by Frank Whelan
It happens every spring. No not that, silly! I am talking about BASEBALL.
And if its Allentown at Coca Cola Park its Iron Pigs baseball.
At the January 26th meeting of the Allentown Rotary Club even the “bleachers” at Bell Hall meeting room were full as Kurt Landes, the Pig’s President and General Manager gave an interesting and informative presentation about the team but also about what draws people to the park. Be sure to click "read more" below to see photos (Thank to Ibi Balong!) of Kurt and our baseball fans.
And draw them it does. The Iron Pigs have the best attendance in Minor League baseball. Since the park opened in 2008 it has drawn 5,593,412 fans to the park according to 2016 figures. Landes notes Coca Cola park draws 600,000 guests a year. Its game average exceeds the 8,809, fixed seating capacity of the park. Landes rounds it off to 9.000 per game.
Landes noted that the baseball is only part of the story. What many people go to Coca-Cola park is a family experience. “We like to see it as a great entertainment value,” he said. “We have gone beyond our baseball vision.”
Over 9,000 people attend on average per game Landes noted and he listed what he feels are the reasons.
Among them are maintaining a pristine space. “We treat the facility like a castle, we pick up the trash and take pride in it,” he says. Another is “unparalleled guest services” and “fan participation in every aspect of the park.”
Landes adds that his staff is having fun along with the fans. “We are true to our brand,” he says.
Kurt Landes, Iron Pigs GM
Larry Campbell handled the "player introductions"
Murtazza displayed his team spirit - did he lead the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"?
