First among those, though, is the promotional schedule. The Prairie Dogs will have giveaways on 22 of their 42 scheduled home dates. And that doesn't include the traditional fireworks show after the July 4 game against Lubbock, as well as The Famous Chicken on July 10, Christmas in July on July 24, Opening Night on May 29 and Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 19. All those are aimed at pumping up average attendance, which fell from 1,630 in the first season to 1,393 in last year's championship season. This season we're going back to that model.
People seem to love to get something extra when they buy a ticket.
The T-L League schedule has also been revamped to aid all six teams in raising attendance. The league has scaled back from 100 games to 88, and no team plays on the road or at home for more than six straight days. Pierce also said the team will make its players more visible in the community, getting them to Little League parks, autograph signings and using them in team advertising. And Pierce and his staff hope all those things add up to more success off the field in 1997. We're very concerned about some things, but right now it's not something we'd move the team over.