The business of baseball is never just about the game.
OK, maybe during the midst of a Blue Jays playoff drive, the scoreline becomes paramount. But rarely on a lazy July night in Stockton, California, Macon, Georgia, or Okotoks, Alta.
Marketing studies have shown the majority of fans exiting minor pro or collegiate summer league baseball games can’t even recall the score. But the fans of the Fort Myers Miracle in Florida will remember Costanza Night, which featured everything George, and the supporters of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Ohio will not forget Liposuction Giveaway Night. How about the Altoona Curve of Pennsylvania’s Awful Night, which featured music by Milli Vanilli, video clips of David Hasselhoff’s acting skills, Spam sandwiches and bobbing for onions. For a quirky and entertaining read, Google your way through “minor-pro baseball promotions.” It’s a hoot.
Cue to Krazy George, the madly drumming super cheerleader whom supporters of the B.C. Lions will remember vividly from the circa 1980s, and who returns to the province to animate the HarbourCats 2016 season opener against Wenatchee on June 7 at Royal Athletic Park.
Yes, that Krazy George Henderson — the man who claims to have invented The Wave at sports venues and who describes himself as “the sexiest man alive” — is still at it. And he will be in your eardrums for the Victoria opener. It’s one of several promotions the HarbourCats have lined up for this season.
“Many fans don’t even remember who the home team was playing,” said Victoria HarbourCats president and co-owner Jim Swanson.
What they do remember is if the game was family friendly, fun and affordable, with good eats and drinks.
Ice hockey and box lacrosse are played in confined arenas at a frenetic tempo. The pace of baseball, by comparison, is studied and pastoral. And it is played in the great outdoors in the best time of year.
“We’re selling the experience of being at the ball park,” Swanson said.
“You can’t guarantee a barn-burner of a game every night. But we can guarantee the beer will be cold, the food will be good, and atmosphere
surrounding the game will be highly entertaining.”
Whatever the HarbourCats are selling, Island fans seem to be buying.
The HarbourCats are entering their fourth season in the WCL and led the league in per-game average attendance each of the past two seasons (1,910 in 2015 and 1,576 in 2014).
“It’s about gathering community,” Swanson said.
“Our chief competition in Victoria are bike trails and beaches. But sometimes you just want to gather with community at a spectator sporting event.”
The man responsible for the on-field stuff is impressed by the off-field diversions at Royal Athletic Park.
“I am amazed by what this organization is doing in terms of promotions and fan game experience,” said HarbourCats head coach Graig Merritt, who played pro ball up to Double-A in the Tampa Bay Rays system.
“What they [HarbourCats] are doing is next-level stuff that matches anything I saw in Double-A pro.”
So bring on Krazy George, not to mention an avalanche of other promotional stuff this summer at Royal Athletic Park. Maybe next year even David Hasselhoff Night.
2016 HarbourCats promotions
Winning Wednesdays: $5 HarbourCat Ale and Spinnakers products.
Forces Fridays: $5 admission for Armed Forces members and first responders.
June 7: Krazy George, White Out/Drive for 5,000 Opening Night, T-shirt giveaway and water-bottle giveaways
June 8: Investors Group Family Day and Krazy George Bobblehead Night
June 9: Earthquake Preparedness Night
June 14: Salute to Rotary Night, giveaways
June 15: Winning Wednesday
June 16: School Spirit Day/Businessperson’s Day
June 17: Guaranteed Win Night
June 18: Food Truck Night, T-shirt giveaway
June 19: Father’s Day Extravaganza
June 22: Salute to Legion Night
June 24: Frito-Lay chips giveaway night
June 25: Christmas in June with B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation and Yoga Day in Victoria: “Mats, Bats and Beats” with Moksha Yoga
June 26: Bark in the Park
June 30: Fireworks, Canada Day eve show
July 1: Canada Day Party
July 2: Sock Toss
July 10: Harvey’s Birthday Bash, Country Night — SunFest, bobblehead giveaways, Diamond Dig Males and Females
July 11: Special surprise promotion!
July 20: Baseball Card Giveaway Night
July 21: Water bottle giveaways
July 22: Super Heroes Night
July 26: Bingo Night
July 27: Blue Jays Night, special prizes
July 28: Businessperson’s Day game
Aug. 5: Jersey off Our Backs Night
Aug. 6: Fireworks Night
Aug. 7: Fan Appreciation, hot-dog-eating contest
