Baseball, is it still our national pastime? If you are a baseball fan, then most of the headlines you have heard over the past few weeks have centered around ARod or how economic turmoil is affecting the new Yankee stadium and their premium seat prices. With the way families across our country are struggling, Major League Baseball has become too expensive for many of them to go to games this year.
So where can a family go for good entertainment and value for their hard-earned money? Well don’t give up on baseball. Just adjust a little and give Minor League Baseball a shot. That’s what I recently did over the past couple weeks.
A couple weekends ago, I flew back to North Carolina where my parents live as do both my brother and sister and their families. It was my Dad’s 76th birthday so I decided to take him out to see the local minor league baseball team play. So on Friday night I took my Dad, brother and 10 year old nephew out to see the Kinston Indians play. The K-Tribe as they are called play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League and are a Cleveland Indians minor league affiliate.
The Indians play their games in Grainger Stadium. This year Grainger Stadium is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Yes the stadium is so old that I played Babe Ruth Baseball there for four years during my high school days. In some ways the stadium is still the same, the tobacco warehouse is still out beyond right field (although from what I can gather it is no longer being used) and the dimensions are the still the same including the 380’ sign in left center that I magically hit one over back in 1978.
But some things have changed. The organization has done an amazing job refurbishing the old park. The new concession stands, ticket office, clubhouse and press box look tremendous. The place was packed. I was surprised at how many people were there over 2,300 on a Friday night in April. Plus it was quite a bargain. Best tickets in the house $6 each and kids get in for $4. The four of us had a great time, enjoyed a great game and indulged in the typical baseball buffet of hot dogs, peanuts, and ice cream for less than $50. We would have spent more than that going to a movie!
Then this past Sunday, I organized an outing for my church to attend a baseball game together at our local minor league team the Frisco Roughriders who are an affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play in the Double A Texas League. My son Robbie’s best friend, Sean, (who I think of like my 2nd son) is the Corporate Marketing Manager for the team. He hooked our group up with a fabulous package. Check this out for $15 a person we got great seats behind the first base dugout, all you can eat food and drinks including hot dogs, hamburgers and brats and even a free Roughriders baseball hat.
Now if that isn’t a family stimulus package then what is? Our group of 30 had an incredible time at the game, enjoying each other’s fellowship and watching the great game of course while stuffing ourselves silly with ballpark fare.
Just think about it. Aren’t these two instances examples of what going to a baseball game is supposed to be all about? Getting together with family and friends and spending three hours just soaking it all in. How far from a minor league baseball team do you live? Next time you are looking for something to do give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed.
The Buyline 