Fran Ruchalski
Jacksonville welcomed its largest home-opening crowd since 2007; first series attendance up 34 percent
The fans of Northeast Florida made a FUNdamentally Different mark on Opening Weekend of a new era of affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The 24,508 fans who watched the Jacksonville Suns under new ownership last Thursday through Sunday were the most at any Double-A ballpark during the first four days of the 2016 Minor League Baseball season.
An Opening Night crowd of 8,367 was the largest at any home game for the team since July 4, 2014, and the largest for a Suns home opener since 2007. The five-day homestand total of 26,336 was the most for Jacksonville’s opening home series since 2011 and a 34 percent increase over the total at the club’s 2015 opening series.
“We are humbled and honored by the outstanding support of people throughout Northeast Florida at the start of a FUNdamentally Different season of Suns baseball,” said Suns owner Ken Babby. “Guests at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville this weekend confirmed how special a place Jacksonville is for baseball and affordable family fun.”
“The support we saw this weekend was an incredible start to the season at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville,” said Suns General Manager Harold Craw. “We are grateful to have guest feedback and are already working to build upon this Opening Weekend. We cannot wait to welcome our guests to the ballpark again beginning Sunday.”
Tickets start at $5 for all Suns regular season games, and fans can purchase tickets by stopping at the Suns box office at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or on game days starting at 10 a.m. through the game. Tickets are also available by calling (904) 358-2846 or at www.jaxsuns.com.
ABOUT THE SUNS: The Jacksonville Suns opened a new era of affordable family fun under new ownership with the largest Opening Weekend attendance of any team in Double-A baseball. With a FUNdamentally Different promotional schedule and a new lineup of ticket packages for the 2016 season, there is a reason for everyone to get part of the action by calling the Suns at (904) 358-2846 or visiting www.jaxsuns.com.
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