Greeneville Astros Announce 2016 Promotional Schedule
May 26, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville, TN - The Greeneville Astros have released their 2016 promotional schedule. With fireworks, theme nights, promotions and fun giveaways, the Astros will be offering fans a full slate of entertainment to go along with an exciting game schedule beginning with Opening Day against the Johnson City Cardinals at Pioneer Park on Thursday, June 23 at 7:00pm.
"We have a really exciting promotional schedule this season with more fireworks than ever before and some great new souvenir giveaway items," said Astros general manager David Lane.
Giveaways
Throughout the 2016 season, the Astros will be offering fans numerous chances to receive free giveaway items upon entrance into Pioneer Park. It all begins with two giveaway items on Opening Day, an Astros magnet schedule and an Astros cap both sponsored by Takoma Regional Hospital.
Other giveaway items include hand fans by Legacy Fine Jewelers, free food vouchers, a pencil pouch, an umbrella by South State Contractors, and a replica championship ring. Meanwhile, Laughlin Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring a replica championship banner giveaway, patriotic T-shirts, and the much-anticipated annual Hometown Hero Bobblehead.
This year, the bobblehead will feature Greeneville Astros current hitting coach and former Houston Astros legend, César Cedeño. After a 17-year Major League playing career with five Gold Glove Awards and four All-Star game appearances, Cedeño has transformed into an outstanding coach as well. Since joining the Greeneville staff in 2012, he has played a huge role in getting the team into two championship series over the past three seasons.
Cedeño's bobblehead/leg will feature him in a Greeneville uniform with his familiar look of one leg stretched over the dugout railing. Both Cedeño's head and right leg will bobble.
With all the giveaway items, there is a limited quantity, so fans are encouraged to arrive at Pioneer Park early on these special nights to ensure their chances of receiving one of these free giveaways.
Fireworks Nights
The first fireworks show will be the Opening Day Fireworks on Thursday, June 23 to ring in the start of the 2016 season. Then, the first of seven Friday Night Fireworks shows will take place the following night, June 24. Next, the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration, the largest fireworks show in East Tennessee, will occur on Independence Day courtesy of LandAir. The other Friday Night Fireworks shows will be July 8, July 15, July 22, August 5, August 12 and August 26. Finally, the season finale fireworks show will close out the regular season on Monday, August 29.
Daily Promotions
The Astros will also be offering daily promotions for each day of the week that aim to provide fans with many different opportunities for fun and savings at the ballpark.
On Sunday nights, BOGO tickets will make a return this year. For every ticket purchased fans will receive one of equal value for free. Additionally, the first 200 fans arriving at Pioneer Park each Sunday will receive a free food voucher to be used at the concession stands that night. Vouchers for free popcorn will be available on July 3 and July 24, and vouchers for a free hot dog will be available on July 17 and August 28.
Sunday nights are also centered on the kids at Pioneer Park. Members of Gizmo's Cosmic Kids Club can attend on these nights at no charge as part of their membership and also eat free. All kids present will then be given the opportunity to run the bases with the team mascot, Gizmo, immediately following the ballgame. Registration for the kids club is available now.
Monday nights will be for adults, over age 21, with Monday Mug Night by Hyperion Grill. The deal offers a discounted beverage refill after an initial purchase of the Greeneville Astros' beverage mug at the Tiki Hut. This deal will also be honored at the Tiki Hut every Thursday. In addition, fans can also take the mug to Hyperion Grill to receive discounted refills.
Tuesdays will be known as $2 Tuesdays this season. Every Tuesday home game will give fans the opportunity to purchase several items throughout Pioneer Park at a discounted rate of two dollars. Some of these discounted items will include programs, souvenirs, hot dogs and access to the kids' inflatables.
Wednesdays will be Awareness Night Wednesdays. The aim is for the Astros to help raise awareness to a variety of topics that can affect both the community and loved ones.
Thursdays will again feature $1 Dog Night, with hot dogs available for one dollar, and discounted drinks for Thirsty Thursday at both the concessions stands as well as the Tiki Hut.
On Fridays, the Astros will be providing beautiful fireworks displays immediately following the game. However, in addition to Fridays, the Astros will also be shooting fireworks on three other occasions for a total of 10 shows.
Saturdays will be giveaway days. Each Saturday, fans arriving early will have the best opportunity to secure a unique Astros souvenir giveaway item.
Promotional and Theme Nights
The Astros will also be hosting several promotional and theme nights throughout the 2016 season to provide a variety of entertainment for all fans.
Niswonger Children's Hospital Night will be on Friday, June 24. The team will be wearing specialty jerseys featuring Niswonger Children's Hospital. These game-worn jerseys will be available for purchase off the player's backs through a silent auction to raise money benefitting the hospital. Also, The Real Cost will be providing a Player Photo Op on the concourse.
Saturday, June 25 will be Olympic Day. With this being an Olympic year, the Astros will incorporate the three Olympic Day Pillars of Move, Learn, and Discover into the gameday.
Gizmo's Flea Market will take place at Pioneer Park on Saturday, July 2 beginning at 4pm. Then, on July 3, it will be a fun day for kids with a birthday celebration for the Astros' mascot featuring a birthday parade, cake, and more.
On July 16, History Night will feature some fascinating area museums and historic groups set up on the concourse of Pioneer Park. In addition, as part of the night, the Tennessee Association of Vintage Baseball will promote living history by bringing the 19th century to life through baseball events that use the rules, equipment, costumes and culture of the 1860s.
After the game, a select number of fans will have the opportunity to join members of the Knoxville Holstons on the field for batting practice using their vintage baseball equipment. There will also be another Player Photo Op by The Real Cost as well as a skin cancer screening available on the concourse.
On Saturday, August 6, the Astros will be hosting the second annual Taste of Pioneer Park Beer Festival which will begin before the game and continue throughout the night. Meanwhile, it will also be Parrot Head Night with pregame festivities in a beach party atmosphere and Jimmy Buffett-style music from The Caribbean Cowboys Band beginning at 4:30pm.
During the next homestand, it will be Racing Night on August 11 and there will be a Local Team Spotlight presented by The Real Cost on August 12.
Four days later, the Astros will host a rare Midweek Matinee on Tuesday, August 16 at 11:30am to provide a great opportunity for a school field trip or unique business lunch meeting.
As August winds down with the final homestand, the Astros will host Tusculum College Night and NFL Night on Thursday, August 25. It will be Back to School Night along with Teacher Appreciation Night by the Tennessee Lottery on Saturday, August 27. Faith Night will be on Sunday, August 28 featuring a pregame concert from Sacred Harmony at 4:30pm. Then, the home schedule will conclude on August 29 with Fan Appreciation Night with a variety of surprises and door prizes for fans.
Awareness Nights
In addition to Awareness Night Wednesdays, the Astros will also be holding some other awareness nights throughout the season.
Some nights already on the schedule include Wellness Night by Laughlin Memorial Hospital on July 4, Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure of prostate cancer on July 17, and Kidney Awareness Night by Fresenius Kidney Care on July 22.
Non-Game Events
Annual non-game events, in which the Astros team up with the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County, are also scheduled during the upcoming season. On July 16, the Astros' players and coaches will offer their free 12th annual Kids Baseball Skillz & Drillz Clinic to children 14 and under. Participants will get a T-shirt, lunch and a ticket to the Astros game that night.
On July 23, the club will host their 11th annual Astros 5K race presented by Atmos Energy and Laughlin Memorial Hospital in which all proceeds go to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville and Greene County. There will be a brand new race course this year, but it will still begin near the entrance of Pioneer Park, wind through Tusculum, and conclude with a lap around the warning track inside the ballpark. Each participant will receive a 5K T-shirt and a ticket to a game. For those interested, registration is available now at www.greenevilleastros.com.
More promotional nights may be added throughout the season and fans can always get the latest promotional schedule, details and updates at www.greenevilleastros.com or on the Astros social media sites. Please note that times, dates and events are always subject to change.
Fans are able to purchase single game tickets from www.greenevilleastros.com/tickets now. Tickets will be available from the Pioneer Park ticket office beginning Monday, June 6 at 10:00am.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets to multiple games may also consider a full season, half-season or 7-game mini-plan ticket membership. Each of these membership packages is available for purchase now on the team website, at the Pioneer Park ticket office, or over the phone at (423) 638-0411.
The Greeneville Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information on the Greeneville Astros, visit www.greenevilleastros.com. The Astros' Administrative offices, located at Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College, are open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm.
Appalachian League Stories from May 26, 2016
- Greeneville Astros Announce 2016 Promotional Schedule - Greeneville Astros
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