Diamond deals

Ohio's minor-league ballparks offer pure, affordable family entertainment

Sunday,  August 5, 2007 7:13 AM

By Steve Stephens

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

At a modern baseball game, the sport itself seems almost secondary, especially in minor-league parks.

 

Toddlers race around the bases, strange mascots gyrate and music booms from loudspeakers, all in the name of an "entertainment experience."

 

Which is OK. After all, the game itself is nothing but entertainment. And sometimes -- think pitchers duel -- not even that.

 

 

http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/travel/stories/2007/08/05/BALLPARKS.ART_ART_08-05-07_F1_QL7G1C4.html?print=yes

Wonderful article!

Dragons have grand slam season

Dragons see success on field, at box office

BY JACOB DIRR | DAYTON BUSINESS JOURNAL

August 31, 2007

 

DAYTON - Ask the owner of one of baseball's most successful minor league clubs if more wins lead to more revenue and he would say "no." Six months ago, that is.

 

Ken Stickney, managing director of the Dayton Dragon's ownership, said the Dragons are wrapping up their most financially successful season to date and business across the board is up 10 percent.

 

 

I'll be checking out the Lake County Captains game tomorrow. Has anyone been to this venue? It sounds like all seats are great. But what I'm really wondering is where to get a great beer before the game. I'm thinking maybe Grovewood tavern or perhaps Willoughby Brewpub....thoughts or suggestions

I highly reccommend attending a minor league game, especially if you have little kids or are simpy a baseball fan.  The intimacy of the park is great and while these guys aren't big leaguers, they're still pretty good (and some may be superstars some day).  Plus there is a lot of other "fan experience" type things going on.

 

I haven't been to any Lake County games, but Grovewood is great as is the Willoughby Brewery - about 2 miles past (east) the park.  Lots of other cool places in Willoughby too.

go with the willoughby brewpub if you like great lakes brewpub. Great lakes is better, but willoughby is simmilar in experience foods and beers.

Has anyone been to a Paints game? I've been meaning to go, but never have. I know the chances of seeing a future star are far less, as they are independent, but the price is right and the drive from Dayton to Chillicothe (or, actually, Hillsboro to Chillicothe, the route I eventually take) is one of my favorites.

here's the report back from the Captains game- unfortunately the game was delayed twice before being postponed to a later date. However, I still had a great time at the stadium.

 

Very family friendly- free face painting and free balloon animals for kids, Spongebob and the mascot were always walking around offering up photo opps. The team shop is very affordable...unlike the Jake.

 

All seats were great- we had the furthest seats from the field in our section and still it was so close.

 

Great beer selection- who knew a single A team's stadium carried the likes of Lindemanns Lambics, Rare VOS, Breckenridge, Guinness and Great Lakes....wow

 

the bad:

having never really spending any time in Eastlake, I found the city to be the east side suburbs answer to Parma. Parma has a mall, Eastlake has a stadium, other than that no differences.

yeah vine st is pretty eyesore-laden

tomorrow is the 5th and final time this season that the Lake County Captains will be magically transformed into the "Picantes de Lake County."  The Mexican national anthem, almost as hard as the Star Spangled Banner?, will be sung. Tacos will be available

 

  

 

 

3 minutes ago, eastvillagedon said:

tomorrow is the 5th and final time this season that the Lake County Captains will be magically transformed into the "Picantes de Lake County."  The Mexican national anthem, almost as hard as the Star Spangled Banner?, will be sung. Tacos will be available

 

  

 

 

Is President Trump going to throw out the first Mexican...oh excuse me I meant first pitch?

Taking the family to our first Akron Rubberducks game on Sunday!  So far, I've seen the Captains, Dragons, Mudhens, and Clippers as far as minor league baseball is concerned, but this will be our first game at Canal Park.  Looking forward to it!

2 hours ago, plinth857 said:

Taking the family to our first Akron Rubberducks game on Sunday!  So far, I've seen the Captains, Dragons, Mudhens, and Clippers as far as minor league baseball is concerned, but this will be our first game at Canal Park.  Looking forward to it!

Don't Forget the Mahoning Valley Scrappers & Lake Erie Crushers

5 hours ago, simplythis said:

Don't Forget the Mahoning Valley Scrappers & Lake Erie Crushers

I haven't made it to either of those stadiums yet, but I'd like to!