Fireflies set new single-season attendance record
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – With 13 home games remaining in their second season here in the Midlands, the Fireflies and their fans have already topped history and set a new standard moving forward.
With Monday night’s announced attendance of 3276 fans, Columbia topped their single-season attendance record with a new mark of 261,691 patrons. That number will rise over the remainder of four more series at Spirit Communications Park taking place into August 31.
The previous record from 2016’s inaugural campaign was 261,276.
“The atmosphere at Spirit Communications Park this season has been absolutely electric,” said Fireflies president John Katz. “We have seen some of the best crowds in this ballpark’s history, and it’s a testament to the passionate Fireflies fans across the Midlands. We have the greatest fans in the South Atlantic League, and we’re truly privileged to share this park with everyone who attends a ballgame.”
Columbia has averaged 4,938 fans per game thus far in 2017, up from an average of 3,785 fans per game in 2016. The 4,938 fans per game puts Columbia in the top three in average attendance in the South Atlantic League.
There have been 23 crowds this season of 5,000 or more, 14 of 6,000 or more and seven of 7,000 or more. The Fireflies have also sold out six games thus far in 2017. The largest crowd of the season (8,412) was on hand for Opening Night on April 6.
Largest Crowds in Spirit Communications Park history:
- Monday, July 4, 2016 – 9,228
- Thursday, April 14, 2016 – 9,077
- Thursday, April 6, 2017 – 8,412
- Sunday, June 25, 2017 – 8,304
- Saturday, June 10, 2017 – 7,861
Groundbreaking for Spirit Communications Park was held on January 6, 2015, and the multi-use park hosted its first baseball game on April 14, 2016 in front of a sellout crowd of 9,077. The Fireflies are the first professional baseball team in Columbia since the Capital City Bombers relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, following the 2004 season.
The Fireflies continue its homestand at Spirit Communications Park this week. Columbia hosts the Charleston RiverDogs (New York Yankees) for two more games before welcoming the Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers) for a four-game set.
Fireflies P.R. contributed to this article.
