PawSox attendance down first 6 home games

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

It’s that time of the year again, Baseball season is back and the PawSox 2016 season is underway at McCoy stadium. while many people who live in Pawtucket are thrilled the PawSox have decided to stay in the city. In the first 6 homes games, the attendance is down almost 50 percent from last year. Many fans attributing the low numbers to the weather.
 
"The first week of games, there weren’t that many people here, and I think it is primarily due to how cold it has been,” says Pawtucket resident David Norton.

"I notice it picks up more when the kids are out of school and the nicer weather, you know July 4th is big. But it’s like I don’t want to go to a game and be freezing," says Pawtucket Resident, Jessica Dawes.
 
According to the PawSox spokesperson after 6 openings this year they are at 17,843 for attendance, compared to last year where they had 35,373. However, he says last years number did include more than 10 thousand people on opening night which was rained out this year.
 
Some people who live here in Pawtucket feel the cold weather is not the only reason for the low attendance.
 
"Well mainly because of the bad economy in Rhode Island and also the lack of jobs. You can’t really support it especially families," says PawSox fan Ray Cloutier.
 
We reached out to Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien’s office, who sent us a statement saying:
“I know in my conversations with the team that they remain focused on improving the fan experience at McCoy this season. I want to encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the great, family-friendly environment at McCoy. In fact, tonight will be the first fireworks display of the season after the game. Here at City Hall we are working to continue to grow and build upon our strong partnership with the team. The season started almost two weeks earlier this year than it did last year. We had some snow and inclement weather which forced opening night back by a day. The weather is out of our control. What is in the team’s control is the fact that the PawSox are currently sitting atop of the International League North Division through fifteen games and playing the exciting, winning brand of PawSox baseball that we are accustomed to seeing here in Pawtucket. I am sure as the weather continues to get nicer, and with schools getting ready to break for the summer, we can expect to see the stands filled with fans.”
 
With 65 home games left this season, fans say there is still plenty of time for those attendance numbers to go up. Beginning with Friday nights home game which starts at 6:15.

(c)WLNE-TV 2016