MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

The Show Returns For An Encore At Modern Woodmen Park

Published on February 5, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The River Bandits returned to the banks of the Mississippi River with gusto in 2008, making it apparent to the Quad Cities that Modern Woodmen Park would be a center for family-friendly entertainment of the highest quality.

Needless to say, the "show" will go on.

On Thursday, the River Bandits set the tone for the upcoming season by announcing some of the highlights of the 2009 promotional calendar, including four different bobblehead giveaways and appearances by entertainment acts BirdZerk and the ZOOperstars.

"We are in the business of entertaining our fans and creating memories that last a lifetime," said team owner Dave Heller. "In these challenging times, we feel the best way for us to succeed is to give our fans more - more giveaways, more prominent entertainment acts, more in-game promotions, more concerts and more fun every night. A lot of things are changing, but one thing that our fans can count on is when they come to Modern Woodmen Park, we will show them the best in-game entertainment, give them great value and make sure that, night in night out, we put on not just a great show, but a great show that's different every night."

The 2009 bobblehead series consists of a number of familiar faces, as the River Bandits will give away collectibles featuring 2008 stars Brett Wallace and Pete Kozma, manager Steve Dillard and mascot Rascal the River Bandit. Kozma and Wallace, first round draft picks in 2007 and 2008, respectively, occupied the left side of the infield at Modern Woodmen Park during the 2008 season, giving River Bandits fans something to remember as both prospects head toward the Major Leagues. Dillard's bobblehead doll is in honor of his long and successful history with Quad Cities, as the former Chicago Cub is just 29 victories shy of becoming the winningest manager in franchise history. Each of the four bobbleheads will feature a backdrop of the now-famous Corn Field at Modern Woodmen Park, and the set will piece together to create a "bobblehead scene" that will become an instant collector's item. The four bobblehead giveaway dates are slated for May 16, June 13, July 11 and August 22.

River Bandits fans will also enjoy a pair of traveling entertainment acts this year. The ZOOperstars will put on a show on July 24, bringing their roving crew of outrageous mascots such as "Harry Canary," "Clammy Sosa" and "Tiger Woodschuck." On August 20 BirdZerk will come to town, entertaining the crowd with his interactive antics that give fans of all ages something to cheer about.

"Last season we introduced the concept of 'the show' to our fans and got very positive responses," said River Bandits' Vice President and General Manager Kirk Goodman. "The show is only going to get better in year two. We're going to have more acts, more giveaways, more theme nights and more fun. With 70 games to entertain our fans, we have a great opportunity to be creative and give our guests something to remember whether they visit Modern Woodmen Park one time or 70."

On a season-long basis, the weekly promotional schedule that fans enjoyed in 2008 will stay primarily intact in 2009. Fans will be treated to 2-for-1 drink specials on Thirst-day Thursdays, explosive fireworks shows on Fireworks Fridays, live post-game concerts on Rockin' Saturdays and kid-oriented attractions on U.S. Bank Family Sundays. Two-for-one tickets will again be available on Two-for-Tuesdays, while Guaranteed Prize Night ensures that everybody in attendance - regardless of age - will leave with something on Wacky WINS-days.

The River Bandits are also expanding the popular "Dog Days of Summer" promotion and holding it on four separate dates this season. Fans will be able to bring their dogs into Modern Woodmen Park on May 10, June 28, July 12 and August 23 - each of which will feature pet-friendly giveaways and promotions. Theme nights will be scattered throughout the season as usual, with some of the highlights including Going Green Night on May 8, Salute to Apples with the arrival of the newly renamed Fort Wayne TinCaps on May 24, and the popular Jimmy Buffet Night on August 15.

Many other promotions are in development by the River Bandits promotions staff and announcements will be held throughout the spring as details are finalized. The results of Modern Woodmen Bank's Name the Promotion contest are also pending, as fans continue to submit ideas at www.ModernWoodmenBank/RiverBandits for the promotion they want to see happen at Modern Woodmen Park in 2009.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits will kick off the 2009 season early on Sunday, April 5, hosting the Double-A Springfield Cardinals for a 2:00 p.m. exhibition game at Modern Woodmen Park. The regular season home-opener will take place on April 13 against the Beloit Snappers. Tickets for the 2009 regular season as well as the exhibition game are available by calling (563) 3-BANDIT, going to www.RiverBandits.com or stopping by the Modern Woodmen Park box office.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Under new ownership and management in 2008, the Quad Cities River Bandits topped 207,000 fans for only the sixth time in team history and the first time in 12 years. Having recently completed one of the most successful seasons in the history of the franchise, the club has stayed busy over the off-season as a popular venue for holiday parties and other special events. With a renewed dedication to fans, sponsors and the Quad Cities community, the return of the River Bandits has brought a resurgence of support for the team. BanditWear, season tickets and mini-plans are on sale for the 2009 season by calling (563) 3-BANDIT or heading to www.RiverBandits.com. But hurry - good seats are going fast!

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