The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have created quite a firestorm of media attention with the recently announced Urinal Gaming System installed at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA.
The ticketing folks despite being quite busy were as always on top of their game and I appreciate the season ticket holder swag! Great job guys and gals!
What fortunate timing the day after the big announcement and the Park was chock full of people eager to talk Urinal Games. A few mentioned that it’s quite fun and surprisingly accurate.
According to the front office reaction to the announcement was for the most part quite positive. There were certainly a few that were downright displeased about the new addition and one who completely misunderstood what the Urinal Game was all about. Definitely a funny story – not really fit to print in this blog – but feel free to use your imagination.
The IronPigs’ Director of New Media and ‘radio guy’ Jon Schaeffer is the Whiz behind the reporting and responding to the myriad of media requests. “Schaeff” aka the Porcelain Prince is not taking this announcement Sitting Down and it’s likely his Number 1 priority at the moment as he’s clearly not Piddling Around with the constant Stream of inquiries.
Seriously though…
When asked his reaction to all the media and fan attention Jon said, “I think we realized that when we sent out the release it was going to receive a lot of fanfare. An overwhelming majority of the feedback has been positive, too. We are excited that it has raised awareness for men’s health and prostate screening. According to American Cancer Society, in 2013, about 240,000 cases of prostate cancer were expected with close to 30,000 fatalities. This is the message that Lehigh Valley Health Network will be communicating throughout the season.”
It’s important to note that despite all the media hype whether good or bad, there is an important message within all this. If the idea of Urinal Games can further foster prostate cancer awareness I’m not sure you can find fault in any of it.
Jon also mentioned, “The idea was actually tossed around by (GM) Kurt (Landes) and (former Director of Multimedia Design and Entertainment) Matt Zidik years ago, but never came into fruition because there wasn’t a supplier in the U.S. with the technology available. Kurt and Captive Media touched base and once it became apparent that it would be available in the U.S., our organization expressed interest.”
There you have it folks, the season hasn’t even started yet but in typical IronPigs’ fashion they have managed to create a buzz that probably hasn’t been seen since opening day 2008.
Only 1 week – 7 days – 168 hours or 10,800 minutes until first pitch. We’re certainly ready, the IronPigs are ready – Are you?
“…looking for an intern who can follow the RailRiders and write stories for Pinstripes Plus…Basically, the job description is to attend RailRiders home games, interview players and coaches and write feature articles. You must have some writing experience and live in or around Scranton.”
Pinstripes Plus is looking for a dedicated individual to cover the Railriders this season.
Our very own DiPro’s Dish was hard at work tracking down more information on the IronPig’s urinal games. The topic has been widely covered over the Nation since announced yesterday. Major news outlets, radio stations, bloggers galore and everyone else seems to be talking about this!
Digging DiPro got in touch with Captive Media, the founders of the urinal games for a quick QA session. Cambridge grad Mark Melford ,one of the UK founders of Captive Media was kind enough to our questions and his excitement was quite evident.
When did you begin working with the IronPigs on this installation and what (if any) were some of the hurdles encountered?
Iron Pigs contacted us originally back in November last year. The hurdles we have faced have included redesigning our product to work in all countries outside the UK. Iron pigs have the second generation of the “X-stream” device, capable of functioning with US urinals with their larger dimensions.
What is Captive Media’s reaction to the firestorm brought on by this announcement and what may the future hold?
Photo courtesy of Captive Media Ltd.
We’re pleased at the interest, and pleased for IP. It underpins the huge buzz our product generates wherever it goes. Last week, we showcased the technology at the Nightclub and Bar Show in Las Vegas … where the reaction was amazing. To see a sample of the TV coverage which accompanied our initial launch, click here. Nonetheless, Iron Pigs is reaping the rewards for being first in its sector – and we congratulate them for that! As innovators ourselves we salute all those who dare to be different and try something before anyone else! The technology is brand new though, and we are very excited about its potential in the US. We already have enquiries from sectors ranging from bars to cruise lines. Last week, we showcased the technology at the Nightclub and Bar Show in Las Vegas… where the reaction was amazing.
Would you please say a few words on what it has been like to work with the IronPigs’ organization?
Photo courtesy of Captive Media Ltd.
A pleasure. For us, and with such an unusual product, its hugely valuable to work with clients who “get it” and share the same enthusiasm for the technology we do. That means both the pure boyish excitement about the fun nature of the games PLUS the more serious appreciation of their power for good – in this case raising awareness of Prostate health. That’s a central part out Captive Media’s mission as a company – to use fun and engagement to get messages across to a hard-to-reach audience (young males). In the UK we’ve developed quiz games for the responsible drinking foundation “Drinkaware”, and run campaigns for the MacMillan Cancer charity, who have seen 20-40% increases in awareness as a result. We’ve also promoted brands such as Asahi, Corona or Tiger beer, who have seen their share of market on site rise as a result. It really is a very powerful medium for engaging in this way, and there is stacks of research with stats on impact here.
****
The good folks from Captive Media confirmed that a representative will be in attendance for Opening Day next week and that they will hold a formal US launch in NYC later this summer. They also hinted that a major US restaraunt chain might be adding these in the near future as well. If it is as fun as it sounds, I’m sure you will find these games popping up around the country soon!
These games will certainly add to the Mystique of Coca Cola Park and the IronPigs as they continue to lead the way for Minor League Baseball promotions!
OinK!
Links to some fun stuff about the Urinal Games and Captive Media:
HD videos and photos of the product you can down load here.
Product brochures with more info on the product here.
Video clips of UK venue owners talking about their experiences of Captive media here and here.
Bednarik Tabbed PIFL’s Week Three Top Offensive Performer; Pierson Honored for Special Teams
Bethlehem, PA: In release made today, the league office of the Professional Indoor Football League announced that Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Quarterback Adam Bednarik (West Virginia) and Placekicker George Pierson (Kansas State) were selected as the Week Three Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week respectively for their efforts in the team’s 44-22 victory over the Louisiana Swashbucklers.
Bednarik and Pierson were standouts for the Steelhawks in the team’s road winning performance. Bednarik was 27 of 35 passing, for 287 yards and four touchdowns through the air to go along with a rushing touchdown, his third of the season.
Pierson hit two fields goals, the longest of which was 38 yards, and connected for four extra points and one UNO. In all, Hazley accounted for 11 Steelhawks points on the night.
The Steelhawks are off for the next two weeks and won’t return home again until April 20th for Team X Eastern Lehigh Valley Youth Sports Night against the Alabama Hammers. Fans are reminded that there will be a fan bus trip on April 13th to see the Steelhawks take on the Richmond Raiders but seats are filling up fast! Registration is available at the home opener on the 17th or by calling the Steelhawk office (610-282-3100).
The Steelhawks have been working hard, both on and off the field, filling their roster with a ton of talent and adding great partners to the Steelhawk family. The Steelhawks’ 2013 PIFL schedule is now available online and season ticket flex plans are available. Get yours now and you will get a FREE Steelhawk 9th Man jersey, and be entered to win a FREE vacation from Boscov’s Travel! For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at http://www.LVSteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news!
Fans are reminded that 2013 season ticket deposits are being accepted now to reserve your seats for the 2013 PIFL season. You can reserve your seats by calling the Steelhawks front office at 610-282-3100. Ticket packages start as low as $48!
We joked about this in a previous post (without leaking the information) but Coca-Cola Park is bringing a Urinal Gaming System to the stadium, where I’m sure the Urinals will receive a standing ovation!
Pee On!
OFFICIAL IRONPIGS NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2013
COCA-COLA PARK TO FEATURE FIRST “URINAL GAMING SYSTEM” IN NORTH AMERICA
P-Controlled Video Games Added to Men’s Restrooms at Coca-Cola Park
(Allentown, PA) – Coca-Cola Park will be the first sports venue in the world to feature a brand new revolutionary “Urinal Gaming System”, allowing fans to interact with the world’s only truly hands-free urinal game controller, when the Lehigh Valley IronPigs open their 2013 season this April. The p-controlled video game systems will be featured within all men’s restrooms at Coca-Cola Park and are exclusively presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network.
“These games are sure to make a huge splash,” exclaimed IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. “Our fans are always looking for the next big thing and these ‘X-Stream games’ are another example of our commitment to providing an unparalleled entertainment experience in all aspects of Coca-Cola Park, including our restrooms.”
When a user approaches the urinal, the video console flips into gaming mode, using patented technology that detects both his presence and stream. Algorithms then allow the user to engage with the screen by aiming in different directions to test their agility and knowledge. The games are 100% intuitive and custom-built to provide a unique user interface along with an easy and seamless experience. The Urinal Gaming System was created and developed by United Kingdom-based Captive Media. For more information on Captive Media, or to see a video of the p-controlled video games, visit www.captive-media.co.uk.
Upon completion (an average of over 55 seconds according to published research) users will receive their score and a code to enter. They can then view their position on the leader board or check the website to see how they stack up with the rest of that night’s competition. High scores will be displayed in real-time across various videoboard displays within Coca-Cola Park.
“Baseball fans know all about RBI, ERA and OBP,” said Angelo Baccala, MD, of Lehigh Valley Urology Specialty Care and chief of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s division of urology. “But when it comes to their own PSA, many men don’t have a clue. We see this game as a fun and unique opportunity to remind men about the importance of prostate health.”
Understanding what prostate-specific antigen (PSA) means is just a first step, Baccala said. He hopes the game will motivate more men to talk with their physician and, if appropriate, get screened. “Baseball, above all, is about team, and so is prostate health. Men should work together with their physician to devise a game plan that makes sense for them.”
There are a number of games planned for the 2013 season, including alpine skiing, which allows users to speed their way through snowy mountains on a snowmobile while attempting to hit cartoon penguins (seriously). The games will rotate throughout the season to provide users with a unique experience.
Captive Media’s technology was in development for four years prior to debuting in venues in the UK in 2012. Coca-Cola Park is their first Global and North American sports venue.
Coca-Cola Park has been among the most progressive venues in professional sports since its highly-acclaimed debut in 2008, receiving numerous honors and distinctions, including Ballpark Digest’s “Ballpark of the Year” award and “Best Game Operations and Presentation” award as chosen by gameops.com.
A record-setting 688,821 fans visited Coca-Cola Park during the 2012 season – making it the most frequented venue in Minor League Baseball for a third consecutive season. In fact, the IronPigs are the only Minor League franchise to eclipse 600,000 in attendance for each of the last five campaigns.
Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities – two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; nine health centers caring for communities in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes trauma care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital, the only children’s hospital in the region, provides care in 28 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Health Network has beenrecognized by US News & World Report for 17 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Cancer Center is one of only 21 sites nationwide that partners with the national Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Centers Program. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHN_MediaTeam.
Single-game tickets for the 2013 season presented by Capital BlueCross as well as the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game are available now by visiting ironpigsbaseball.com, by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or at the Coca-Cola Park ticket window during normal business hours. Season tickets, mini plans and group tickets are also on sale now.
— pig out —
Jon Schaeffer Director, New Media Lehigh Valley IronPigs Triple-A Affiliate, Philadelphia Phillies
The IronPig’s announced today that Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Monster on the hit 1960’s show “The Munsters” will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Coca Cola Park!
Well done IronPigs! Well done!
More from the IronPigs:
The first 3,000 fans 18 and older will receive a commemorative fleece blanket giveaway presented by Service Electric Cable TV & Communications as part of the Opening Night festivities on Thursday, April 4 at Coca-Cola Park. The 2013 Lehigh Valley IronPigs season originates at 7:05 p.m. against the Syracuse Chiefs with all gates opening extra-early at 5 p.m. for a pre-game Happy Hour featuring $1 hot dogs and $2 domestic drafts until 6 p.m.
Butch Patrick, who starred as Eddie Munster on the hit 1960s TV show The Munsters, will throw out the season’s initial ceremonial first pitch. The Munsters originally aired weekly in black-and-white on CBS from 1964 to 1966 although grew in popularity during decades of syndication. This popularity warranted a spin-off series, as well as several films for both television and theatrical release.
Great seats are still available for the opener and can be purchased in-person at Coca-Cola Park (Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or online at ironpigsbaseball.com. Two brand-new seating areas, the “Hot Corner” and the “Bacon Strip” have been added to Coca-Cola Park this season, offering IronPigs fans the most unique and distinctive seating and hospitality areas in all of Minor League Baseball.
The Phillies made a couple of roster moves today that brought us one step closer to the IronPigs opening day roster. But before we get into that, lets review some of the baseball happenings of the day:
Jesse Biddle battled R A Dickey in the AAA game. Delmon Young (yeah, him; first action) and Cody Overbeck homered.
Jiwan James, projected to be back at Reading, had his knee scoped yesterday. That’ll put him on the shelf for a while and open a spot in Reading for another OF for opening day. (Susdorf? DMitch? Castro? Valle???)
Sebastian Valle started in the AA game. In LEFT FIELD. Another clue that he’ll start in Reading. Left field in Allentown is occupied (wait for it).
Adam Morgan pitched well for the Big Phils. The young lefty looked a bit pumped–perhaps over-throwing at times. However, his off-speed stuff looked great. He got several strikeouts and left with the lead.
So let’s get to the moves:
Outfielders Darrin Ruf and Jermaine Mitchell re-assigned to minor league camp.
Rodrigo Lopez was released.
What this means for the IronPigs’ roster:
Pencil in Ruf and JMitch for two opening-day OF spots: Left and, presumably, Right (Gillies in CF).
One less arm in the Starters’ pool. I’ve got Cloyd or Cochran starting against Reading, with Pettibone as the opening day guy. Followed by Martin, Cook, and the other of Cloyd or Cochran in some order. Then, pick one from Morgan, Bass, Miner, JRod…
But questions remain. There are many, but these are mine on this fine Friday evening:
Could Morgan start with the IronPigs?
Could Asche?
What happens to Josh Fields?
Who could open on the DL? Rosenberg?
Is there a trade still to be made? Will it involve Cloyd or Valle? Will it be for Inciarte so that he can go to AA?
Will there be any surprise additions?
Like many, I’m assuming Galvis to Philly. But, we’ll find out soon with Betancourt’s early opt-out this weekend.
Jonathan Pettibone made his spring Triple-A debut and Josh Fields tallied three hits as the Triple-A Phillies defeated the Yankees 4-3 in 10 innings Thursday in Tampa for their fourth straight victory.
Pettibone tossed five shutout innings in the start, surrendering four hits and striking out four. Justin De Fratus pitched the sixth and seventh, allowing three runs, all earned, to score on two hits and two walks. Kyle Simon and Austin Hyatt each threw a scoreless frame, allowing just one hit between the two.
The offense was led by Fields as the infielder went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, walk and two runs scored. OF Tyson Gillies and DH Edgar Duran each contributed two hits in the 10-hit attack. Duran drove in two runs, while INF Troy Hanzawa tacked on the team’s fourth RBI and also swiped a pair of bases for the Phils, who improved to 5-1-1 on the spring.
Fields, signed by the Phillies as a free agent last November, spent parts of five seasons in the Major Leagues from 2006-2010 with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, compiling a career line of .234-34-107 in 217 games. Originally a first round pick (18th overall) of the White Sox in 2004, he played at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2012, hitting .322-13-71 in 133 games after splitting 2011 between Triple-A Colorado Springs and the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. In addition to his baseball career at Oklahoma State University, Fields played three seasons as the university’s quarterback, throwing for over 6,000 yards and 55 touchdowns against just 25 interceptions.
The team is back in action Friday afternoon when they take on the Blue Jays in Dunedin, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
It’s been 5 seasons now. We’ve gotten to know the IronPig players. We’ve seen them come and go both up and down and out. We cheered them on as Phillies and even cheered for our favorites if they got an opportunity with another big league team. Over 5 years there are other faces we’ve seen come and go. Folks that we refer to as our summer family, the hardworking folks behind the scenes.
Granted, each year brings along a fresh batch of IronPig interns… but we do have some IronPig staffers who have been around for the long haul.
We honor them here and now.
First off, The Horn & Bell would like to recognize the management team. Well known and publicized throughout minor league baseball team President Chuck Domino and General Manager Kurt Landes, and Howard Scharf have created a baseball empire in the Lehigh Valley. Their accomplishments are well-known so I will keep this brief.
As for who takes care of the finances you will normally find them in a pair. Deb Landes and Michelle Perl are usually found at Coca Cola Park not far from each other and quick with a smile and wave.
Following up the finances we have the Marketing team veterans Ron Rushe and Lindsey Knupp. While most IronPig fans will recognize Lindsey for her on field work she also hosts a swarm of responsibilities to keep the ball park experience fresh and new while retaining the classic ballpark experience. Not as direct but just as visible is Ron Rushe. Working hard behind the scenes and helping the fans get those cherished game day give aways. Next time you see him… thank him for that bobblehead.
The marketing team would not be complete without mentioning Morris Morioka. Even though he joined the team recently, Morris was here in 2009 and intermittently throughout the next few seasons inspiring new ideas for the IronPig fans. Coca Cola Park would not be the same without him.
Tickets! Get your Tickets! These folks selling tickets have the busiest jobs in minor league baseball! Scott Evans, Amy Shoch, Don Wilson and Brad Ludwig are still leading the charge for IronPig ticket sales. The demand for the highly prized IronPig tickets is high and these folks give the fans what they want. Even more so as in the last two years the IronPigs have added several new seating areas to accommodate additional fans to include the Tiki area and the 2013 premiere of the Bacon Strip and Hot corner!
Whoever has visited Coca Cola Park, has heard about the IronPigs or just passed through for a game knows how loved the IronPigs are. Community Relations Director Sarah Marten is largely responsible for that. The Hackers and Homers golf tournament, the Phillies Banquet, the Miracle League support and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that IronPig’s Charities distributes to the community are just small examples of what Sarah brings to this team and our community. Just yesterday two separate people spoke of how great and generous Sarah was in helping with their charity event. More communities need people like Sarah Marten.
That brings us to Food and Concessions. Sadly, we saw our old friend Jan Giejda depart recently. Farewell old friend. Happily we still have Mary Nixon, Nick Wootsick and Brock Hartranft to keep providing us with those game day treats we so look forward to.
Another departure was that of Head Groundskeeper Bill Butler. While the details of where Bill went and according the ‘Pigs website, Ryan Hills is new Director of Field Operations. As I’ve heard Ryan was one of Bills first members of Bill’s staff in 2008. Fear not, though, we still have Jason “Diesel” Kiesel on staff having been with the Pigs staff also since 2008!
Lest we forget Adam Fondl the Merchandise Director. Adam is always quick to answer your merch questions and just recently provided to one of our readers a very in-depth, professional response to a sizing question.
An IronPig experience wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our good friend Pat Golden. Pat’s welcoming smile make every day a little brighter. A great memory of Pat was following the AAA All Star game. Two employees of the Rochester Red Wings staff became stranded with car trouble and Pat stayed late to make sure they got on their way safely. Going the extra mile is the standard for her.
Saving the Best for last, the IronPig’s broadcast team of Matt Provence and Jon Schaeffer have long been supporters of the Noise Nation! Using stats, interesting facts and trivia these guys have pulled together an IronPig legion of fans craving more. Matt and Jon make those road trip days much easier to get through.
While that’s all the “old timers” of the organization, we’d like to recognize IronPig Employees who’ve “Moved on to the Bigs!” While you can say only a few have moved to Major League Baseball, I see these folks pursuing their dream and having gotten a boost from their time in the IronPig’s organization. The IronPig’s have quickly solidified themselves as one of the top minor league teams to gain experience and learn how a successful front office operates. The list below is not all-inclusive (my memory gets worse every day) but that I am able to compile this lengthy list shows how the IronPigs are impacting baseball franchises across the country.
– Tommy Viola (Tommy the V) now Media Director for the Charlotte Knights
– Matt Zidik (The guy who ran the scoreboard and music) now (as seen on LinkedIn.com) is the Manager of in-game entertainment for the Pittsburgh Pirates
– Tyler de Rouen (Tyler completed most of the graphics we enjoy throughout the game. He did excellent work. Via LinkedIn he is the Graphic Designer at Turn5, Inc.| AmericanMuscle.Com.
– Christa Linzey (Ironpigs 2008) since then Marketing for the Phillies
– Robbie Aaron (Radio intern) now with Daytona Cubs known for an ejection for playing “3 blind mice” in the stadium following a bad call.
– Tim Doohan – Rochester (AAA) Director of Media Relations
– Alex Cohen – Hunstville (AA) radio voice (#1)
– Mike Ventola – Southern Illinois (Ind) radio voice (#2)
– Tim Murray ’09 – Frederick (A) radio (#2) and full-time media
– Brandon Greene – Richmond (AA) Group Sales Director
– Danny Tetzlaff – Yakima (R) Assistant GM/Consultant
– Ryan Contento – Reading (AA) Client Relationship Manager
– Matt Millward – Charlotte (AAA) Director of Ticket Operations
– Elyse Holben – Richmond (AAA) Suites & Group Executive
– Steve Pump – Richmond (AAA) Director of Stadium Operations
– Steve Ruckman – Richmond (AAA) Director of Field Operations
We will certainly miss all of our friends and family that have moved on to follow their dreams and wish them much success in all their future endeavors and perhaps one day we may even see a few of them return.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 