Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest Comes to Town

Published on August 20, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - Fans should plan to come early to stop by the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest at Fair Grounds Field on August 21st when the Shreveport-Bossier Captains take on the Pensacola Pelicans. The Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest is an unparalleled, and completely free, celebration of baseball visiting minor league baseball ballparks all across the country during its seventh season. Created and produced by Entertainment & Sports International (ESI), the 4000 square foot Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest will be set-up just outside the main gates and will be open for fans at 6:05PM. For the seventh consecutive year, the Principal Financial Group© will serve as the exclusive title sponsor of this unique entertainment experience. During this year's tour, The Principal© will highlight its national educational campaign - America Rebuilds with The Principal - aimed at providing Americans with the inspiration, advice and tools they need to get their financial futures back on track.

Baseball legend and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan returns as national spokesperson. "The minor leagues offer fans a great baseball experience," said Ryan. "From exceptional value to a safe, family environment, fans get to see competitive professional baseball with non-stop entertainment. The Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest extends that excitement before the game with an event truly unique to minor league ballparks."

Started in 2004, the tour has been visited by nearly two million fans over the course of 300 stops. Open three hours before the game and set up right outside the main stadium gates, the event is free to all fans and features more than 20 baseball themed attractions, including:

A minor league baseball museum featuring memorabilia from more than 100 years of baseball history; A state-of-the-art Home Run Derby Video Game Arcade with the latest baseball and family games sponsored by Great Clips; Free souvenir personalized baseball cards sponsored by Travelodge; Free Sports Illustrated Kids personalized magazine covers; A midway with batting and pitching cages, giant slides, bounce houses, bungee runs and attractions specifically designed for younger fans; And new attractions from Topps Trading Cards, Random House Children's Books, and Louisville Slugger.

Baseball fans also have a chance to win $5,000, or free nights at Travelodge and a personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bat, by entering The Principal 401-K Challenge. It's a fun and exciting sweepstakes recognizing the first participating team on the tour to register 401 home strikeouts (K's). Last year's winning team and the reigning champs are the Fort Wayne TinCaps. The online entry form and complete rules are available at www.principal.com/funfest.

In Addition, the Captains shored up their final roster for the playoffs in front of Thursday's final deadline. The Captains re-signed rookie pitcher Cody Kelley, and acquired All-Star outfielder Robert Perry and All-Star pitcher Luke Prihoda along with reliever Dan Griffin from the Grand Prairie AirHogs for cash considerations. Perry hit .320 with the AirHogs, with four homers and 41 RBIs, and is 16-for-20 in stolen bases. Prihoda has split time as a starter and a reliever, and is 6-6 with a 5.02 ERA, striking out 71 against 19 walks in 100 1/3 innings. Finally, Griffin started the year in the Can-Am League, and has been dominant with the AirHogs. In seven games, he has 20 strikeouts against four walks in 13 2/3 innings.

Kelley was 1-2 with the Captains, including winning the first-half clinching game on June 28. The Captains released outfielder Brian Nichols to make room for the new acquisitions.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains finish their regular-season Fair Grounds Field schedule with a three-game series against the Pensacola Pelicans, starting on Friday, August 20, at 7:05 p.m. That night is GAP Broadcasting "Practice Safe Text" Night, as well as Willis-Knighton Mouth Cancer Awareness Night and BPCC Night at the ballpark. All games are broadcast streaming live on ustream.tv. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.

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American Association Stories from August 20, 2010


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