Curve Unveil What's New For 2008 Season
Published on March 27, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA- The Altoona Curve today announced new and enhanced items for the 2008 season in the areas of Fan Promotions, Ballpark Atmosphere and Entertainment, Ballpark Sights, Concessions, Ticketing, Merchandise, Community Outreach, On the Field and Ballpark Staff. The Curve's Tenth Anniversary 2008 Season opens next Thursday, April 3rd, at 6:35 p.m. against the Reading Phillies.
CURVE PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE
More fireworks shows, giveaway items, special ballpark appearances and fun, theme nights than ever before
--23 Fireworks Shows (up from 20 in 2007)
--26 Fan Giveaway items (up from 23 in 2007)
--25 Appearances by former Curve players and sports celebrities like Jerome Bettis, Refrigerator Perry, Rocky Bleier and Louis Lipps
--15 Headline-Grabbing Theme Nights such as "Awful Night VI", "Leip Year With Leiper", "Salute to Tools Night", "Please Come to Altoona Will Ferrell" and "Salute to Procrastination Night" (haven't gotten around to getting a date or having details)
New, Unique Promotions Never Before Held at BCB
--Kitchen Sink Giveaway for Opening Night (April 3) - symbolizes that the Curve are "throwing the kitchen sink at fans in 2008"
--Refrigerator Giveaway (April 4), given away by William "The Refrigerator" Perry
--"Kids Eat and Play Free" (April 6)
. --"We Win You Win Night (April 7) - free tickets to April 8 game for fans in attendance if the Curve win the game
--"Dime a Degree Night" (April 8) - Grandstand/Outfield Bleacher tickets cost a dime for every degree at 9 AM that morning
--$5 Gift Card Gift Card Giveaway to first 1,000 Fans (April 20) - Curve are giving away $5000 in free money to fans
--Money Drop (July 5)
--Four nights in which lucky fans can win getaway vacations to Myrtle Beach, including April 9th when 20 winners receive trips to Myrtle Beach
First-Ever Food and Beverage Discount Promotions (using the great Blair County Ballpark food as a main promotion)
--15 Nights featuring either $1 Hot Dogs or Half-Price Curve Burgers
--3 Food Frenzy Nights featuring BOTH $1 Hot Dogs & Half-Price Curve Burgers on the same day
--Mini-Burger and Mini Beverage Discount Night (April 9)
--$1 Chili Bowls and ½ Price Coffee and Hot Chocolate on (April 18)
--Every Thursday is "Thirsty Thursday" featuring soda and beer specials
Kids and Family Promotions
--Thomas Automotive Kids Run the Bases is now every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (previously only on Sundays)
--Pre-Game Family Catches prior to ALL Sunday home games
Brand-new Daily Ticket Packages and Special Ticket Promotions
--Ponderosa Steakhouse Family 4-Pack Mondays (4 Tix, 4 Hot Dogs and 4 small sodas for only $40 each Monday)
--Giant Eagle Advantage Card Wednesdays (Show Advantage Card and receive "Buy One, Get One Free" Outfield Bleacher ticket)
. --April Student Spirit Nights (Kids 18 & under get $3 GS ticket when showing ticket office their school logo)
--"Season's Heating Up Package" (In April for $10, fans will stay warm in the "Tropical Zone" with one Grandstand Ticket, a hot dog, hot chocolate and Hawaiian Lei)
--First-ever "Dollar Day" on April 22 ($1 Grandstand and OF Reserved tickets)
IN-PARK ATMOSPHERE AND ENTERTAINMENT
On-Field, Between-Inning Contests
--At least 30 new on-field contests which will be rotated nightly so that fans attending a 3-game series will never see the same contest twice
--New props and toys to be used during on-field contests such as bungee tug-o-war chord, big gloves boxing, inflatable jumbo dice, build-a-burger suits, "Wheel of Chance"
Pre-Game Entertainment
--Totally revamped -- no more boring PA announcements and commercials taking up large periods of time
--Ringmaster will host pre-game starting when gates open and be the center of attention during pre-game, introducing contestants, dance groups, first pitches, etc.
--Enhanced Curve GameDay Show now featuring two, 7-minute segments prior to each home game
Video Board
--More use of full videoboard during live shots, replays, on-field contests, fan cams, etc.
--Production staff has combed through hundreds of movies to build a new library of situational video clips
--Much more new, fresh in-game features with players and ballpark staff
Music/Audio
--Purchased New 3-year music subscription, which will keep up to date with the most current Mainstream, Rock and Country Music
--New audio computer purchased with a much larger library of songs to choose from
BALLPARK SIGHTS
Tenth Anniversary player decals appearing on outside of ballpark for 2008 (Hyzdu, Gorzelanny, Bonifay and Snell)
Addition of E.L. Ballpark photos at VIP Entrance
"Fat Heads" featuring all past Curve Most Valuable Players displayed throughout ballpark
Re-designed Kids Area at Blair County Ballpark with a fresh, new look
--New Photo Booth where fans can get pictures taken and printed on t-shirts or regular photo paper. Photos can be printed on baseball cards, Curve Illustrated covers and different scenes around ballpark
--New Steamer Jump House and a new inflatable Basketball Game
CONCESSIONS
Ability for fans - for the first time - to use major credit cards at all ballpark Concession Areas
Coffee and Hot Chocolate in larger cups for a smaller price
Several Basket combos will be available for first time
Many new items, including Mini-Curve Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Parney Fried Bologna Sandwiches, Seasoned French Fried Chips, Chili, Brownie Bites, Cookie Nibblers and Personal Pizzas
TICKETING
Several new items have been added to the Curve Season Ticket Holder package to make it the best in Minor League Baseball
--Season Ticket Holders already had 10% savings on tickets based on single-game price and 10% off merchandise, now they receive 10% savings on food and non-alcoholic beverages at BCB
--"Never Waste a Seat Program" allows season ticket holders to exchange past unused tickets for Grandstand or UPMC Health Plan Home Run Junction seats to any game throughout the season
--New Season Ticket Holder Team Photo on Media Day and a Batting Practice later in the season
--One first pitch per seat owned to be used at the game of his/her choice during the season
--Rain out tickets can be exchanged for both Curve and State College Spikes games
Fans purchasing Curve mini-plans will receive brand-new incentives
--Josh Bonifay bobblehead with the purchase of a 28-game plan
--Adam Hyzdu bobblehead with the purchase of a 16-game plan
--11 free plays in the Weis Markets PlayLand with the 11-game Sunday Mini-Plan CURVE MERCHANDISE
Newly re-designed and renovated Curve Stockyard at Blair County Ballpark
Entire new merchandise line (Nittany Embroidery and Screen Printing is our new local licensee for Official Curve merchandise)
Special merchandise lines for 10th Anniversary Season, "Bob the Baseball Dog" and Sunday Curve throwback look
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
New "Curve Champions" community advisory group consisting of local business leaders, season ticket holders and sponsors
Brand-new School Essay contest in which K-12 school students can participate in the essay contest to win 200 free Curve tickets for their classmates to game on April 21 (winners in three age brackets)
New "Books in Baseball Program" -- On selected days during the summer, kids and their parents are invited to the ballpark to read, meet Curve players and Steamer & Diesel Dawg, and participate in other fun activities
New Curve Straight "A" Program - K-12 students earning an "A" average or perfect attendance can bring their report card to the Curve Ticket Office to receive one free OF Bleacher ticket
Use of Bob the Baseball Dog in community and charity appearances, in addition to Steamer and Diesel Dawg
ON THE FIELD
New Throwback Jerseys - 1920's style uniform to be worn on all Sunday home games.
Re-designed Black alternate tops
Curve are auctioning off game-worn jerseys at AltoonaCurve.com; last auction is currently running and ends April 4th
BALLPARK STAFF
Curve will honor 10-Year employees throughout the season in GameDay program and on videoboard
Increased effort to involve ushers and other gameday staff in nightly promotions and to create characters of those individuals
Individual customer service and specialized training done with each department during off-season
New Luxury Suite concierge
Employee name tags with name, year of service and favorite Curve player
Eastern League Stories from March 27, 2008
- Report from the Fort with Jeff Dooley...Tonight - New Britain Rock Cats
- Curve To Host New High School All-Star Baseball Game - Altoona Curve
- Senators Hold Public Workout April 1st - Harrisburg Senators
- Curve Unveil What's New For 2008 Season - Altoona Curve
- Seven Bobblehead Giveaways On R-Phils 2008 Schedule - Reading Fightin Phils
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