Reading Phillies up-sizing for 2004
March 31, 2004 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release
FirstEnergy Stadium â While many corporations and businesses have been looking for ways to down-size effectively the Reading Phillies have been busy this off-season looking for ways to up-size effectively. The off-season theme has been "bigger is better" as the front office prepares for another season at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The new video board is more than three times the size of the one it replaces and possesses the same technological and picture quality of the video board at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, home of the Eagles.
"This will be one of the best video boards in all of Minor League Baseball," said R-Phils general manager Chuck Domino.
The ballpark will also boast a brand new building located in the parking lot adjacent to the stadium wall down the right field line. This 3000 square foot building will be home to a hitting facility known as Body Zone Baseballtown Academy.
"This will be a first-class year-round facility for baseball instruction in Baseballtown as well as a terrific addition for the Double-A prospects of the Philadelphia Phillies," said Domino.
The home clubhouse too has been expanded because of the relocation of the laundry room to the new building. The addition of 128 square feet to the locker room and a kitchen area will aid to the players' comfort when they're at the ballpark.
As fans travel along Route 61 this summer they will always be informed when the next Reading Phillies game is and what the promotion will be thanks to a beautiful new entrance marquee that will be located in the grass island between the two openings into the stadium parking lot.
"This is not your average marquee," said Domino. "We went the extra mile to make sure that it fit the architectural elements of this one-of-a-kind historic stadium"
The concessions operation at the ballpark will also be upsizing. The expanded menu will include a bigger chicken sandwich, a bigger chicken finger platter, a bigger regular size hot dog and a gigantic one pound hamburger with fries and a special sauce wedged between the half pound patties. It will be called the Grand Slammer.
The new items will be priced with the consumer in mind and the larger regular size hot dog will be priced at $1.50, which will replace the $1.00 smaller hot dog. The gigantic Grand Slammer will cost the hardy fan $8.25. "We weigh the pricing, sizing and quality of our concessions products very carefully," said Domino. "If we feel that prices need to be adjusted because of the cost of doing business then we make our best attempt to adjust sizes accordingly and offer different alternatives so our fans feel that they are receiving good value and selection."
Finally, the souvenir operation will be upsizing to include a baseball cap only kiosk to be located at the main entrance in full view of the existing souvenir stand.
Eastern League Stories from March 31, 2004
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- Reading Phillies up-sizing for 2004 - Reading Fightin Phils
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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