Smoltz helps Fisher Cats set attendance record

Manchester, NH -- The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, set two franchise attendance records in one day when a standing-room-only crowd of 7,698 attended Thursday morning's Fisher Cats/Portland Sea Dogs game at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

The three-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs attracted an all-time high 22,619 fans, and the just-completed seven-game homestand saw a record 47,794 fans come through the gates between Friday, May 22, and Thursday, May 28.

"It was a whirlwind of activity at the ballpark all week, with so many incredible memories stretched over a seven-day period," said Fisher Cats President/General Manager Rick Brenner.

"We honored law enforcement and the military, held parades for reading challenge participants and little leaguers, witnessed great fireworks, saw a future Hall of Famer take the mound and concluded with today's great Educational Day turnout."

The record-setting week included three standing-room only crowds, highlighted by an all-time record crowd of 8,903 on Tuesday, May 26, when Boston Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz made an injury rehabilitation start for Portland.

The 22,619 three-game series attendance mark from May 26-28 vs Portland breaks the previous record of 22,121 set from June 15-17, 2007, when the Fisher Cats hosted the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

The seven-game total of 47,794, which began with a four-game set against the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees) from May 22-May 25, shatters the previous record of 45,468 set from June 22-29, 2007 against the Sea Dogs and the New Britain Rock Cats (Minnesota Twins).