The 2009 Myrtle Beach Pelicans season ends tonight. Despite a last place finish on the field and a bad year for the economy, the Pelicans nearly set all-time highs in attendance.
If it wasn't for two games that were rained out during the past week, the Pelicans would have had their highest attendance number ever.
Merchandise sales at the ballpark are also up from a year ago.
“Our mantra is if the fans leave the ballpark and their not sure if the team won or lost than we've done our job….I mean in these economic times, people are looking for a low-cost alternative to be entertained and to have fun and we certainly do both those things,” said Pelicans General Manager North Johnson.
And the Pelicans do those things at a minor-league price. The most expensive seat at the ballpark is $11.00.
“You get a three-hour ball game and thirty minutes before and after the game, so you have four hours of entertainment for eleven dollars. That's less than three dollars of an entertainment for an hour so that's not a bad deal at all,” said Johnson.
Johnson says the Pelicans staff size will probably not be reduced in the off-season, another positive sign for the franchise.
He also says food sales and sponsorships, including billboard signs, were slightly down at the stadium this year, but because he expects the economy to be better next year and attendance was so high this year, he thinks the future looks great for the team.
“We're really excited about the future, in Myrtle Beach. I think we all feel like within the next year the economy is going to start to turn around and get back to where we're all more comfortable with it and once that happens, we'll see even bigger results out here at the ballpark,” said Johnson.
In addition to the Pelicans staying in Myrtle Beach for many years to come, the Braves will remain the major league affiliate of the Pelicans, through at least 2010.
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