www.projo.com/sports/content/newport_gulls_0715.42e10a7 -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 7/15/2009
Last Visited: 7/16/2009
Now it's up to 2,200 a game," Gulls general manager Chuck Paiva said.
...
"Last week a family from some place out-of-town was here and when they returned home they send me an e-mail saying it was the best baseball experience they ever had," said Paiva.
"We had people who are touring the Major League parks and stop here for some reason and say it was one of their best baseball experiences.
I think it's the history of the field, the fans packed in here right up on the field, the quality of the baseball and the family entertainment aspect."
But while there are always some out-of-towners in the stands, there's no question the majority of the fan base is local.
That's exactly the way Paiva and the ownership team of him and four other local self-proclaimed "baseball guys" wanted when they took over the team in 2003.
The first thing they did was set up the Gulls as a nonprofit organization so in essence the team belongs to the community.
"We have never taken one cent out of this team.
Everything goes back to the community.
We have been fortunate to be able to give back about $50,000 a season to other area nonprofits," said Paiva.
...
Paiva was asked
"Have gray hair," he said with a laugh.