A million reasons to go to an Expos game

Vermont Business Magazine, Mar 01, 2003

One championship, two division titles, 29 former players in the major leagues and over one million fans are some of the numbers that the Vermont Expos have accumulated over nine years as the team gets ready in 2003 to celebrate their 10th year in the New York-Penn League.

The Vermont Expos were born on June 16, 1994 when owner Ray Pecor's franchise made their debut at the University of Vermont's Historic Centennial Field against the Pittsfield Mets in front of over 5,000 fans. The Expos would lose 6-5 before picking up the team's first win at Hudson Valley on June 19th.

That 1994 team would go on to finish 42-33 and miss out on the New York-Penn League playoffs by just one game. Things would be different in 1995 when the Expos would win the McNamara Division title with a 49-27 record. In the playoffs, Vermont defeated Hudson Valley two games to one before losing in three games to the Watertown Indians in the championship series.

Vermont made it three winning seasons in three years and won its only New York-Penn League championship in 1996. The Expos began the season 9-9 before winning 39 of their last 54 games to win the McNamara Division with a 48-34 record. After sweeping two games from Pittsfield in the semifinals, Vermont found themselves down one game to none in the best-of-three game championship series with the St. Catharines Stompers. The Expos responded with come-frombehind victories at Centennial Field in both games two and three to claim the championship.

Since winning it all in 1996, the Expos have struggled on the field in terms of wins and losses. Vermont has had just one winning season since 1997, that coming in 2000 when the Expos just missed out on the playoffs with a 45-30 record.

But through the struggles, the Vermont Expos have continued to help develop players for the major leagues and have continued to bring thousands of fans to every home game.

Twenty-nine players who have spent time in a Vermont Expos uniform have gone on to play in the major leagues. That total is far and away higher than any other New York-Penn League team since 1994. Major League players like Montreal's Michael Barrett and Orlando Cabrera, the Mets Scott Strickland, and the Orioles Jorge Julio all spent time with the Vermont Expos.

That is part of the reason that the Expos have been able to draw over 100,000 fans per season and over one million fans in the team's nineyear history. Vermont celebrated the one million mark July 19-21, 2002 with a "Millionth Fan Weekend Celebration". The Expos drew over 4,000 fans for each of the three games, the first time in the franchise's history that they had done that.

With the 2003 season being recognized as the "10th Anniversary Season", the Vermont Expos have lots of theme nights, giveaways and special events planned throughout the year.

After starting the 2003 season June 17th on the road, the Expos will play the first of 38 home games at Centennial Field on June 20th against the Lowell Spinners. Vermont will play six home games in June, 16 in July, 13 in August and three in September, including the regular-season finale September 3rd with Lowell.

Highlights of the season include some of the returning theme nights like Patriotic Day (July 6th), Summer of Love (July 19th), Champ's Birthday (August 6th) and Fairy Tale Night (August 10th). In addition, the Expos will celebrate their 10th anniversary season with a special night July 25th.

Season Tickets for all 38 Vermont Expos home games are now on sale. For more information on season, group and individual game tickets, stop by the Vermont Expos front office on the first floor of the Champlain Mill in Winooski, call (802) 655-4200 or visit the team at www.vermontexpos.com.