Attendance soars in Year 2

Editor’s Note: This story on the Revolution’s attendance midway through the 2008 Atlantic League season ran in Thursday’s York Dispatch.

Two friends battle for superiority in Sumo suits.

During another break in the action, “Roof man” — dressed in form-fitting tights and crying out his patented catchphrase, “Let’s do it!” — sprinkles giveaways on the fans below as the Knight Rider theme song blares (David Hasselhoff would undoubtedly be proud).

Young children dressed as fruit attempt to navigate their way around the bases. One, wearing a banana outfit, rounds second and, rather than heading to third, mistakenly runs for the 38-foot wall in left field.

These often hysterical moments at York Revolution home games are part of the nightly experience at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

And it’s these promotions, geared toward family entertainment, that keep casual fans coming back for more. It’s the well-known minor league baseball business model that seems to be working in York.

Midway through the Atlantic League season, the Revolution’s average attendance in 35 home dates (4,168) is slightly above what York averaged last season (3,709) playing in an incomplete ballpark.