Norwich - In a word, Baseball Stadium Authority members said, attendance thus far at Connecticut Tigers games has been "disappointing."

The New York-Penn League short-season Class A Tigers moved to the Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium this summer after the AA Connecticut Defenders moved to Richmond, Va., because of sagging attendance.

Attendance at the new team's games was discussed Wednesday, the authority's first meeting since the home opener June 26. Authority member Harry Jackson said he expected better, since the Defenders' worst attendance games were in cold April and May. The Tigers' season runs from mid-June through the Labor Day weekend. And weather has been good for most of the eight home games to date.

"The team is good, they really hustle," he said. "So far, the attendance hasn't lived up to my expectations."

Attendance at the home opener was about 3,200, but few crowds have topped 2,000 since then, and some have dipped below 1,000. Military Appreciation night, a large draw for past teams, drew only about 1,100 on July 5.

The authority will hold its next meeting, possibly in a skybox, on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at Dodd Stadium.

Tigers General Manager Andrew Weber, who did not attend the authority meeting, later admitted that marketing and promotion had to be put "on the back burner" until recently. The Tigers didn't officially move into Dodd Stadium until April and had many preparations to make before the season opened, including repainting with Tigers colors and logos, and arranging host families for players.

The Tigers will hold a second Military Appreciation night Aug. 5, and Weber said he already has reached out to local veterans' groups and the military institutions.

The Tigers had a booth at last week's Sailfest in New London, and Weber said staff heard numerous comments along the lines of: "Gosh, we didn't realize a new team has come in," Weber said.

"We always try to put on an A+ show, and everyone who comes has a great time, and they say they're going to come back. We just need to get more people to come up here."

c.bessette@theday.com