As part of a stadium overhaul that began Sept. 11 but had been in the works since 1999, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics will add 15 skyboxes and nearly 1,000 seats to the stadium.
General manager Jeff Sedivy said the construction project really amounts to a complete renovation of the 18-year-old ballpark in west suburban Geneva.
"Our fans have been waiting for this," Sedivy said. "I just hope the fans like it as much as I do."
Although the Cougars play in one of the Midwest League's larger stadiums and the franchise is considered a commercial success, the team is behind the curve as far as luxury suites. Of the league's 14 teams, 10 have skyboxes.
So, where does the writer of the story go for another quote? Beloit. Beloit? Beloit.
"In general, that's what all of minor-league baseball is going for. You don't really see baseball stadiums built anymore without them," said Jeff Vohs, general manager of the Beloit Snappers, the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
The Snappers are one of the few teams in the league without luxury suites; something they hope to rectify with a new stadium.
"Obviously, skyboxes and suites are huge revenue producers for a team," Vohs said. "It attracts more fans and more things that business can do."
Four teams in the Midwest League don't offer suites? Let's see...There's Beloit...There's...um...Clinton! Well, technically Burlington has one VIP suite so they don't offer "suites". I wonder were the writer got his information from, because I'm only counting two MWL teams without at least one suite available for 2009.
And since the story is posted on a website powered by WGN, the Chicago Tribune, and various other Chicago Cub related media, there is a quote from Peoria. Peoria? Peoria.
The Peoria Chiefs, the Class A affiliate of the Cubs, have offered luxury suites since 2002. Media manager Nathan Baliva said most of the boxes are rented to corporations such as Caterpillar, but two -- named for popular ex-Cubs Mark Grace and Greg Maddux -- are kept open for nightly rentals.
Well, that's not really a quote. More of a paraphrase. I'm sure Nate gave an awesome quote, though.
Click the link to find out what will be in the new suites in Kane County. Oh, and one of the suites at the Elf will be a SUPERSUITE!
The Cougars also are adding a party deck and a "super suite" behind home plate that can accommodate as many as 250 or be partitioned into smaller units.
"super suite" looks more impressive when written as SUPERSUITE!
1 comment:
Can you really call them skyboxes when most of them seem to technically be at ground level when you walk into the stadium? I wonder where that term came from even, I'm guessing the Toronto Skydome? Hmm...thoughts that will keep me from sleeping tonight.....
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