River Bandits celebrate 7 million fans since 1960
With the River Bandits' 2,697th fan at Modern Woodmen Park for Saturday's game against the Clinton LumberKings, a total of seven million fans have witnessed Quad Cities Midwest League regular season baseball games over the past 53 seasons at the ballpark formerly known as John O'Donnell Stadium and Municipal Stadium.
"This milestone represents the tradition of Midwest League baseball for more than a half-century in the Quad Cities and the passionate commitment of the greatest fans in all of minor league baseball," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "There are very few A-ball teams that have drawn seven million fans, and all the credit goes to our great fans and the City of Davenport, for helping build and maintain the best ballpark in minor league baseball."
The special package awarded to the seven millionth fan included prizes from the River Bandits and seven businesses in the Quad Cities:
• Bowlmor Lanes - five game passes
• Dunn Bros. Coffee - seven $7 gift cards
• Great Clips - free haircut and a $7 bottle of hair gel
• Li'l Mississippi Golf - four game passes
• Niabi Zoo - four regular admission passes
• Rave Cinemas - seven movie passes
• Simoniz Car Wash - seven free car wash coupons
Since becoming the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2008 playing in Modern Woodmen Park, the franchise has drawn more than one million fans.
This season alone the River Bandits have already had three crowds of more than 7,000 fans, including a season-high 7,380 on Tuesday, July 3. That crowd was the largest since 7,538 attended the River Bandits game July 3, 2009. Since Quad Cities became an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2005 season, there have been six crowds of more than 7,000 - three in 2009 and three in 2012.
"We are excited to celebrate an incredible milestone in a season of already outstanding fan support," said River Bandits General Manager Stefanie Brown. "We cannot wait to begin welcoming the next seven million fans to Modern Woodmen Park."
UP NEXT: Scooby Doo comes to Modern Woodmen Park for Mystery Night on Sunday. The first 2,000 fans to the 5 p.m. game receive a collectible championship pennant courtesy of Mediacom. It's also Rotary Night and a U.S. Bank Family Sunday presented by KWQC, B100 and Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-322-6348 (563-3-BANDIT) and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: After four years of ballpark improvements, the River Bandits and the City of Davenport last summer unveiled some of the most impressive enhancements to Modern Woodmen Park yet. A brand new, state of the art, high definition 20' x 35' video board went live on June 7, and the newly enclosed glass Sky Deck on the suite level of Modern Woodmen Park was completed last August. Those improvements, in addition to new flood protection, a new front plaza, and a new parking lot directly across the street from the ballpark, are quickly making Modern Woodmen Park one of the premier facilities in all of Minor League Baseball. More improvements are scheduled for this coming season!