Tribe hitting high attendance mark

Unless you already have a ticket to see this Saturdayã???ã??ã?â¢??s Indianapolis Indians game, you wonã???ã??ã?â¢??t be able to see the Tribeã???ã??ã?â¢??s annual fireworks show unless youã???ã??ã?â¢??re watching from outside of Victory Field.

The Indians yesterday sold out their 14,500-plus-capacity home venue. Itã???ã??ã?â¢??s the 13th consecutive July 4 home sellout for the cityã???ã??ã?â¢??s AAA minor league baseball team. This yearã???ã??ã?â¢??s standing-room-only crowd is even bigger than last yearã???ã??ã?â¢??s.

Itã???ã??ã?â¢??s the teamã???ã??ã?â¢??s first sellout this year, but that doesnã???ã??ã?â¢??t mean the team hasnã???ã??ã?â¢??t been on an attendance tear.

In this down economy, the Indians continue to be the little engine that could. The team is averaging 7,320 fans per game through 36 home games. Thatã???ã??ã?â¢??s below the 8,538 the team drew last year, but Indians officials noted that attendance always picks up during the second half of the season. Last year’s attendance was an eight-year high, and team officials think they could be in position to break that mark this season.

The team is already starting to get good wood on its sales and marketing efforts. Last Saturday, the team drew 12,076, followed by a crowd of 9,729 at Sundayã???ã??ã?â¢??sã????ã???ã??ã?â home game and 10,097 at Mondayã???ã??ã?â¢??s game.

ã???ã??ã?â¢??Demand for tickets is picking up, and we feel weã???ã??ã?â¢??re in a good position,ã???ã??ã?â¢?? said Indians spokesman Brian Bosma, adding that Mondayã???ã??ã?â¢??s game was the best walk-up crowd of the season.

Corporate activity and group ticket sales at Victory Field also are heating up, team officials said, with the section sponsored by Coors Light doing exceptionally well.