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OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- As the saying goes: If you build it, they will come.
A record crowd of 6,476 Ogden Raptor fans turned out Thursday for the team's home opener at the newly renovated and expanded Lindquist Field.
More seats and more fans were exactly what Raptors managers had in mind when undertaking renovation of the 12-year-old facility.
"We just ran out of room. For the past three years, our average attendance was about 97 percent of seating capacity, so we figured it was time to do something," team president Dave Boggett said.
The $3 million renovation included more than 2,000 additional fan-pleasing seats along the third baseline, replacing sets of bleachers. Overall seating capacity increased from 5,000 to 7,000, not including standing room on an elevated area behind the outfield.
"Before, you'd have to sit in the bleachers, and it was always really cramped. This is much nicer," Layton resident Stacey Collatz said.
Other fix-ups include new concession stands, additional restroom and a BBQ station with picnic tables and umbrellas, Baggott said.
The downtown Ogden field has been the home of the Raptors, a Los Angeles Dodger's farm team since 1997. With the renovations, the teams signed a new 20-year lease with the city.
Ogden resident Pat Rich said he couldn't believe the amount of work done during the renovation.
"You don't expect stadiums for rookie teams to look like this. It's just fantastic," Rich said.
Too bad the team's season-opening performance wasn't as pleasing. The Raptors lost to the Orem Owlz, 11-6. ---- Information from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-06-20-08 1135MDT
