Tag Archives: coca cola park

April 1, 2013 · 10:38 pm

Media Day Volume 1

Editor Dan, Photographer Cheryl and I made our way to Coca Cola Park today following an always-good lunch at the Black Forest Deli. We’ve got video interviews and more goodies to come. But here’s a couple nuggets to hold you over:

We didn’t get to talk to every player, but here are some of the general feelings I got from the locker room as a whole:

The guys are happy to be here and happy to get the season started. Clearwater weather wasn’t great, so they’re not concerned about the early-April cold.
The players feel good about the team this year, the teammates, the groups within the team, and the locker room.
The veteran players know this is a young AAA team and know their roles will be dictated by getting the youngsters time at their home positions. And they’re fine with it. I didn’t get the sense that anyone was pouting.
Everybody’s healthy; the players whom I’d heard things about minor injuries all said and seemed just fine.

Here are some more specific notes:

Ethan Martin will pitch three innings tomorrow, but he didn’t say–perhaps he doesn’t know–if he’ll start.
Jon Pettibone will pitch Friday.
Justin De Fratus was able to find a Mass to go to yesterday, and Tyson Gillies was able to find Sushi.
I didn’t get to talk to the new skipper, but he seems all business and was right in there during practice getting the team ready
Director of Media Matt Provence was great, and around to help the whole time. And he would have done so even if we hadn’t bribed him with chicken.

And now, a couple of notes about the park:

I did try the urinal game. Meh.
The yogurt bar is going to be HUGE.
The brat platz is in with the biergarten. I should have known that. It makes total sense.
I’m not sure I understand the point of the social media center. Are people going to be allowed to enter it? Only with invitation?
The front row of the bacon strip extends all the way in front of the bar. That whole front row described as “stools” is numbered metal chairs. Just pointing it out.
The hot corner chairs were covered, so I didn’t get to try them out.

Now some photos I took of stuff around the park. They’re not Cheryl photos, but hopefully they’ll hold you over until the good stuff comes through….

The Back Row is GA, but still gets chairs…

Biergarten and Dietz and Watson Platz Grill

Hot Corner Covered. Screen in front is for BP.

Numbered Metal Chairs in the front row of the ‘strip

Front of strip extends all the way in front of the bar

Social Media Entrance is near the Lunch Pail

Full View of the ‘Strip

Tiki Ready to Go!

HUGE! I tell you, HUGE!

(also, maybe, messy, that self serve yougurt bar. we’ll see.)

See you at the park,

(tomorrow!)

@Kram209

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Tagged as coca cola park, ironpigs media day

March 30, 2013 · 10:15 am

IronPigs Introduce New Concessions

Yesterday, the IronPigs released information about the 2013 concessions. There are some exciting new additions, and some changes. Here in KramsKorner we’re always excited by food–perhaps too much so. Early this season we expect to post a Comprehensive Guide to Concessions at Coca Cola Park. But until then, read about what’s new:

Sooeey’te Spot Frozen Yogurt

This frozen yogurt stand will open later in April near home plate, where the souvenir stand used to be. It will feature six flavors nightly, with a variety of toppings. You will be able to make your own, mix and match, and then pay by the ounce.

Boar-ito Stand

Located out near the Bud Light Trough, the re-done Mexican stand will feature make-your-own burritos of pork (of course), beef, chicken, or all vegetarian. Customize your toppings! You’ll also be able to get the Nacho Porker here, and the Walking Taco. Adult beverages at this stand will include LandShark Lager and Lime-a-Ritas.

Bratz Platz Grill

Thought to be located in the ATT Plaza, but location has not been specified. The grill will feature Boss Dogs, Bratwurst, and Jalapeno Bratwurst served with a selection of toppings including sauerkraut, cole slaw, onions, and peppers. The rolls will be pretzel!

Trough Grill

The trough grill will be the only location for the new Bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

Fresh Fruit Smoothies

Fresh fruit smoothies in flavor such as Strawberry Patch, Honest Energy, and Hula Hula will be available near section 107.

Here are some other notes I gathered from the IronPigs press release:

Food and Beverage service will be available in both the Hot Corner AND the Bacon Strip
Bypass Lane will continue in its current form for field level (pick up) and club level (delivery)
Soft drinks (Coca Cola offerings, of course) and Adult offerings (featuring Budweiser products) remain mostly unchanged
32oz beers will continue to be available at the Trough, Tiki Terrace, portables, and Club Bar
Philly Pretzel (yay!), Aww Shucks Corn (yay!), Gyro Company (yay!), and Nuts For You (yay!) all return.
Pig Stop in the club level returns, now under control of the new executive chef, Jerry Rogers

Now, let’s meet the concession team:

Jerry Rogers, Executive Chef

Alex Rivera, Director of Concessions

Brock Hartranft, Manager of Concessions

See you at the park,

@Kram209

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Tagged as bacon wrapped hot dogs, ballpark food, coca cola park, concessions

March 21, 2013 · 12:55 pm

Why Do You Go To The Park?

The IronPigs come up in conversation a lot when you’re around me. The conversation often goes something like this one I had last Friday:

Me: “I really like going to the IronPigs games.”

Guy: “Oh, yeah, me too; I have season tickets.”

Me: “Cool! I do too. What section are you in?”

Guy: “118; I have a 9-game plan. What plan do you have?”

Me: “72 games”

Guy: “Wow. That’s a lot of games. How many do you actually go to?”

Me: “It’s more and more all the time. With 80 games last year I probably got to 60 of them.”

Guy: “That’s a lot! How can you go to so many?”

Me: “Well, I find it relaxing…”

____________________________________

On Friday, February 13, 2004 I got a headache. How can I remember that? Well, because that same headache lasted until May 15 of that year. It never went away. I saw a slew of doctors and had a slew of tests. No relief. What happened on May 15, that made it go away? Well, it was the first day of my vacation…

…

For the past four weeks or so I’ve had the headache back. It’s not as bad or as constant as that first one was. Advil seems to help it. Also, whiskey. That’s how I got through that SteelHawks game the other day. I don’t have any vacations planned, and if I’m indeed stressed out to the point of constant headaches, then I probably need to chill. “Chillax,” as my son tells me. It reminded me of the above conversation and just why I go to so many baseball games every year. I decided to break it down further:

OK, so let me explain, starting with the smallest reasons:

6% Being Outside: It’s cool to hang out outdoors, you know? I’m in an office all day and inside all winter and I just want to get out. It’s not so cool in April (Sorry, it’s very cool. Perhaps too much so. Bring the sun, man!) or when it’s crazy hot sometimes, but it’s still a reason that I enjoy the park. I’ll still enjoy the new arena, but it won’t have quite the same appeal.

9% AAA Talent Level: Would I be so inclined to have season tickets if we traded teams with Lakewood? A little less. Like 9%. A lot of the other things would still be cool, but the overall quality of the game play is better, and I enjoy watching the talent one step from The Show. I could tell a difference with hockey, too, from ECHL Reading vs. AHL Wilkes-Barre last year. Also, when friends visit from Reading, they always say, “Wow, we can tell these guys are better.”

13% Phillies Connection: How would you feel if we got the AAA Brewers instead? Right. A little less. I’m not the biggest Phillies fan, either, but it is cool to have the home club just down the road in Philadelphia where we can go see our old friends like Domonic Brown continue on their careers–rather than watching via television. And, it’s cool for some of the local folk who love the Phillies to have that connection; it adds to the atmosphere even for someone like me who doesn’t live and die with the Phillies.

16% Beer: Don’t judge. It helps me relax. I did OK at the SteelHawks without it, but I would have been more relaxed with a nice cup of beer in my hand.

19% The People: Not just the friends, but also the ushers and parking guys and the nice lady at the concession and all that. It does keep me coming back, and it is more important than beer. By a little.

37% The Park: The beat writer from the Scranton newspaper wrote an article yesterday about the return of Minor League baseball to Northeastern Pennsylvania. In it he threw in the line, “PNC is arguably the nicest Minor League park in the country.”

Really? Really? It’s basically a copy of Coca Cola Park, with a smaller club level and no Tiki Bar and certainly no “Hot Corner” or seats on top of walls and less people and fewer suites and no dug-out suites and….

Well, you get the point. They have a nicer view and free parking. I bought tickets and I’ll go see for myself. But our park is a gem. I love going there. There’s a reason we’re the first to host both the AAA All-Star Game and the AAA National Championship. It’s not just the fan support (although that’s a part of it) or the organization (also a part), it’s the facility itself. We shouldn’t take it for granted.

___________________________

Now, if we can just get some nicer weather and some ball games, maybe I can get rid of this damn headache.

See you at the park,

@Kram209

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Filed under Coca Cola Park, Kram's Korner - From the Club Level, Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Tagged as coca cola park, Phillies

March 7, 2013 · 12:50 pm

Checking the Weather

While we’re thankful here in Kram’s Korner that we didn’t just get 10 inches of snow, fact is, it’s not baseball weather yet. Mother Nature’s not ready. In fact, she’s not provided Clearwater, Florida with a ton of nice weather, either. That’s where our guys are battling for jobs to see who breaks camp with the AAA IronPigs. Here’s a roster update on which way the wind is blowing right now–what I’m hearing and what to watch for:

Catcher:

Young Tommy Joseph is impressing all around. He’s hitting the ball, calling good games for the MLB pitchers, and throwing guys out. Right now, I have him as a lock to break camp with the IronPigs. Get ready to chant: TOE! JOE! TOE! JOE!

As for the other, who knows? Valle could go back to Reading or back up Tommy, or he could be on the DL as he battles a broken finger. Or he could get traded. He’s with the Mexican WBC team right now, so we’ll see what happens when he gets back, as well as who gets sent to minor league camp first. It is assumed that Humberto Quintero–older and more experienced–will back up Kratz in Philadelphia. Remember that Lerud had MLB time last year as well. Also recall, the IronPigs started with three catchers last year. Cameron Rupp should be “the guy” in Reading, as he’s been getting some time in MLB camp too, of late. Finally, there was a rumor that the Phillies were scanning the market for another veteran back-up type. Don’t be surprised to see a last minute addition to this derby.

Infield:

It looks like it’s coming down to three guys for two back-up spots in Philly: Frandsen, Galvis, and Betancourt. Yuni has a 3/24 out clause, so the Phillies will have to make a decision by then if they want to keep him. Given that kind of clause, I really doubt he’ll accept an assignment to Lehigh Valley; he’ll have a whole week to hook on with another MLB team who needs a shortstop (St Louis?). But, if they keep him, they could option Galvis to the IronPigs to play every day. This is what I’m hoping for, but I’m not holding my breath. Charlie Manuel has already counted up all the at-bats he can give Galvis, and he’s got him at 3B now, too, to boot (poor choice of words..). You can count on Michael Martinez and Pete Orr for the IronPigs at this juncture.

Josh Fields has been getting time at 1B with the big club thus far. I think this is because Michael Young is the starter at 3B, Kevin Frandsen (or, Galvis) is the backup, and they want a long look at young Cody Asche. While I still kind of expect to see Fields at 3B with the ‘Pigs, Ache has–like Joseph–been impressing on both sides of the ball. I didn’t think they’d start him at LHV, but it is possible. I wonder if another Cody–Overbeck–could be the odd guy out. Or, perhaps, Fields gets the DH. Let’s see what the minor league camp looks like when they start playing games.

Outfield:

Dom Brown has a strangle-hold on one corner spot, and Delmon Young will definitely start the season on the DL. In fact, they’re saying Young could be ready mid-April or so. I wonder, if the weather’s warm enough, if he’ll get a rehab assignment in Allentown during the Bison series April 19-22?

But I digress. Mayberry and Nix should hold down the other corner outfield spot, leaving Darrin Ruf to battle Rule 5 guy Ender Inciarte for the last spot. Young Ender has impressed me as I’ve watched him in the MLB spring training games. He’s been patient at the plate, stolen a couple bases, and played an energetic CF as Ben Revere’s backup. If they want to keep him, he has to stay on the 25-man. Plus, Ruf’s not done well at the plate or in LF. Right now, I think Ruf comes to Allentown as they delay the decision on Inciarte. They can offer him back at any time, and it gives them a chance to see if Tyson Gillies (currently playing for Canada in the WBC) can arrive in Allentown healthy and ready to play.

Pitchers:

I haven’t heard much in the wind about the spots. Predictions kind of remain the same. The only note is young lefty Adam Morgan. I had him slotted to start the season in Reading, and come up mid-season with Asche and perhaps Joseph. Like the two former, he’s been impressing and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him break with the ‘Pigs. I’m not predicting it; it just wouldn’t blow me away.

So that’s what I’m hearing in the wind. I’ve also heard that some exciting announcements are forthcoming from the IronPigs about new additions to Coca Cola Park. Mr. Landes wasn’t kidding on Pig Day when he said he had other secrets. Please stay tuned, and we’ll keep you informed right here at the Horn and Bell.

@Kram209 (Twitter)

PS: Go SteelHawks!

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Filed under Kram's Korner - From the Club Level, Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Tagged as adam morgan, coca cola park, cody asche, IronPigs, Phillies, roster, spring training, Tommy Joseph

March 5, 2013 · 1:20 pm

222 Game Officially Announced; Season Tickets Clarified

Several folks have asked me in the past week or two if there will be a “Route 222 Challenge” or “222 Showcase” game this year with Reading. Indeed there will be; it is on the magnet schedule from last year and everything–but it was made official today by the IronPigs.

It will be hosted by the IronPigs this year, at 6:35PM on Tuesday April 2. Tickets are available now for $6.00. All seating for the game is General Admission, with only the lower bowl open. I do believe suite holders have access to their suites as well, but club level amenities are limited. If it is consistent with the past, all ticket proceeds will benefit either IronPigs Charities or another charity. Concessions will be open, but may be somewhat limited compared with a regular season game (some of the carts and sands may not be running, but main concessions will.) In the past, full season ticket holders received tickets complimentary. Indeed mine have been loaded into my account already. I believe I will need to have the tickets printed when I pick up my ticket cards, as they are listed as “in will call” instead of “card created” on my account.

A bunch of us from the NoiseNation made the trip to Reading last year for the game. The weather was nice and the attendance was good. In the past, turn out at Coca Cola Park for this game has been lacking. Granted, the weather has been poor, but I’d really like to see us, as a fan base, support this game better. It is an excellent opportunity to preview our team, as well as get a sneak peak at some of the talented prospects who will be in Reading this season. Rosters have not been set, yet, of course. But, I expect that many of the players we see on Tuesday April 2 in Reading Phillies uniforms will turn up in IronPigs–or even Philadelphia–uniforms before the end of the 2013 baseball season.

Why to they play this game? Well, it’s a nice dress rehearsal for the staff and crew of the stadium. It’s also a nice chance for the players to adapt to playing under the lights–and in the cold–compared with the mid-day sun of Florida spring training games. Plus, it raises a little money for charity along the way. All in all, I love it and I’m glad they do it. I love getting a look at the Reading players, but I wouldn’t mind another Phillies exhibition again one of these years. Perhaps they’ll consider it for the 10th anniversary?

A more official season ticket announcement was made this morning as well, clear confusion about the pick up schedule. As I said previously, Full, 36-game, and 18-game packages will be available Monday March 11. 9-game packs will be available Thursday March 14. This clearing up the confusion stemming from an email dated February 22, which stated that season ticket packages would be available March 5, and a tweet from yesterday which stated that the 9-game plans would be available March 12. I know, I know. It’s probably just me. I’m like a kid at Christmas. I know many folks who won’t bother picking them up until opening night.

Soon, I’ll see you at the park,

@KRAM209

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Filed under Coca Cola Park, Kram's Korner - From the Club Level, Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Tagged as 222 game, coca cola park, fightins, IronPigs, Phillies

March 3, 2013 · 10:31 pm

New General Admission Option for IronPigs: 5+5

Recent manipulation of the IronPigs ticket purchase screens has revealed a new General Admission option. It only pops up when I use my Season Ticket Holder code. It is a new option for General Admission tickets.

But lets step back for a moment: Recall that the “capacity” of Coca Cola Park was increased by 100 last season to help accommodate the Tiki Terrace (which is probably more than 100 seats, but..). This season, new seats were installed in the Hot Corner and the Bacon Strip. As I’ve said, I think this is overall a great idea to maximize space and sell more (expensive) tickets. Coke Capacity remains at 10,100 as Kurt Landes explains that the tickets will come from the General Admission allotment. This, plus the huge guitar and other signage which blocks view (we love you Wawa!) and what’s a GA fan to do?

Well, here’s a perk: A new general admission option is to buy a ticket for $10 (rather than the usual $7) and receive $5 in loaded “ballpark credit” value. So your ticket is really $5! That’s a pretty good deal! It’s hard to go to a game without spending at least $5. I spend that before I get upstairs! Like most ballpark loaded credit, you won’t be able to use it at the privately owned stands, and certainly not for parking the next night. But, I wonder if you could save them and use them all at once? Usually you can use them in the store, too, so that could be useful.

What do you think? Sounds good to me. Add your comments below. I didn’t get this option when I went to the generic buy tickets page, so you might want to ask about it if you’re interested. Perhaps it’s one of those things that can’t be announced yet….

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Tagged as ballpark credit, coca cola park, general admission, IronPigs, value