The season is over for our Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, but their success at the box office deserves notice.

With a sellout in Saturday’s home finale, the Indians completed totaled 606,166 fans (8,538 per game) at Victory Field in 2008.
 
That was their best regular-season total since 2000.
 

"The Indianapolis Indians are most appreciative of the way our fans supported us in 2008," Tribe Vice President & General Manager Cal Burleson said in a news release. "Our attendance has now increased by 58,000 over the last two seasons. We will look to stay with our mission – that being to provide Indians Baseball at Victory Field as affordable and memorable family fun – in 2009 and beyond."

During a remarkable 38-game stretch from June 19 to August 30, the Indians also averaged over 10,000 fans per game during a 38-game stretch from June 19 to the end of the season on August 30. The Tribe played 12 home games in front of at least 12,000 people this past season, six contests in front of at least 13,000 and three games in front of at least 14,000.

The Tribe also enjoyed the International League’s third highest total attendance as a part of a recording break season in the IL and across Minor League Baseball.

7,097,411 fans turned out to see Triple-A baseball in the IL, breaking the previous record of 6,815,633 set in 2002, while a record breaking 43 million have attended Minor League Baseball contests so far this season, even with a few leagues still with games to play.

Some say Indianapolis should strive for a Major League franchise some day. I say un-uh -- the Indians are perfectly positioned as an affordable, family-friendly entertainment option.

Congrats to all involved on their success.