A few days ago I was talking to a co-worker from Columbus and he mentioned that the Columbus Clippers had a promotion for many years in their old stadium involving cowbells. They had bell giveaways and even a song played over the PA system when everyone in the stadium would ring their bells. (Attempts to obtain the audio file have been unsuccessful, see lyrics below:
Columbus Clippers, our team is number one!
Columbus Clippers, our fans are half the fun!
No matter who they’re playing, they’ll always play ’em well
Columbus Clippers ring your bell!
This slowly died off in Columbus when the Yankees affiliation ended and the Nationals took over in 2006 and was finally discontinued when they built their new stadium last season. Some fans feel they lost a tradition.
Looking at attendance over the weekend against the Indians proved to be a success! 3 capacity crowds of 10,000 vaulted the Ironpigs to the top of the AAA class with an average of 8,480 fans a game.
Last season the Lehigh Valley finished 3rd behind Columbus and Sacramento. Columbus was riding the high of a new stadium and with colder weather early is a good bit behind in 2010 at 7,127 a game. That sophomore year trend that we were warned about (yet didn’t happen here in the Valley) might turn true for the Clippers.
Sacramento is still pulling in a crowd consistantly though. Taking a look at what we are up against, let’s compare the competition to ourselves.
Coca Cola Park
Opened in 2008
Capacity 10,000
Estimated Population – 816,012
Sacramento’s Raley Field
Opened in 2000
Capacity 14,680
Estimated Population – 2,136,604
So we’re up against stiff competition for finishing first this year. Sacramento has more than a 2-1 advantage on us and the extra 4,680 seats per game can give them a clear edge for sellout crowds. I believe we can take this spot and keep it for the entire year but we have to keep Coca Cola Park full.
Ok, I can hear it now.. “What’s in it for us?” well anyone who has taken an economics class will say increase in demand increases price but I’m not falling for that one. I’m looking at economy to scale. If we keep filling this stadium.. I believe we will keep the prices level for tickets, food, etc. Over the past 3 years, prices across the board for everything have gone up. The price of tickets and food have remained the same since 2008 at CCP. So what’s in it for us it to keep this team here, keep it affordable and keep it fun. (If you don’t believe me try a Scranton game as an example. Low attendance = $13 tickets and $5 gristle burgers not to mention the 4-5 items offered at one concession stand compare to the incredible range of food offered at many stand here in CCP)
Last but not least, tomorrow we will be graced by wrestling royalty. Not only is Jerry “The King” Lawler a wrestling celebrity, he is also remembered for his infamous staged feud with comedian Andy Kauffman and if my research is correct, he is also an avid collector of Coca Cola Merchandise. Let’s get this guy into the team store..
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I faintly remember the theme song from when WPIX carried a Clips game during an MLB strike… might have been performed by the same group that recorded the Yanks’ fight song?
I’m sending NN a link to an MP3 I just found at — of all things — a Columbus Blue Jackets (their NHL team) fan site.
Apparently prior to joining the MILB.com web group, the Clips’ site must have been hosted by Infinity Pro Sports Marketing Group, which has hosted ironpigsbaseball dot com since its launch, and that’s where this clip was located.
This doesn’t sound like the theme I recall from that PIX-11 game, but it might solve at least one of your problems.
I have a history of Columbus, Ohio myself. In the summer of 1986 I briefly lived in Columbus with my then finace, which turned into a disaster which still haunts me today. But that is a story for another time. My point is I went to then Cooper Stadium to see some Clippers game and I do indeed remember that song distinctly. The cowbells were heard throughout the stadium. It was indeed their tradition. Up unitl now, I haven’t thought about it. Seems ironic but because up til now the cowbells to me is a Noise Nation thing! Since the IronPigs came into existence, I personally get up for the Clippers games! Even more ironic, Jason Donald is now a Clipper and I got to know him last season when he played for us. Can’t wait to see JD tomorrow night! Too many storylines for me when the Clippers are involved! Talk 2 u about it Dan sometime!! OINK!!
And don’t forget Shelley Duncan, for those who remember his Yank exploits…
Oh yes, how he KILLS the Pigs!
Jimmy T,
I can relate, brother.
Palo Alto, mid 1990s — didn’t work out, either.
I always notice the Stanford players — Mayberry, Taylor, etc.
She who does not kill us makes us stronger?
🙂
Jason Donald is hitting .323 with 2 HR 17 RBI, has on-base-percentage of .440 and seven steals in nine tries.
I was really sad the first couple of time I went to the new ballpark and didn’t hear Columbus Clippers ring your Bells. It’s as iconic of a tradition as the Clippers have and I hated how they seemed to be de-emphasizing it (still sold the bells, but aren’t cow bells and have a different sound).
I went back this week though for the playoffs and there seemed to be a little bit more emphasis back. I heard a lot more bells from the crowd (probably because those coming to playoffs are a longer term crowd) and they showed bells ringing on the big screen. They played “Columbus Clippers Ring Your Bells” after the hotdog race and it was truly great to hear again. Addmitidlly they didn’t let it go through in whole (not time between the inning with the race already over), but it was great none-the-less.
I’m generally against noise-makes for sports, but this is a big Clippers tradition I hope remains for as long as the team does.
Great to hear the tradition is kept alive. It’s those little things that make minor league baseball special. Thanks for letting us know! 🙂