Contact: John Yarbrough, Lee County Parks & Recreation

(941) 338-3310

STELLAR SPRING TRAINING ATTENDANCE PAVES WAY FOR MILLIONTH FAN

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 25, 2000) – This year’s Minnesota Twins spring training in Lee County drew the largest crowds since Major League Baseball’s strike in 1994.

According to recently released numbers from the Twins organization, 99,432 fans attended spring training games at the Lee County Sports Complex this March. That’s the fourth largest attendance recorded since the Twins began spring training here in 1991, and the largest since March 1994, just prior to the strike.

The record of 123,753 fans was set that first year (1991), with 119,920 in 1992 and 100,930 in 1994 (see the 10-year attendance history below). Attendance dropped to 69,245 in 1995. Spring training this year ran from March 2 to April 1 and included 16 home games.

“We’re very pleased with the resurgence in fan support,” said John Yarbrough, director of Lee County Parks & Recreation, which operates the Sports Complex. “This sets us up to have the one millionth fan attend spring training at Hammond Stadium next year, which will be a tremendous milestone.”

It is estimated that Twins spring training in Lee County pumps more than $16 million dollars into the local economy.

The 80-acre Lee County Sports Complex was completed in 1991. Its main stadium – the 7,500-seat William H. Hammond Stadium – has been the spring training home of the Minnesota Twins since March 1991 and home of the Class A Florida State League’s Fort Myers Miracle since 1992.

The $15-million complex includes four tournament-caliber softball fields, two soccer fields and the stadium, which has four associated practice fields, 10 indoor hitting tunnels and training facilities. The bonds used to finance its construction are being repaid with a portion of the local 3 percent tourist tax on room charges less than six months, and annual rents from the Twins organization.

The Twins paid Lee County rent of about $313,000 in 1999 and contribute an additional $10,000 each year for stadium upkeep and maintenance.

Last year, the grounds crew that maintains Hammond Stadium’s baseball field won the 1999 “Best Municipality” Award for best ballfield maintained by a Florida city or county. It was the fourth time the grounds crew has won the award.

Attendance by year: (1991) 123,753, (1992) 119,920, (1993) 90,503, (1994) 100,930, (1995) 69,245, (1996) 80,027, (1997) 89,743, (1998) 90,523, (1999) 85,527, (2000) 99,432.