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Snappers backers tour stadium

First you start the article with an attention grabber:

As far as baseball stadiums go, Pohlman Field is a dinosaur. It's fan unfriendly and barely passes basic minor league baseball standards. But many fans have never been to another ballpark and think Pohlman Field is the norm, not the exception.

Then, the interesting premise:

Wednesday, Beloit Snappers' Chairman of the Board Dennis Conerton tried to change that. He chartered a bus and filled it with community leaders and showed them the advantages of an up-to-date stadium.

Conerton's bus took the group to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Veterans Memorial Stadium for a playoff game between the Kernels and the Clinton LumberKings. Along for the ride were Beloit City Manager Larry Arft, local businessman Jim Agate, City Council President Jim Van De Bogart, Visit Beloit Executive Director Martha Mitchell and Snappers' Board President Marcy Olsen among others.

Conerton hoped showing people what some of the state-of-the-art stadiums have to offer would peak the interest of local decision-makers.

“Someone other than people inside the Snappers' organization can now explain what is out there instead of us being the ones saying it,” Conerton said. “Now, people from outside the organization, people with influence, leaders of the community, can say what we've been saying the whole time.”

Then, mention the Timber Rattlers:

After a recent visit to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' stadium in Appleton for a car show, Arft called Conerton with increased interest in the local project. He felt a stadium in a prime location could be used for more than just baseball and would bring in plenty of money to the area.

“I attended a game up there and was very impressed by their facility,” Arft said. “Obviously the primary use would be to support the minor league baseball team, but like this stadium (in Cedar Rapids) it is used for all kinds of special events, has a full service kitchen year-round and special concerts and other special events open to general public.

“The site has a lot of potential once you have a stadium this size to do a lot more things than we are currently able to do at Pohlman Field.”

Add in a reaction:

Built in 2002, Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids cost around $16 million and seats just over 5,000. It boasts luxury suites to go along with seating that surrounds 3/4 of the stadium. An open concourse that allows fans to order food while not missing any action, a pro shop and multiple bathrooms are amenities Pohlman Field lacks.

“I think that was the eye opener for people yesterday when they were in the suites and looked around and saw the picnic areas, wide concourses, all the concession stands and the gift shop,” Conerton said. “That's how you make more money and that's how you attract people.”

That's how I pick a out a story.