Indy Indians chasing bigger crowds, more money

The Indianapolis Indians are red hot again this year. Not only is the team leading its division with a 61-38 record, but it is also chasing a fifth straight year with an attendance gain.

Through the AAA minor league team’s first 49 home games, the team has drawn 388,245 ticket-buying fans through the Victory Field turnstiles. The Indians are slightly behind last year’s 49-game mark of 393,985.

The Indians drew 595,043 for 70 regular-season home games last year, averaging 8,501 fans per game. Two post-season home games pushed total attendance up to 605,575 , which was fifth among 176 Minor League Baseball teams. Last year’s attendance was the team’s second-highest total since 2001.

With a six-game home stand the last week in July, which includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday games, plus weekend games on four of five weekends in August, the Indians still have a solid shot at topping last year’s attendance. The Indians’ likely playoff appearance gives the team an excellent chance of being among the Minor League Baseball attendance leaders again this year.

Attendance has been on a steady rise the past four seasons, hitting 549,552 in 2009; 569,969 in 2010; and 580,082 in 2011.

Ticket sales increased from $4.3 million in 2011 to more than $4.6 million in 2012. Ticket sales are a key indicator of the franchise’s overall financial health, since they directly affect parking, concession, souvenir and other ancillary revenue streams.

The Indians, a farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates, saw profit grow to $1.57 million on operating revenue of $11 million in 2012, compared with profit of $1.06 million on revenue of $10 million in 2011.

The Indians’ record home attendance was 658,250 in 1999. Victory Field opened July 11, 1996.