Minor League Baseball Parks Lure Fans with Promotions, Lower Prices

Cleveland's economy doesn't leave baseball fans with a lot of discretionary income. So the Indians and their minor league teams are always looking for ways to entice fans to come to the ballpark.

Now that four of the farm clubs have gathered to within the Ohio border, the Indians are offering a pair of "Around the Horn" packages to allow fans to sample the baseball talent throughout the Tribe organization.

Fans can pick up a pair of tickets to see the Indians, their AA affiliate, the Akron Aeros; and both single-A teams, the Lake County Captains and Mahoning Valley Scrappers; all for $74, a savings of $58.

The plans include free hot dogs and drinks at the various stops, which are spaced out throughout the calendar. For example, the Aeros game would take place in August.

An upgraded package includes the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, a longtime Yankees farm team that now features players who are a tweaked knee away from becoming Cleveland Indians. The five-pack costs $94, for a savings of $66.

Throughout the year, ballclubs try to give fans a reason to come to the ballpark every night of the week.

For example, the Aeros offer Dollar Dog Mondays, Two For Tuesdays (buy one ticket, get one free), Family Packs on Wednesday and Sunday (four-packs of tickets, hot dogs, chips, and sodas); Thirsty Thursdays ($1 beers and sodas); Fireworks Fridays (starting in May), and Super Saver Saturdays ($7 tickets).

"We don't sell the product on the field because we have no control over it," said Calvin Funkhouser, the Aeros director of corporate sales. "We control the promotions."

He added that even fans with limited discretionary income will make sure they make it out to the ballpark.

"People are looking to get the kids out of the house and away from the computer and the TV," he said. "Also, some people have cut out their vacations and are doing a lot more locally.

To keep up visibility, the Aeros have hit the social media scene.

"Orbit (the Aeros' space-cat mascot) has more than 1,000 Facebook friends, and we have 700 followers on Twitter," Funkhouser said.

To celebrate the Aeros' 2009 Eastern League championship, the first 1,500 fans on Aug. 14 will receive a replica championship ring. It will be made of the same material (poly resin) that is used to make bobblehead dolls.

"It's a really nice quality item," Funkhouser said. "It's nice to thank the fans for supporting us for a great ride in 2009."

The Lake County Captains are offering a takeoff on the bobblehead with a "leg-lamp" style doll of mascot Skipper, inspired by the movie "A Christmas Story," on July 25.

One night earlier, the Captains also will reprise Cleveland Sports History Night on July 24, which was named Minor League Promotion of the Year by ESPN Magazine.

The Captains brought Jim Chones, Hanford Dixon, Don Cockroft, Jock Callender, Otto Orf, and Mudcat Grant, for an autograph session.

That night, the Captains made light of Cleveland's decades of sports futility.

"Every night, we have Skipper race a kid around the bases and somehow get sidetracked at third base," said Captains announcer Craig Deas. "This time, a referee threw a flag and hit him in the eye."

The independent Lake Erie Crushers debuted at the new All-Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio, last year and promptly won the Frontier League championship.

One of the most memorable promotions was Superhero Night, when the ballpark staff dressed up as their favorite comic book all-stars.

"The fans realized we we're taking ourselves too seriously," said general manager Ryan Gates. "I think that created some watercooler buzz."