FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:   John Yarbrough, Lee County Parks & Recreation, (941) 461-7410 or
                Sean Harlin, Minnesota Twins, 768-4213

TWINS GO OVER 100,000 ATTENDANCE FOR FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 28, 2002) – The Minnesota Twins spring training in Lee County concludes one of its most successful years today with attendance breaking 100,000 for the first time in eight years. 

Attendance at today’s final home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates brings total Spring Training attendance at the Lee County Sports Complex to more than 100,000 fans.  Depending on final totals for today’s game, that will be the third or fourth highest 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 runs from February 27 to March 30 and included 17 home games. 

Spring training at Hammond Stadium recorded its millionth fan last year. 

It is estimated that Twins spring training in Lee County pumps more than $12 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 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. 

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, (2001) 90,255, (2002 est.) 100,000+.