Here's your assignment...
With March being somewhat of dead period for news in the Frontier League before the usual flurry of April signings, I thought I'd put you in charge of Consol Energy Park. You have temporarily been named the Director of Stadium Operations (sorry, Steve Zavacky, but the job is yours again in 10 minutes). You've also been told that you can make only one change to the ballpark, within reason, or its operations for 2008. What would it be?
There are two things at the top of my list, one comes with hefty price tag. The other can be accomplished with the cost of only a few dollars.
The expensive change is one the Wild Things do not seem capable of or willing to make. I'd rip out the sod on the playing field, put in a drainage system that actually works and put down new sod. I hate artificial turf and its batting-average-and-ERA-inflating bounces, so shifting to the plastic grass and rubber chips would be a last resort. Of course, if there is ballpark in America that needs artificial turf, this is probably the one.
The other change I'd make is to post the starting lineups somewhere, anywhere, so the fans can check them prior to the game. One of the first things I do when I visit Blair County Ballpark in Altoona is look at the lineups that are posted on a blackboard along a wall in the concourse. I like to know who the pitchers are, if some of the better players are in the lineup and what positions they are playing. If you're keeping a lineup card – some people still do – this is helpful. You don't have to wait until a player comes to bat to fill out your card.
Along this line, I'd like to see the standings posted somewhere inside the park. I know they were shown on the video board last year prior to each game, but they were difficult to read crammed into one panel. The type font used didn't help, either.
I'm sure that some people will suggest changing the concession items. That's more of a food service department, but you can make suggestions in this area.
There are two things at the top of my list, one comes with hefty price tag. The other can be accomplished with the cost of only a few dollars.
The expensive change is one the Wild Things do not seem capable of or willing to make. I'd rip out the sod on the playing field, put in a drainage system that actually works and put down new sod. I hate artificial turf and its batting-average-and-ERA-inflating bounces, so shifting to the plastic grass and rubber chips would be a last resort. Of course, if there is ballpark in America that needs artificial turf, this is probably the one.
The other change I'd make is to post the starting lineups somewhere, anywhere, so the fans can check them prior to the game. One of the first things I do when I visit Blair County Ballpark in Altoona is look at the lineups that are posted on a blackboard along a wall in the concourse. I like to know who the pitchers are, if some of the better players are in the lineup and what positions they are playing. If you're keeping a lineup card – some people still do – this is helpful. You don't have to wait until a player comes to bat to fill out your card.
Along this line, I'd like to see the standings posted somewhere inside the park. I know they were shown on the video board last year prior to each game, but they were difficult to read crammed into one panel. The type font used didn't help, either.
I'm sure that some people will suggest changing the concession items. That's more of a food service department, but you can make suggestions in this area.
posted by Chris Dugan at
6:24 PM
9 Comments:
Post-game interviews live on the jumbotron.
1. Food concession lines. In a night with a large crowd, if you go to the concession line after the first inning, you might not get back to your seat until the 3rd or 4th inning. This is why I listen to most of the games on WJPA at home. They don't even have the radio broadcast on speakers at the concession line so you can at least hear what is going on.
2. $3.00 or higher at special events parking. This is Washington, and the Frontier League, not Pittsburgh or some other major league city. Most of the Frontier League sites offer free or at least cheaper parking.
I have been to Florence, Chillicothe, Gateway, River City, and Kalamazoo and all of these sites have free parking.
I would rather go to a Wild Things away game than a home game because of the reasons given.
At the end of each season, the Wild Things conduct a survey. Each year, I have brought up the bulletin board you suggest. When visiting other minor league parks, it is one of the first things I look for.
Another thing most other minor league parks offer is little perks for season ticket holders. Free lineup cards with stats is the first one that comes to my mind.
But my most important change would be hiring ushers who want to be there and have some baseball knowledge. We had ushers last year who wouldn't know second base from their elbow. If you asked them to move people from your seats, you would think you were infringing on their time. They allow kids (and over-zealous adults) to run all over you to seek autographs.
Most parks have people who can tell you every players batting average, pitchers era's, and directions to the nearest italian bistro.
Good people make the ballpark a great place to visit.
I would like to add my two cents in to the usher situtation. Yes, anonymous was correct in stating that the ushres seem loike they do not want to be there, allow anyone to sit anywhere, and let the children run wild. As a season ticked holder, I have noticed that most of the ushers who started at the park when it opened are gone, and those people at least wiped your seat. Now, they just stamnd there. People make the ball park, and management should realize this. Bring back all the older ushers.
We have been season ticket holders for several years. The ushers in our section are very friendly and helpful. We have no complaints at all about them.
As for the lines at the concession stands, there are TV monitors overhead to allow you to watch the game.
We are not really pleased about the parking fees but there are cost to the Wild Things that I guess they feel they cannot absorb. If the parking were free then the ticket cost would probably be raised to compensate for it.
What I would like to see is a better quality of performance on the field. Indy leagues always seem to suffer from a lack of real talent.
Ron Wilson
Ron Wilson
Ron is correct.
I didn't mean to say that all the ushers were the same as the ones in the area where I sat last season.
There are some very friendly and knowledgable ushers at the park.
Just a couple bad apples.
Where did the venders go? Every year it gets worse. Start of a new year you can get a beer or soft drink. Then they just go away. This has to be the only ball park in the country without venders. Which leads to longer lines at the concession stands.
anonymous
Quoting Ron: "What I would like to see is a better quality of performance on the field. Indy leagues always seem to suffer from a lack of real talent."
Aside from being the dumbest thing I've ever read, do you really expect them to be as good as major league players, or those in the farm systems? If you do, you need a lesson in economics and the free market.
Tell everyone what your solution is to that problem there, genius. We all know you don't have one -- you've never offered a solution to anything. A lot of complaints, though.
Re: "What I would like to see is a better quality of performance on the field. Indy leagues always seem to suffer from a lack of real talent."
Do you mean like outfielders that let fly balls drop between them and baserunners who miss the squeeze play?
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