Curve Announces Major Capital Improvements to BCB, Additional Plans for 2006
Published on January 11, 2006 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA-- Curve Baseball LP, which operates the Eastern League's Altoona Curve and the New York-Penn League's State College Spikes, today announced over $1 million in privately-financed capital improvements to Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, as well as other plans for the upcoming 2006 baseball season and beyond.
Highlighting the major upgrades to Blair County Ballpark, the Curve announced the addition of a brand-new, 1000 square ft. high-definition video board, which will be one of the largest in all of minor league baseball. The new video display board, which measures 50' wide and 20' high, will be part of a larger 81' x 38' structure which will also include a new LED line score display and a new multi-color LED message center. By comparison, the existing structure is 66' x 38' and houses a 280 square ft. video board (20' x 14'). The massive new high definition videoboard will be nearly four times the size of its predecessor.
As part of the installation project for the brand-new structure, the original videoboard, which was part of the construction of Blair County Ballpark in the late 1990s, will be moved to the right-field corner of the ballpark, above the Curve bullpen area. This auxiliary videoboard will provide Curve fans with increased and in-depth statistical information, such as pitch counts, expanded player and pitcher stats, out-of-town scoreboards and much more.
Fans attending State College Spikes games will also enjoy a new, state-of-the-art high definition video scoreboard when the team takes the field for its inaugural season at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park this coming June. The brand-new structure will measure 66' wide and 42.5' high and will feature a large video screen approximately 30' x 17'. Similar to Blair County Ballpark's new scoreboard, Medlar Field's board will also include an LED line score display and multi-color LED message center.
"As our ownership group and front office family have always demonstrated, we are committed to providing the best possible ballpark experience for the great baseball fans of Altoona, State College and the entire Central and Western Pennsylvania region," said Curve President & Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg. "The fans of our region have shown overwhelming and passionate support for the Altoona Curve and we can already see the momentum building for the Spikes inaugural season in State College. We will continue to explore and invest heavily in enhancing the fan experience and to benefit all of our fans."
In addition, Curve Baseball LP also announced plans for other improvements and additions to Blair County Ballpark which will take place over the next few seasons. Among the proposed improvements fans can expect to see at or around BCB in the near future, include a brand-new playing surface, an outdoor marquee to be used for displaying upcoming ballpark events and other team information and a newly-constructed ticket office and team merchandise store.
The planned and future improvements are an illustration of the rapid growth of the franchise. Since Opening Day 2005, Curve Baseball LP has added 30 new full-time jobs, of which nearly two dozen have already been filled. Because of the proximity between Altoona and State College, the two clubs will feature a unique, integrated front office staff structure by which each member of the Curve Baseball LP front office will operate both the Curve and Spikes.
"We feel that the sky is the limit for both Altoona and State College and the first step is to ensure that we have a front office staff that is not only adequately sized, but one that works together to provide the highest level of customer service to our fans," said Greenberg. "We are a growing organization which will always have its roots here in Central Pennsylvania and we are commited to continuing to create new jobs to be filled by those who share our passion and commitment to our community."
One of the highlights of the Curve's upcoming 2006 season will be the Eastern League All-Star Game, which will take place at Blair County Ballpark on Wednesday, July 12th. Two days of ballpark and community events will surround the All-Star Game, highlighted by the 2006 All-Star Gala Event on Tuesday the 11th at Blair County Ballpark. The Gala will feature elegant dining in a casual environment, interaction with All-Star players and coaches, a concert event and a viewing of the 2006 Major League All-Star Game in Pittsburgh on the ballpark's brand-new videoboard. Other signature events surrounding the All-Star Game include an All-Star Golf Tournament at Scotch Valley Country Club and a unique pre-game Celebrity Home Run Derby.
The Curve will enter their eighth season as the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006. The club will open the 2006 Eastern League season and 71-game home slate on Thursday, April 6th against the Trenton Thunder at Blair County Ballpark.
Meanwhile, the new State College team, which will serve as an affiliate of the defending National League Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals, will open its inaugural season in the Short-Season Class-A New York-Penn League next June, pending approval from the New York-Penn League and Minor League Baseball, and review by the Baseball Office of the Commissioner. The Spikes will play their home games at brand-new Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, which will serve as a shared facility between the minor league club and Penn State University's baseball program, which competes in the Big Ten Conference.
Season tickets, group outings and other ticket packages are currently available for both clubs by calling either (877) 99-CURVE or (877) 99-SPIKES, or by visiting either www.altoonacurve.com or www.statecollegespikes.com. New official team merchandise and souvenirs are also available for both clubs, and fans visiting State College can shop at the Spikes Team Store located at 240 East Calder Way in downtown State College. Fans in Altoona can stop by the Curve Stockyard location at Blair County Ballpark or shop on-line at www.curvestore.com.
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