80-Foot Ribbon Board Tabbed Latest Ballpark Enhancement
November 18, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release
On Tuesday, the River Bandits held a press conference to announce the latest ballpark enhancement that will greet fans on April 13, when the club opens its 2009 home schedule at Modern Woodmen Park. It is an 80-foot long ribbon board that will be permanently mounted in front of the right field wall.
"Without a doubt, the new ribbon board is going to be the most dynamic and attention-grabbing element of the ballpark," said team owner Dave Heller. "We have always said that we see baseball in this community as a public trust, and we are proud that under our stewardship Modern Woodmen Park continues to be among the finest ballparks in the country. We will continue to invest in improvements that enhance the comfort and the gameday experience of our fans - the most important people in the world to us."
Prior to the 2008 season, the Quad Cities River Bandits announced that they intended to improve upon what was already considered one of the premier ballparks in baseball in Modern Woodmen Park.
New owners Dave Heller and Bob Herrfeldt not only pledged to improve the park, they committed to making regular improvements to keep Modern Woodmen Park among the most comfortable and fan-friendly ballparks in the entire country. As part of making good on that promise, last season the River Bandits expanded the children's play area, added four huge new inflatables, opened the Tiki Village, christened the new Hot Tub Deck, and planted field corn in what has since become the ballpark's iconic Corn Field.
Not content to rest on their laurels, the River Bandits announced last month that they would be adding seatbacks to all of their bleacher seats, as part of the Modern Woodmen Bank "You Pick the Improvement" contest. The team has already begun that project.
"We believe strongly in maintaining the highest level of entertainment value in the region," said Vice President and General Manager Kirk Goodman. "It is our intention to provide the best family-friendly entertainment in all of Minor League Baseball. Part of that is enhancing Modern Woodmen Park with permanent additions such as the ribbon board, which will belong to the people of the Quad Cities and this beautiful ballpark."
The ribbon board was created by HiTech Electronic Displays, a leader in the LED display industry for nearly 30 years. The spectacular digital quality is supplemented by Nichia LED's, which provide the highest quality of color and consume less than 10 percent of an incandescent bulb while generating the same amount of light. The face of the display features rubber louvers, as opposed to the standard hard plastic or metal louvers, a safety feature specified by the River Bandits and the St. Louis Cardinals in order to ensure the safety of the players.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Under new ownership and management in 2008, the Quad Cities River Bandits topped 207,000 fans for only the sixth time in team history and the first time in 12 years. Having recently completed one of the most successful seasons in the history of the franchise, the club is staying busy over the off-season as a popular venue for Christmas parties and other special events. With a renewed dedication to fans, sponsors and the Quad Cities community, the return of the River Bandits has brought a resurgence of support for the team. Season tickets and mini-plans are on sale for the 2009 season by calling (563) 3-BANDIT or heading to www.RiverBandits.com, and Banditwear is available all year long at Modern Woodmen Park.
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Midwest League Stories from November 18, 2008
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