Chihuahuas By the Numbers (PDF)

A year after their debut, the El Paso Chihuahuas registered a successful inaugural campaign, becoming one of the most recognized brands in baseball.

On October 22, 2014, in front of a crowd of more than 1,300 children and community representatives, the Chihuahuas brand was revealed. Generating national, regional and local buzz, the Chihuahuas brand exploded. The Chihuahuas were featured topic on Around the Horn (ESPN) & the Jim Rome Show (CBS Sports Network), received online coverage from the likes of CBS, Yahoo! Sports and AOL.com, in addition to being among the top-10 national trending topics on Twitter.

The Chihuahuas Facebook page soared to 16,000 likes in 36 hours. After two weeks, it reached 30,000 and by the end of the season, the Chihuahuas ranked first in all of Minor League Baseball with more than 113,000 Facebook followers and today, including Instagram, Twitter and YouTube the Chihuahuas have a combined 142,651 followers.

Merchandise flew off the shelves as the Chihuahuas sold merchandise to all 50 states and 10 countries in just two months' time.

In December, the Chihuahuas, in conjunction with their San Diego Padres affiliate announced field manager, Pat Murphy, would lead the charge on the field. A week later, the Chihuahuas had a flagship, Team 600 ESPN El Paso, a Townsquare Media station and by March, a ballpark was named: Southwest University Park.

The Chihuahuas opened the gates to Southwest University Park on April 28, 2014 in front of a sold out crowd of 9,245 guests. The team went on to record 48-of-67 sellouts and registered 548,435 guests during the season, a feat that broke El Paso's Minor League single-season attendance record.

The Chihuahuas were and are more than just baseball. They were visible through community initiatives as well. The front office staff dedicated more than 600 hours of community service, raised more than $24,000 in jersey auctions and Chico had 290 community appearances.

Other Chihuahuas accomplishments include: winner of Minor League Baseball's 2014 Clash of the Caps, a Top 10 finish in the mascot challenge, Baseballparks.com Ballpark of the Year, a viral Bark at the Park campaign and Turf Maangement finalist to name a few.

Despite these accomplishments, the Chihuahuas has plenty more to work towards for 2015 and strive to make next year's campaign better than the first.

Season Seat and Paw-tial Plans are on sale now! For information, call (915) 533-BASE. 

 

TIMELINE

October 22, 2013 - A brand is born. El Paso Chihuahuas are introduced as the City's new Triple-A team!

December 3, 2013 - Pat Murphy named Chihuahuas first field manager by the San Diego Padres.

December 18, 2013 - Townsquare Media (Team 600 ESPN EL PASO) named Chihuahuas flagship station. 

January 7, 2014 - Chihuahuas send merchandise to Hawaii making it the 50th state to purchase merchandise in just 10 weeks. Merchandise was also sold to 10 countries. 

January 30, 2014 - Chihuahuas donate more than $6,700 to local charities during Days of Giving event.   

February 5, 2014 - Chihuahuas unveil uniforms that include five jersey variations: white, gray, black, red and the traditional pinstripe.

March 6, 2014 - Ballpark gets a name: Southwest University Park.

March 15, 2014 - Individual tickets go on sale. Opening Night sells out in one hour. 

April 14, 2014 - Chihuahuas have a mascot! A silent Chico is debuted on the radio!

April 28, 2014 - OPENING NIGHT! 9,245 guests witness history as the first pitch at Southwest University Park is thrown. Triple-A is in El Paso!

May 23, 2014 - Following three weeks of voting, the Chihuahuas win Minor League Baseball's Clash of the Caps. 

July 3, 2014 - Chihuahuas announce highest attendance yet - 10,135. Auction Stars & Stripes jersey raising $11,124 for Ft. Bliss' Family & Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR).

July 13, 2014 - The Chihuahuas set a new single-season attendance record for Minor League Baseball in El Paso: 334,978. The feat surpasses the previous record of 329,233 for a full season set in 1995 by the Diablos while at Cohen Stadium.

July 16, 2014 - Bark at the Park jersey unveiled. Goes viral nationally, with mentions on USA Today, ESPN, BuzzFeed, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, to name a few. Nationally trends on Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo Sports! SportsCenter and Keith Olbermann don jerseys during their shows. 

July 21, 2014 - Infielder Yonder Alonso became the first San Diego Padre to make a rehab appearance at Southwest University Park. Two days later, he was joined by Jedd Gyorko and Everth Cabrera. Later in the season, the Chihuahuas welcomed Andrew Cashner and Cameron Maybin. 

July 28, 2014 - Chihuahuas reach a pair of milestones: 400,000 fans/100,000 Facebook Likes.

July 31, 2014 - Chihuahuas save a life after adopting a chihuahua scheduled to be euthanized. Launch "Name the Dog" contest to help raise money for the Humane Society of El Paso. Lola is the name chosen. 

August 3, 2014 - Bark at the Park. Jerseys auctioned with proceeds going toward the Humane Society of El Paso - a No Kill shelter. In total, more than $20,000 is raised during Bark at the Park promotion. Lola is introduced.

August 6, 2014 - Southwest University Park, the home of the El Paso Chihuahuas, was named the Baseballparks.com Ballpark of the Year for 2014. The honor is given annually to a new or remodeled baseball stadium with the best combination of aesthetics, architectural design, attractive site selection and fan amenities.

August 19, 2014 - Season attendance surpasses 500,000 and rank no. 1 among all of MiLB in Facebook likes (110,000 followers).

August 21, 2014 - Chihuahuas announce 2015 home schedule. 

September 1, 2014 - After 548,435 cross through the Southwest University Park gates during the season, the Chihuahuas inaugural campaign comes to an end. Win 11 of their last 14 games to finish 72-72 (.500). 

September 3, 2014 - The San Diego Padres and the El Paso Chihuahuas agree to extend the Player Development Contract to run through the 2016 season.

 

OTHER NOTABLES

• Chihuahuas win Minor League Baseball's 2014 edition of Clash of the Caps. One cap from each of the 160 Minor League teams was represented and fans were asked to vote online in a contest that generated two million votes. The Chihuahuas narrowly edged popular and established teams, the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Albuquerque Isotopes.   
• Southwest University Park, the home of the El Paso Chihuahuas, was named the Baseballparks.com Ballpark of the Year for 2014. The honor is given annually to a new or remodeled baseball stadium with the best combination of aesthetics, architectural design, attractive site selection and fan amenities.    
• With a name like Chihuahuas, it was only fitting that the team host a Bark at the Park night. The first was held on May 18th. The next, held on August 3, went viral. Released on July 16, the jersey, slated to be auctioned off with proceeds going towards the Humane Society of El Paso, was tabbed "...the best jersey in sports" by USA Today and FOX Sports called it "simply awesome." Even more impressive, the organization saved a chihuahua from being euthanized, raised almost $2,000 in the Name the Dog contest, and the jersey was worn on SportsCenter and by Keith Olbermann on ESPN's Keith Olbermann Show. Olbermann also made a generous contribution of $5,000. In total, the Chihuahuas helped raise more than $20,000, sold out the Bark at the Park game, saved a life, and raised awareness for pet ownership responsibility.    
• Andy Beggs, the Chihuahuas Manager of Grounds/Head Groundskeeper, was named a Pacific Coast League (PCL) Turf Management Finalist. Beggs placed second among all of the PCL teams, with Albuquerque's Casey Griffin taking the top prize. The award is voted upon by the 16 field managers in the PCL based on the quality of the playing surface, pregame setup, field marking, professionalism of the grounds crew, along with grading in eight other categories.