Sports

The Indianapolis Indians are off to another strong year this season.

Through 37 scheduled home games this year, 303,771 fans have come through the turnstiles. At the same point last season, the team had drawn 262,772. Revenue this year is up more than $1 million over the same period last year, said Indians General Manager Cal Burleson.

Last year, the Indians’ home attendance—637,579—was the best single-season total since the team’s championship campaign in 2000.

This year’s hot start has Indians officials eyeing an attendance record. The Indians’ record home attendance was 658,250 in 1999. Victory Field opened July 11, 1996.

“It will be a challenge for us to do as well [as last year], but our advance ticket sales are ahead of last year,” Burleson said. “We’ve got another good team and some things are lined up well, so we have a shot.”

The Indians, he said, have increased advanced sales by offering a $2 discount to anyone who buys tickets at least 24 hours in advance. That’s double the advance sale discount from last year.

“That’s certainly helped with ticket sales,” Burleson said. “The other part of it is that the Indians have simply become very well known for offering affordable, family-friendly entertainment. We think that has really kept tickets in demand.”