Season tickets on sale now, single game tickets go on sale March 20th
Published on January 30, 2004 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training this month, baseball is that much closer to returning at Olds Park! And with Opening Day right around the corner, it's not too late to grab your season ticket package to watch the Lugnuts defend their 2003 Midwest League Championship! You can grab a season ticket package for as little as $70.00 and the Lugnuts have several ticket packages that work for you.As a season ticket holder, you are enrolled in the Never A Wasted Ticket Program. This program entitles you to exchange tickets for games that you miss for any other game on the Lugnuts schedule, subject to availability. So even if you miss a game, you really don't!
Single game tickets for the 2004 season will go on sale starting on Saturday, March 20th with the home opener on April 16th at 7:05 p.m. as the Lugnuts play host to the South Bend Silver Hawks as part of a eight-game homestand.
For more information about season ticket packages, please contact the Lugnuts box office at 517-485-4500, ext. 251.
Lugnuts sign five-year deal with Mid-Michigan Radio!
The Lansing Lugnuts and Mid-Michigan Radio Group have signed a 5-year partnership agreement making 92.7 FM The Ticket (WQTX), a Mid-Michigan Radio Group Station, the team's new flagship station. Lugnut fans will be able to catch live broadcasts of both home and away games, as well as any postseason play on The Ticket. Also for the first time in franchise history, the Lugnuts will stream all 140 Lugnuts games on the Internet, giving fans across the country the opportunity to listen live to Lugnuts game broadcasts at www.lansinglugnuts.com.
In addition to live game broadcasts, the partnership will also include a Lugnuts sports talk show beginning in April of 2004. The hour-long program will cover the Lugnuts in-depth with interviews and call-in opportunities, and will air weekly on 92.7 The Ticket at a day and time to be announced at a later date. Fans will also have the opportunity to keep up on Lugnuts happenings with the Lugnut Minute. The Lugnut Minute will include recaps of the team's performance on the field along with information regarding upcoming events and promotions at Oldsmobile Park and can be heard daily on all Mid-Michigan Radio Group Stations, 92.7 The Ticket, Q106, 94.1 WVIC and MY 92.1.
"We are thrilled about this partnership with Mid-Michigan Radio Group," said Tom Dickson, team owner. "In addition to the benefits of having Lugnuts games broadcast on an FM station, Lugnuts fans will be able to keep up with all of the Lugnuts action by listening to their favorite Mid-Michigan Radio Group station."
"We are very committed to this community and to local programming," said Nick Anthony, Vice President, Executive Director of Operations. "Our affiliation with the Lansing Lugnuts through their game broadcasts and a presence at Olds Park is another exciting example of this commitment."
VanHoven selected as new "Voice of the Lugnuts"!
The Lansing Lugnuts have named longtime staff member Seth VanHoven as the next "Voice of the Lugnuts". VanHoven will call the action of all 140 Lugnuts regular season home and away games. Home and away games, as well as post-season will be heard on the team's new radio home, WQTX 92.7 FM The Ticket, a Mid-Michigan Radio Group Station and on-line at lansinglugnuts.com. VanHoven replaces Jim Tocco, who earlier accepted a play-by-play job with the Lugnuts sister team, the Montgomery Biscuits, Southern League Class-AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
VanHoven, a seven-year minor league veteran, has served the Lugnuts organization in several roles since he started in 1997. He began as press box assistant while attending Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Journalism. Upon graduation he became a full time member of the Lugnuts staff working on team relations and box office special projects. In 2000, Seth was promoted to Marketing Assistant where he will continue in his current capacity while managing the broadcast. Seth gained valuable broadcast experience in 2003 while working with, now AA broadcaster Jim Tocco, as the middle innings broadcaster on second half games. Seth was along for the ride as the Lugnuts claimed their second Midwest League Championship in September of 2003. Prior to that Seth also served as a guest commentator for select games in the 1998, 1999 and 2002 seasons.
"We are extremely pleased to have Seth in the booth for the upcoming season," said Darla Bowen, Vice President of Corporate Marketing. "Seth has a vast knowledge of the sport and his experience with the team and players over the past 7 seasons will be extremely valuable to the Lugnuts game broadcasts."
"It's a dream come true for me," VanHoven said. "For it to happen with a great organization like the Lugnuts makes it that much better."
Will new faces take Cubs to new places in 2004?
When spring training starts in just under two weeks, perhaps the hungriest team in Arizona will be the Chicago Cubs.
After all, the Cubs were just five outs away from making their first appearance in the World Series since 1945. As fate would have it, those five outs were the hardest to get and as the 2003 offseason hit, the Cubs made some moves to ensure that if that scenario presents itself again, they'll finish what they started.
First, reliever LaTroy Hawkins was plucked via free agency from the Minnesota Twins. Hawkins, who has developed into one of the best setup men in the game brings playoff experience and a winning attitude with him to Wrigley. The Gary, IN native will assume the setup role in Chicago for closer Joe Borowski.
Then the Cubs traded first baseman Hee Seop Choi and minor league pitcher Mike Nannini to the Florida Marlins for the rights to first baseman Derrek Lee. Lee brings offensive clout to Wrigley after blasting 31 homers in 2003 and also brings that winning attitude. Lee was a valuable member of the Marlins run to the World Series title, one that took the Cubs out along the way.
Mix those two additions in and the fact that several former Lugnuts are in spring camp with the Cubs and the team could have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1971-72. Here are all of the changes that have taken place at Wrigley since Game 7 of the NLCS.
In the mix:
LaTroy Hawkins(MIN)
Derrek Lee(FLA)
Todd Walker(BOS)
Todd Hollandsworth(FLA)
Kent Mercker(ATL)
Ryan Dempster(CIN)
Michael Barrett(MON)
Out the door:
Antonio Alfonseca(ATL)
Shawn Estes(COL)
Hee Seop Choi(FLA)
Doug Glanville(PHI)
Kenny Lofton(NYY)
Tony Womack(BOS)
Dave Veres(HOU)
Damian Miller(OAK)
Out the door without a team:
Mark Guthrie
Eric Karros
Troy O'Leary
Randall Simon
Rudy Seanez
Midwest League Stories from January 30, 2004
- Season tickets on sale now, single game tickets go on sale March 20th - Lansing Lugnuts
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.
