O's set franchise, Ed Smith Stadium attendance records

The Orioles today concluded their 2011 spring training schedule against the Toronto Blue Jays and have announced that 115,506 fans attended a game at the newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium this spring, setting a franchise record for spring training attendance for the second consecutive year. This year's attendance is also a new Ed Smith Stadium record, surpassing the 115,382 fans who attended games in 1994 when Sarasota was the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox and Michael Jordan was a spring training invitee for the team. The Orioles drew 102,219 fans to Ed Smith Stadium last year, their inaugural season in Sarasota. Ed Smith Stadium hosted 10 sellouts in 16 home games this year, including a stadium-record 8,549 fans for a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 19. Average attendance this spring was 7,219. "The combination of a beautifully renovated ballpark and a loyal and supportive fan base, not to mention some near-perfect weather, made 2011 a record-setting spring," said Director of Communications Greg Bader. "Local residents and the business community have embraced us from the moment we announced Sarasota as our long-term home, and we are pleased to have welcomed so many fans from the Mid-Atlantic region to this wonderful area this spring. We look forward to continuing to grow our relationship within the community for years to come."