Fans who have been to Dirtbags games at Blair Field this year have probably noticed something different: a lot more people.
In seven games this year the Dirtbags are averaging 1,798 fans, up from an average of 1,531 fans in their first seven home games in 2006.
The reason for the increase is a bit of mystery.
Unlike in previous years, when Long Beach State had some of the top talent in college baseball (Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitzki and Jered Weaver), this year’s team is more of a balanced squad instead of featuring a single star player.
There hasn’t been a creative marketing campaign and although the team is quickly rising up the national rankings, LBSU didn’t come into the season as one of the top teams.
“I don’t really know what the boost has been about,” said LBSU’s baseball Sports Information Director Niall Adler. “Ever since Weaver was here, there has been some momentum in attendance but to have as many people as we had last Tuesday, that is just unheard of.”
What Adler is talking about is the 1,562 spectators who showed up to Blair Field for the Dirtbags 14-1 win over UCLA last Tuesday.
It was the biggest midweek crowd at Blair Field ever. It broke the record from when Weaver struck out 16 of 18 batters against Wichita State in 2004.
Not only have there been more fans, but they have also been more vocal.
Blair Field has had a much more festive atmosphere this season, with chants coming from the crowd throughout the game, which seems to have had an effect on the field.
“We teach the team to zone everything else out and stay focused on the game,” Adler said. “But when the crowd is so into the game, it obviously pumps the team up.”
Even though LBSU (8-4) has had an incredibly difficult home schedule to start the year, with USC, Texas, UCLA and California, the Dirtbags are 6-1 at Blair Field. Last season, the Dirtbags finished with a mediocre 15-12 record in home games.
So whatever the reason is for the increase in attendance, keep it up Dirtbags fans. Your presence is making a difference.