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 Corpus Christi Hooks

It's a Blast

June 28, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI -- The Corpus Christi Hooks ended the first half of their 2016 season with a bang, winning 22 of 27 and clinching the Texas League South Division championship on June 16 at Frisco.

The Hooks open the home portion of their second-half schedule with an equally big bang. During 17 July home games, Whataburger Field will stage seven fireworks shows, including four straight from July 1-4 to celebrate Independence Day Weekend.

"Our fans have always loved fireworks from day one, so why not give them something that they really enjoy?" Hooks president Ken Schrom said. "As an executive staff of a minor league baseball team, our job is to put as many people in here as we can. Historically, fireworks have given us our biggest nights.

"It just makes sense."

It's true. The highest recorded attendance in Hooks history occurred on Independence Day 2014, when 9,185 fans packed the Ballpark by the Bay to watch Bud Light Friday fireworks after Corpus Christi blanked Springfield, 8-0.

In fact, the Fourth of July has been great for Hooks attendance. During four other home games on the nation's birthday, the club has averaged 7,969 fans, drawing no fewer than 7,816 (2006 vs. Midland).

"I remember as a kid that the Fourth of July fireworks were something we always looked forward to," Schrom recalled. "Fireworks always bring back fond memories, so they've stood the test of time. It's a celebration of so many things - summer, our independence, our freedom - just a lot of good stuff, especially on the Fourth of July."

Ever since the team's inception, the Hooks have partnered with Pyrotecnico, a Dallas-based company, to create the highest-quality shows year after year.

"(Pyrotecnico) are great partners," Schrom said. "They know what kind of shows we want to spice up and make bigger, and they give us the product."

"We lay out the schedule before the season, give them our budget and let them know which few shows are our bigger shows aside from our standard Friday nights," said Hooks social media coordinator and fireworks specialist Gil Perez. "I talk to them on a weekly to biweekly basis to see how everything is going with them for future shows, and order our fireworks for home runs and national anthems."

Once the final pitch is thrown on any given Friday night, and the Texas Lottery Lucky Scratch Ticket Dance-Off is completed, the show is ready to begin. As with any performance, the main event the audience witnesses is far from a complete picture. Out of view from the fans lies the heart of the action once the lights go out.

"Up on the roof on a Friday night, you'll have anywhere from 20 to 35 boxes that are anywhere from the size of a standard 12-pack of soda to the size of a mini-fridge that are all fused to one machine," Perez explained. "That firing system is then connected to a second firing system via a bunch of wires. Then, it's just a push-button system, and you push one button and the box goes off for anywhere from three to 20 seconds.

"Pyrotecnico runs the show on Friday nights, but I'm up there as a ballpark supervisor in case anything does go wrong and I have to call the show for some reason."

The Hooks celebrated their 100th fireworks show two seasons ago, and they'll look to make an even bigger boom as the team returns home from the All-Star Break and the preceding 13-game, 12-day road trip.

The Springfield Cardinals arrive at Whataburger Field for three contests on June 30, followed by a three-game set with the Tulsa Drillers. It's the final 2016 regular-season appearance in Corpus Christi for both the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers affiliates.

The Fourth of July falls on a Monday this year, and the front office took advantage of the calendar by scheduling a long weekend full of fireworks, starting on Friday, July 1, with the regular Bud Light Friday Fireworks and blasting consecutive shows every night through the Fourth.

"I got to blame (Hooks director of sales and marketing) Andy Steavens," Schrom said. "It was one of those deals where we had the Friday and the Monday. Andy just said 'let's shoot them the whole weekend.' We had done back-to-back on a Friday and Saturday and we had two huge nights, so we're hoping for four in a row."

Mike Shaw Automotive sponsors fireworks on July 2-3-4.

There is an air of anticipation for the upcoming home weekend, one full of excitement, quality, and pure Americana.

"The crowds are going to be excited," Perez added. "People love coming to the ballpark to watch fireworks. We have quality fireworks and great shows. It's not like the normal Fourth of July show - this one is on you, it's quick, loud and bright. That's how we like our shows. There'll be a buzz in the atmosphere. People will come down to Corpus Christi for vacation, to come to the beaches, watch the Hooks, and visit family - it's going to be fun!"


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