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Altoona Curve

Altoona Curve Make Three Announcements

October 27, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ALTOONA, Pa - The Altoona Curve are pleased to make three announcements as the franchise prepares to enter its 12th season of play in the Eastern League. The Curve today are announcing the opening of an official retail store at the Logan Valley Mall, their 2010 Mini Plan Season Ticket Packages and changes within the front office.

CURVE ANNOUNCE OPENING OF MALL STORE

After not having one last fall, the Altoona Curve will have an off-site location for fans to purchase official team merchandise at the Logan Valley Mall during the months of November and December. The opening of the Curve Mall Store will be Sunday, November 1. The new outlet is located on the lower level of the mall next to Buckle. The Curve store hours will be the same as the regular Logan Valley Mall hours (Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) with extended holiday hours expected in late November and December.

"We've been fortunate that there's always been a high demand for Altoona Curve merchandise," said Curve General Manager Rob Egan. "As such, we want to afford fans the comfort and convenience to shop at the Logan Valley Mall and have access to the Altoona Curve brand during the holiday season."

In addition to the latest Curve merchandise, ticket packages for the 2010 season will be available for purchase at the mall location. Full and partial season ticket plans as well as the highly popular Curve Flex Book will be among the offerings during the store's two-month operation. Curve Flex Books, which will be available beginning November 23, are sponsored by McDonald's this season. Flex books will provide fans with 10 undated vouchers and a valuable coupon to many area McDonald's locations. Fans can use the tickets whenever they wish during the 2010 season.

Plenty of offseason events will also take place including the highly-popular Curve Kids' Day on Sunday, November 8 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. featuring appearances by Steamer, Diesel Dawg and Al Tuna, the Curve's three mascots. There will be coloring, face painting, great door prizes, and information on joining the 2010 Curve Kids Club. More events at the Logan Valley Mall location will be announced at a later date.

HALF-SEASON AND MINI-PLANS NOW ON SALE

The Altoona Curve have announced the prices and games for their half-season ticket plans and other mini-plans which will provide fans with terrific value. Fans wanting to secure the same seat for a selection of games with a mini-plan will also be able to save money off the regular ticket price for the first time in team history. The mini-plans will go on sale to the general public on Monday, November 2.

Details of the mini-plans:

- Half-Season Plan: If making it to all 71 games of the 2010 season isn't feasible, the Curve offer a half-season plan that includes tickets to 35 games at Blair County Ballpark. By securing this package, fans will enjoy 50 cents off the face value of an individual ticket price. Additionally, fans that hold a half-season ticket plan will enjoy 20 percent of Altoona Curve merchandise all year long.

- The Weekender: This plan allows fans to escape the stress of the busy work week by attending a total of 22 home games at Blair County Ballpark this year - all of which are on the weekend. By purchasing a Weekender plan, fans will save 25 cents per ticket off of the gate price and enjoy 10 percent savings on Altoona Curve merchandise all season long.

- The Eastern League Sampler: For the die-hard baseball fans that enjoy seeing all of the future stars in the minor leagues, the Eastern League Sampler is probably the most attractive ticket package, as this plan provides fans the opportunity to see every team in the Eastern League. An E.L. Sampler plan is for 16 games and will save fans 25 cents per ticket off the regular gate price while providing them with a 10 percent merchandise discount all season long.

- Sunday Plan: A relaxed atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon or early evening at the ballpark cannot be matched and the Altoona Curve provide an exclusive 11-game plan which allows fans to experience the benefits of securing the best seat in the house for the popular Sunday night fireworks shows that begin on May 30. With this package, fans will also enjoy three afternoon games in April and May.

CURVE ANNOUNCE FRONT OFFICE CHANGES

The Altoona Curve have made a total of five changes including four new additions to their front office staff.

The initial staff move involved Matt Hoover, who has been promoted to the position of Director of Ticket Sales and Promotions. In 2010, Hoover will enter his sixth season in professional baseball, first joining the Altoona Curve staff as a marketing intern prior to the 2005 season. In 2006, he was added to the Curve Baseball LP full time staff as the Assistant Director of Promotions, primarily overseeing the promotional efforts with the Curve's sister franchise at the time, the State College Spikes. In 2007, Hoover was promoted to Director of Promotions and stationed in Altoona on a full-time basis overseeing all of the promotional efforts for three teams - the Curve, Spikes and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

In his new role, Hoover will lead the Altoona Curve ticket sales staff in servicing current ticket accounts while generating new ticket leads for the organization.

"Matt's leadership skills have been an asset to the Curve organization," said Egan. "We believe he has a terrific ability to guide a sales staff for us moving forward into 2010 and beyond."

Hoover was is a native of Hollidaysburg and a 2005 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Mathematics.

The Curve are also pleased to announce four new hires for the 2010 season. A.J. Palazzi and Cassie Stroup have been added as Ticket Sales Associates, Chuck Griswold has joined the front office as a Sponsorship Sales Account Executive, and Claire Martin has returned to professional baseball assuming the team's duties as Director of Merchandising.

Palazzi is no stranger to the Curve franchise. The Altoona Area High School and Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania graduate spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a marketing intern with the organization. "A.J. displayed a terrific amount of enthusiasm in two seasons as a marketing intern contributing a great deal in so many aspects of the operation," said Egan. "His terrific people skills will make him a tremendous asset to the Altoona Curve ticket holders he will work with on a daily basis. As an Altoona native, he truly understands what Curve baseball means to the region and its fans."

Stroup is a Newton Falls, Ohio native who brings a track record of sales and customer service experience to Altoona. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with degrees in Parks and Recreation Management and Spanish, Stroup was employed for three years at FiftyFlowers.com. She worked in customer service and sales, as a bridal show promotions coordinator and product development operations manager.

"Cassie's sales and customer service background and her enthusiastic personality will make her a key contributor to our staff," said Egan. "She's also very excited to work in the Sports and Recreation field for the first time since college and we're sure that energy will have a positive impact for all involved."

Griswold brings a wealth of sales experience - nearly 30 years - to the Altoona Curve. A native of the region, Griswold will handle corporate sponsorships for the organization, helping businesses maximize their goals when partnering with the Altoona Curve.

"Chuck is very experienced in the field and he's already been fostering new and renewed relationships in the business community," Egan stated. "Plus, with a name like Griswold, we're confident he can handle our Christmas decorations."

The final addition to the staff is a person who has plenty of experience with the Altoona Curve brand. Martin returns to baseball after a nine-month absence to assume the duties of Director of Merchandising. Martin first joined the State College Spikes in 2006 and served as the manager of their Spikes' team store for two seasons before assisting with the Altoona Curve operation in 2008. Martin also worked in Myrtle Beach during the last half of 2008 as the Pelicans' Merchandise Director.

"Since rejoining the Curve a couple of weeks ago, Claire has made a positive impact by getting things ready for our mall store location in a limited time frame," said Egan. "We're thrilled to be able to add someone of Claire's caliber who is familiar with our brand and is eager to implement some new concepts and designs."

Astonishingly, the Altoona Curve Home Opener for the 2010 season against the Harrisburg Senators on Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 is just 163 days away. Fans can enjoy Altoona Curve Baseball in a variety of ways through this upcoming season, whether it is through full season ticket plans or the aforementioned, mini-plans which can be reserved starting Monday. Fans interested in securing one of these great value plans can contact the Curve toll free at 877-99-CURVE, in person at the Blair County Ballpark front office during normal business hours or at the team's official merchandise store located at the Logan Valley Mall beginning on November 1.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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