first pitch was thrown at 3:28 pm Eastern Standard Time. The RailCats lost to the visiting Schaumburg Flyers 8–4 in 11 innings. The next day, on May 27, the first home run was hit in U.S. Steel Yard by outfielder Billy Brown; the RailCats recorded their first win in the new ballpark, defeating the Flyers 5–4. After drawing 26,648 fans in August 2003, the RailCats would compile a 2003 regular season attendance of 140,310 over 44 home games – an average of 3,189 fans per game. In the 2004 Northern League season, the RailCats brought in a regular season attendance of 147,801 over 46 home games with an average of 3,213 fans per game. On 12 separate occasions attendance was over 4,000 fans, which included two sellout crowds. The RailCats finished the 2004 season with a record of 31–65. In the 2005 Northern League season, U.S. Steel Yard hosted the league's annual all-star game on July 19, which U.S. Steel sponsored. The Northern League's North Division defeated the South Division 5–1 in front of a crowd of 6,825 – the second largest attendance U.S. Steel Yard's history. The 2005 season also saw the RailCats' first playoff berth; they eventually lost in the Northern League Championship Series to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. In the 2009 Northern League baseball season, the RailCats drew 185,747 fans to U.S. Steel Yard – an increase of 6,748 fans from the 2008 Northern League baseball season. In September 2009, the one millionth fan walked into the U.S. Steel Yard. Michael Jackson's memorial service On July 10, 2009, a memorial service was held at U.S. Steel Yard for deceased pop musician and Gary native Michael Jackson. Over 6,000 fans attended the service, which also served as a musical tribute to the pop star, as local musicians played a few of Jackson's songs. At the service, Gary mayor Rudy Clay unveiled a granite plaque of Jackson. Originally, Clay talked to the Jackson family about having Michael's body on display in Gary for the service, saying that the service would be "fit for the prince of peace and a memorial that's fit for Gary, Indiana's favorite son, the greatest entertainer that ever lived". This was discussed as part of a plan to have Jackson buried in Gary. About 20 of Jackson's cousins attended the service, along with Michael's father Joe Jackson – who showed up two hours into the service