The Cyclones drew 9,610 fans to the twi-night doubleheader on Aug. 28 — and the team not only swept the twinbill, but also set a new league attendance record.
“That crowd was the largest single-game crowd in New York–Penn League history for a game played at the home team’s regular ballpark,” said Cyclones’ Media Relations Manager Dave Campanaro.
He later explained the careful language.
“There have been games played away from a team’s normal home field, such as the Legends Game played earlier this month at Fenway Park by the Lowell Spinners, in which there have been larger crowds, but the Cyclones have exceeded the previous record for a game played at a club’s regular field.”
That record was set on July 29, 2006, when the Cyclones drew 9,307 to Keyspan Park for a game against the hated Staten Island Yankees.
Campanaro said the new league record was a result of several factors: a popular giveaway (a Gargiulo’s replica jersey), many groups were in attendance, and fans who had been rained out on Aug. 17 redeemed their tickets on Aug. 28.
“Plus, it was the first beautiful evening that we’ve had in a while,” he added, mentioning a huge walk-up sale.
And given that the Cyclones swept, Campanaro was pleased from top to bottom.
“It was,” he said, “a perfect night!”
