ROCHESTER,Minn. (Aug. 25, 2012) – The Northwoods League broke an attendance record for the second year in a row. Last season the NWL broke the 900,000 mark for the first time and this season, more than 930,000 fans passed through the gates in the league.
The NWL drew 932,245 fans during the 2012 regular season, which is over 38,000 more fans then the previous year. The Madison Mallards led the league again as they averaged 6,204 fans per game in 2012. Madison was also the host site for the 2012 Northwoods League All Star Game, which brought 6,073 fans to Warner Park.
The Summer Collegiate World Series drew more than 3,200 fans, including 2,643 who packed Copeland Park in La Crosse, to see the Loggers win the 2012 Northwoods League Championship. The 2012 NWL playoffs brought more than 8,200 fans to the four ballparks.
The expansion Lakeshore Chinooks averaged a little more than 1,300 fans per game in their inaugural season and drew a total of 46,022 to Kapco Park in Mequon, WI. The Willmar Stingers, a 2010 expansion team, saw their numbers rise for the third season in a row, as they brought in 35,049 visitors to Bill Taunton Stadium.
The Duluth Huskies saw one of the largest rises in attendance. Duluth had 40,739 fans pass through their gates in 2012, averaging more than 1,200 per game. That total attendance is over 8,500 more than in 2011.
The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. The League has 16 teams in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario. The Northwoods League will be celebrating its' 20th season in 2013.