Q&A in Mystic....

with C.J Knudsen, VP of Operations and Eric Knighton, Assistant General Manager answering questions from a half dozen or so fans. GM Andrew Weber was unable to attend this afternoon's meeting due to illness.

Some of the highlights:

The team will work hard to ensure the water fountains, Stott Ave. street sign, the lower quarter of the scoreboard and the speed pitch display will be working this season.

The team will apply for a New York Penn League All-Star Game in the future whether it's in 2012 or 2013 or another year remains undecided.

There will be three mascots at times, Tater, Cutter and C. T. the Tiger to provide greater promo coverage and fan interaction.

The team will assess the 7:05 game starting time with the possibility of perhaps changing it back to 6:35 in 2011. Fan feedback will be sought out here.

Currently fans who purchase voucher paks will not receive free parking passes. Parking will be $2.

Attendance goal for 2010 is 100,000

Team will control it's own concession and not subcontract it out. Job Fair for game day staff positions is May 22 starting at 10AM at Dodd. Team vows to properly staff concessions/ticket windows. There likely will be no "all you can eat" promo this season.

Name the team contest is back on. Details to follow.

Front office is confident that the Player Development Contact with the Detroit Tiger will be renewed.

NCAA baseball tournament at Dodd with UCONN as the host team is a possibility at the end of this month.

The team is looking at ways to speed up traffic in and out of Dodd. Going to a two lane plan on Wisconsin Ave and using two entrances into Dodd (the one by the street sign and the one on the other side of the main parking lot) were discussed.

Ticket pricing being the same for Single A as it was for Double A: the fan experience at the ballpark compared to other forms of entertainment options remains a bargain.

Team is looking hard for host families. Check the team website for details.

High school ECC baseball championship will be at Dodd.

There will be a Boy Scout sleepover event.

Baseball clinic to be held August 3 and 4

Lou's Lounge is renamed "The Yard."

There will be a Hall of Farmer signing event scheduled this season. Details to follow.

Hall of Fame Cooperstown bus trip in the works as the team plays at DoubleDay Field during induction weekend.


Misc fan notes: Very nice interacting with the front office folks, good to meet them and spend some time together. Some things I feel passionate about:

1.) Re-stablishing the Monday-Saturday start time as 6:35 in 2011. Games can "drag" on for 3 hours and getting out at 9:30 as opposed to 10:00 makes a big difference for those with little ones who tire out easily, prompting early exits (and loss of concession sales) and for those of us who work the next day. Perhaps a ballot box can be set up on the concourse along with on line voting for fan feedback.

2.) Expand the $5 ticket to include at least one section in the park, not just standing room and berm sitting. This is basically the Falvey's Family Section (20/21?) of previous seasons. The berms are where the kids play--no one wants to sit out there with a bunch of kids hoping for and then chasing as a hoard for a foul ball. Standing room is not needed.

3.) Provide military and senior discounts. Continue the outreach at the Sub Base and Coast Guard; they are excellent fans.

4.) Be bold--go for the 2012 All-Star Game! It's the 10th anniversary of the first All-Star Game held at Dodd and the fifth anniversary of the 2007 EL All-Star Game.

5.) Folks who buy voucher paks deserve free season parking.

6.) If you want the upgraded food menu upstairs at "The Yard" don't charge admission to it ($20) if that's the only place you can get it. The food up there is darn good and I've spent more dollars there than in the food stands downstairs and the gift shop combined. It's an accepted practice to go up there and get your food, hang out for a couple of innings and go back down.

Pic is for C.J. Knudsen and everyone eating at Al's Fries, South Burlington, VT. Doug and Lillian--we love you and we miss you!