From today's Norwich Bulletin...

"Connecticut Tigers general manager Andrew Weber started Saturday’s town hall-style forum by declaring that “this is home” for both him and the franchise for — at least — the next 10 years.

Whether it’s “home sweet home” is still up in the air.

The short-season Single-A franchise of the Detroit Tigers is still trying to get acclimated to its new digs at Dodd Stadium and new home in Eastern Connecticut.

One of the ways to do that is talk to those who hopefully will fill the stadium come June 26 when the Tigers play host to the Vermont Lake Monsters in their home opener. They have to hope that more people will be interested then than the dozen who showed up Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Norwich.

“Would I have loved a hundred? Absolutely, but we announced (the forum) a little later than we had hoped,” Weber said. “It was a case of securing dates and getting one that worked. These are the things that we’re learning how to do.”

The club didn’t know if it wanted to spend money to advertise the forum, but expect it to for the next one at the Old Mystic Village Arts Cinema on May 1.

Long process

The Tigers are taking things as they come.

The Connecticut Defenders left Dodd Stadium in September, but minor league baseball didn’t announce until January that the New York-Penn League team would be coming to Norwich. And it wasn’t until late March that the move was officially approved, allowing the Tigers to finally move in April 1.

“It’s not easy for all the staff — this isn’t a 9-5 job right now,” Weber said. “Minor league baseball never is, which is what I love about it, but there really aren’t enough hours in a day. I spend my time in the 9-5 period with those businesses that are open then, and afterwards is when I get a chance to sit down with (my staff).”

That’s when he finds out about the other things that have gone on.

Those who came out Saturday, however, were more concerned with the Tigers’ plan is once the games begin.

The first question to the staff on hand: Will there be fireworks?

That was an easy ‘yes.’ Fireworks will go off on Friday nights and opening night, which is a Saturday.

There also will be another mascot. A yet-to-be-named tiger will join Cutter (an eagle) and Tater (an alligator) at the 37 Tiger home games.

Weber was also asked if there would be any major league rehab assignments in Norwich. Those are unlikely, though, with the existence of the Tigers’ Double-A (Erie, PA.) and Triple-A (Toledo, Ohio) affiliates so close to Detroit.

Business dealings

Season ticket-holder concerns, concessions and merchandise were also on the minds of those who attended.

“It’s a new team. I just wanted to see what it’s all about and what it has to offer,” Voluntown’s Nancy Smullen said.

Smullen said she’s attended games since minor league baseball arrived in Norwich 15 years ago. She was on hand for another reason, too, Saturday — to see what the Tigers could offer the business she works for, Consumers Interstate Corp., which has had a skybox at Dodd Stadium the last 15 years as well. It’s up in the air if that will continue.

“I’m hoping, but I’m not the decision-maker for that,” Smullen said.

Hearing that a business is not sure what it wants to do with the Tigers this season is not new to Weber.

“The sponsor work has been great, but some sponsors have said to us that they didn’t know if there would be a team or not and they allocated money to different places,” Weber said. “We’re trying to keep everybody that’s been a part (of the previous club) — whether that be sponsors or season ticket-holders — involved. If they have to do so at a lesser level this year, (that’s) fine. We want people to be a part of it this year, so that they can see what we have to offer.”

One thing the Tigers may not change is the name of the franchise.

Originally the team had announced it would hold a name-the-team contest, but officials are re-thinking that idea.

“We’ve put the brakes on things. I’m not saying it won’t still happen, but people are saying it’s great, it gives us an identity and connects us to the major league team,” Weber said of the ‘Tigers’ name. “Almost everything we do, we have to digest before we finalize.”

Good to go"