelicans passed a 10,000-fan landmark, starting with the 200,000th fan.
The record fell on Saturday night as Pat Gold, the 234,021st fan of the season, walked through the gates and was surprised with four tickets to a Braves game at Turner Field along with hotel accommodations while in Atlanta. She was also awarded a very special Atlanta Braves/Myrtle Beach Pelicans prize pack and the distinction of taking part in a special edition of the Pelicans' "Guess the Attendance" promotion following the sixth inning.
Included in the prize pack was an autographed Chipper Jones bat, a John Smoltz autographed baseball, a Tom Glavine autographed baseball, a Mike Hampton autographed baseball, a Pelicans autographed team baseball, a special customized record-breaker T-shirt and a Pelicans hat. Gold will also receive four tickets to the 2009 Pelicans' home opener, where she will be given the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
The Pelicans also set new franchise marks for a seven-game homestand (July 29-Aug. 6), welcoming 30,173 fans to the ballpark. They also shattered the four-game series record, when 20,622 fans flooded the park to take in a set with the Potomac Nationals (Aug. 14-17).
Seats are available for the Pelicans' two remaining regular-season games along with seats to the 2008 postseason, which begins at BB&T Coastal Field on Wednesday as the Pelicans open the Carolina League Southern Divisional Series against the Winston-Salem Warthogs at 7:05 p.m. The Pelicans are offering special $3 tickets to all postseason games for seniors (65 and older) as well as all students (K-12, college). The special tickets for the postseason can only be obtained at the Pelicans box office. All other seats are also available by calling (843) 918-6000 or toll-free (877) 918-TIXX or logging on to MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.