The idea behind the Marlins’ Super Saturdays was to make Dolphin Stadium “the place to be” on Saturday nights by adding more giveaways, pregame parties and postgame concerts followed by fireworks.

The concert lineup has had plenty of critics – and fans – but the attendance boost from last year has exceeded even the team’s expectations, said Sean Flynn, Marlins vice president of marketing.

According to the team’s statistics, through the first five Saturdays this season, the team has sold an average of 26,520 tickets a game up 88 percent from the 14,116 average on the first five Saturdays of the 2006 season. While Marlins' tickets sold still ranks 29th of 30 teams -- ahead of only the Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- the average 18,123 tickets sold per game through the first 33 games this season is up 65 percent from the 10,979 at this time last season.

Super Saturdays have a lot to do with the increase. Saturday nights offer plenty to go along with the game ticket: the first 5,000 cars at Dolphin Stadium get a car-specific giveaway, such as a car flag, license plate or gas can. The first 25,000 fans get a more traditional giveaway as well, such as a T-shirt or a floppy hat. Marlins alumni and celebrities sign autographs before the game. After the game, fans are treated to a postgame concert followed by fireworks.

“The concerts are the strongest element of eventizing Saturday nights,” Flynn said. “Our goal was to make this the place to be.”

Still not sure “eventize” is a word. Have you been attending on Saturday nights? Do you stay for the concerts and fireworks?

Flynn says typically 50 percent to 75 percent of the crowd sticks around for the postgame concert and fireworks.

The rest of the concert lineup for this season is as follows: Jo Dee Messina, June 23; Joan Jett, June 30; Smash Mouth, July 14; Willy Chirino, July 21; Oscar D'León, Aug. 4; Blues Traveler, Aug. 18; Issac Delgado and Victor Manuelle, Sept. 1; Vince Neil of Motley Crue and Quiet Riot, Sept. 22.