Total attendance for PirateFest, the Pirates' three-day promotional event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center was 15,398, up 271 from last year.

That was due to the surprisingly large crowd today that was 1,200 higher than the Sunday from last year, this despite the Penguins and Detroit Red Wings playing a high-profile matinee at Mellon Arena.

"The fans have been terrific all weekend long and, really, it's a continuation of what went on at the Winter Caravan, where we were getting big crowds," Pirates president Frank Coonelly said. "The people I've met here are excited about the 2010 season. They're looking forward to getting out and seeing these players. They believe in these guys."

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