BROWN AGAIN HONORED BY LEAGUE
Brown joined the River Bandits during the ownership change following the 2007 season and has been a crucial figure in the team's resurgence over the past two seasons. After a successful 2008 campaign in which she was named the Co-Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year, Brown was promoted to Assistant General Manager for the 2009 season and has earned solo honors this year.
"The entire River Bandits organization is extremely proud of Stefanie and what she has accomplished," said team owner Dave Heller. "There is no question that she is one of the most hard-working, talented and productive people in all of baseball - regardless of gender. She has meant a great deal to our organization since the day she arrived, and this honor is extremely well deserved."
During Brown's two seasons with the organization, the River Bandits have seen total attendance increase by 59 percent and per-game attendance rise by 64 percent - culminating in 2009 with a total attendance of 236,401 and an average of 3,694, the highest such figures since 1995. Brown's expanded role in 2009 included the additional responsibilities of overseeing the entire Suite Level, managing special events and overseeing the team's retail operation. All three areas saw significant growth, with the game-day merchandise operation doubling its income from 2008 and Brown's planning and execution of the well-documented Bandit Wedding that hosted 660 people.
"I am truly honored to accept this award," said Brown. "It is one thing to work hard and try to improve the team every day, but for my peers around the league to acknowledge my work is really flattering. These past two years with the River Bandits have been a lot of fun, and everybody on our staff takes a lot of pride in what we've been able to accomplish."
After winning Midwest League honors, Brown is now a candidate for the national Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year Award. The national winner will be announced at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis from December 6-9.
"Having worked with Stefanie since she was just an intern and still a college student, I am so proud to have been able to watch her grow in this industry and receive the recognition she so richly deserves," said Vice President and General Manager Kirk Goodman. "It is an honor to have been able to share a significant part of my career with her and I hope to continue working with her and watching her rise even higher in the baseball world in the coming years."
UP NEXT: The 2010 schedule has been released and fans can put down a deposit on season ticket and mini-plan packages right now by calling (563) 3-BANDIT. Over the off-season, Modern Woodmen Park will stay busy as a special events venue, providing the perfect atmosphere for holiday parties, corporate functions and more. The ballpark will also once again play host to the Field of Screams haunted house - the biggest haunted house in the Quad Cities - which will be open October 9-10, 16-17, 22-24, and 29-31 from 8:00-Midnight.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The Quad Cities River Bandits set a new post-renovation mark for single-season attendance in 2009, as 236,401 fans passed through the turnstiles for an average of 3,694 fans per game. Both figures marked the highest since 1995, while the average attendance was the third highest in franchise history and the total attendance was the fifth highest all-time. The total attendance was up 14 percent over the 2008 season, continuing a 59 percent attendance increase since Main St. Iowa purchased the franchise following the 2007 season. Ticket sales, concessions, merchandise sales, sponsorships and even Kids' Zone revenues were all up over 2008, which was one of the team's best in history! Season ticket deposits for 2010 are already being taken!