Owlz starting to fly high

OREM — For Orem Owlz co-general manager Zachary Fraser, it was a night when his field of dreams came true.

Approximately 4,500 fans filed into the home Home of the Owlz at Utah Valley State College on July 3 to watch Orem face the Idaho Falls Chukars, marking the team's largest home crowd ever. While there wasn't an empty seat in the house, another couple of thousand spectators spilled onto the grass berm in the outfield.

"It was a ton of fun," Fraser recalled fondly. "It was fun because we felt like we reached where we want to be. We always wondered what it would be like with 4,500 fans here, and now we know. We want it to be like that every night. People had a great time and got to experience what minor-league baseball is all about."

Sure, some fans were probably enticed by the post-game fireworks show. But that record-breaking crowd delivered a statement — that minor league baseball, in the form of the Orem Owlz, is finally home to roost in Utah County.

It's been five years since the Pioneer League arrived here with the Provo Angels. After four seasons in Provo, the rookie league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels switched ownership, switched cities, switched color schemes and switched its home from Brigham Young University's Miller Park to the ballpark at Utah Valley State College prior to the 2005 season.

The changes have been positive for both the club and for local baseball fans, said Fraser.

"It's different in the sense that people actually come to our games," he said. "Last year was a start, but people didn't know who we were. Now, on most nights there's a good crowd."

The goal now, Fraser explained, is to continue to build a loyal fan base. He compares the process to what its Pioneer League rival, the Ogden Raptors, experienced about a decade ago.

"Ogden has been very successful. They're averaging about 3,500 (fans) a night, but they didn't start that way," Fraser said. "We're like Ogden was in 1994, 1995 and 1996. You're starting to see the fan base build. The reality is, there's a ceiling on how far you can go at this level. (The owners) see 3,500 to 4,500 fans at the park on a nightly basis."

The Owlz drew an average of 2,200 fans for the season last year. Going into this week's homestand, they were averaging about 2,600 per home date. Fraser said that average would be higher, but the numbers are skewed by a Sunday home game (played July 2), which attracted a mere 915 fans.