Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM 890

(CHICAGO) The Chicago White Sox successfully achieved the Guinness Book record for the most dogs attending a sporting event at Tuesday’s 7:10 p.m. game against the Cleveland Indians. The annual Bark at the Park event, presented by AvoDerm Natural Pet Foods, Nylabone and PetSmart, hosted 1,122 dogs to win the title.

According to the Chicago White Sox, the event was reviewed by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Adjudicator Michael Empric, and all of the dogs needed to be in certain designated areas in order to be counted in the final record-setting total.

“We received a tremendous turnout for our four-legged friends tonight,” said Brooks Boyer, White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing.  “We are thrilled that the White Sox dog-friendly event has become a storied piece of our tradition, especially as we add a milestone with tonight’s ‘most dogs attending a sporting event’ title through GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™.”

The White Sox was the first major-league organization to create a dog-friendly day at the ballpark in 1996. Bark at the Park at U.S. Cellular Field designated the Outfield Reserved area as the “Dog Zone,” inviting White Sox fans and their dogs to enjoy the game where fans and their pups can relax in the outfield concourse with water stations and fire hydrant “relief” station areas.

Fans followed the Bark at the Park activities throughout the night on White Sox social media with the hashtag #SoxDogs.