(Rochester, MN) – The Northwoods League had eight teams set attendance marks during the 2004 season,as it was announced on Tuesday, August 17.

Led by the Madison Mallards, who attracted a league record 154, 258 fans to the Duck Pond this season, the NWL broke its previous record for total attendance by 7.5%. Including the All-Star game, League Divisional Playoffs and Championship Playoffs, the NWL and its 10-member teams drew a total of 626,704 fans, easily exceeding the 583,104 fans in 2003.

In addition to the Mallards record attendance this summer, the La Crosse Loggers saw 98,331 fans through the turnstiles to shatter their previous mark set in their inaugural year (2003) by 11,340.

Other teams to set new attendance marks were St. Cloud (62,661), Rochester (39,351), Duluth (38,675), Thunder Bay (36,893), Alexandria (33,161), and Mankato (29,604).

The Northwoods League is an SCBA sanctioned summer baseball league comprised of teams of the top college players from the Midwest and across the nation. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate.

Each team is operated similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats, major league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips, and playing nightly before fans in a stadium.