CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Nobody -- not even the die-hard fans -- will be allowed to watch the Charleston Riverdogs' game against the Columbus Redstixx on Monday night.

And that's just what the team wants.

The Riverdogs will continue their tradition of outlandish promotions when they padlock the gates and hold a party, including discounted food and beer, outside the ballpark in an attempt to set the record for the lowest attendance at a professional baseball game on "Nobody Night."

The idea has been called ridiculous, and team owner and promotional guru Mike Veeck says that's the point.

Veeck has a long history of outlandish promotions, including "Vasectomy Night" -- canceled at the last minute -- and "Tonya Harding Bat Day."

Veeck said without the support of the community, the Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays couldn't pull off an empty-stadium stunt.

"Even though it's so goofy and it's so out there, I think they have a capacity along with us now, after kind of a relationship that's been built, to kind of laugh and say 'Gosh, that's stupid' -- which it is," Veeck said

There's a discrepancy over what the actual lowest attendance record is, but Veeck believes nobody has ever had zero attendance. That's exactly the number radio play-by-play announcer Jim Lucas had in mind when he dreamed up "Nobody Night" at Veeck's promotional seminar last year.

Lucas says the attendance record is 12 people who braved a rainstorm to see Chicago defeat Troy on Sept. 17, 1881.

Fans will be permitted into Joe Riley Stadium after the game is declared official.

"We've called the Hall of Fame and they said 'If it happens, and you play in front of no one, send us all the information and verification,' " Lucas said. "They didn't promise us anything, but they said, 'We'll look into it for you.' "

During the first five innings, the game will proceed as usual and include contests between innings. Concession workers and ticket takers will be waiting for customers.

Lucas said the response to "Nobody Night" has been favorable.

Riverdogs manager Buddy Biancalana and the players just shake their heads and say, " 'You guys are just absolutely nuts,' " Lucas said.

"Nobody Night" comes just days after the team set an attendance record of 7,885 on July 4.

"I never had any idea that we were going to do that, but it makes it a little more palatable," Veeck said. "We going to take it on the chops concession- wise and stuff, and I think that's what I love about it."

Veeck's father, Bill, was the mastermind behind the Chicago White Sox's notorious Disco Demolition Night in 1979, where fans burned disco records in the outfield of Comisky Park and started a riot.

Bill Veeck also once sent a midget to bat in the major leagues.

Mike Veeck's mother was in town just days before "Nobody Night," and, of course, she's not going to attend the game.

"She lived with a fairly crazy guy for a lot of years," Veeck said. "She looked at me this morning over coffee and said 'Bill would've loved this. You spend your whole life figuring out ways to draw 'em in and now you're keeping 'em out.' "