Firework displays increase in town

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Centennial Wireless Fireworks Spectacular has been synonymous with Fourth of July in Fort Wayne for years. But this year, there's another fireworks display in town.

Minor league baseball team, the Fort Wayne TinCaps is also getting in on the action. The team moved its original game time from 4pm to 7pm and added a fireworks show. "It is going to be our regular field level show, but we're going to add a couple little twists and a couple of bonuses," explains Mike Limmer, Vice President - Marketing & Promotions for the TinCaps. "So it'll be a little extra special that what we normally do."

The additional fireworks display was rumored to have caused some eyebrows to raise at the Centennial camp. Both sides confirm to NewsChannel 15 they are excited about both shows.

"You've got two different types of shows," says Limmer. "They're doing the shoot'em high in the sky. I don't think there's competition from the standpoint of trying to draw people one from the other. I think that Fort Wayne is big enough and I think they're showing a demand that both can be very successful."

"It's good that they're (TinCaps) able to do that this year," said Colleen Mayberry, marketing director for Centennial. "Being their inaugural season at the new stadium. We hope that they do sell out."

That may end up happening. Four weeks before game day, only 2,000 tickets had been sold. By the night before, that number was up to 7,000. Team officials expect tomorrow's turnout to be sold out as it did on opening day.

Every year the Centennial Wireless Fireworks Spectacular brings in 40,000 to 60,000 people. This year, it expects to double the crowd.

Gates open for the Centennial Wireless Fireworks Spectacular at the IPFW campus at noon. You can find more information about the event here .

The TinCaps Saturday home game against the Great Lakes Loons starts at 7:05 p.m. Fireworks will start five minutes after the game.