Five weeks from this moment (as I type…) I know exactly where I’ll be. I’ll be in section 209 at Coca Cola Park, enjoying some baseball as the IronPigs open their seventh season.
Opening Day Logo courtesy MiLB
I might need my heated seat. And my usher Nick might have to use an ice pick to free my seat. My wife might be in the club level lounge. But that’s where I’ll be. I have my tickets. (Well, in theory. Season Ticket pick-up is scheduled to begin March 11. Single-game tickets are on sale now if you need them. Good seats are still available. I just checked!) And, I’ve made arrangements in my schedule to make sure I’m there on time for the opening festivities.
You see, that’s what’s different about the home opener this season. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05PM That means that the pageantry of opening day will begin much earlier–perhaps as early as 4:25 or so. There’s usually a special National Anthem singer, as well as a Color Guard. Sometimes there are special “first” pitches–I heard it might be Miss Piggy this season (unsubstantiated). Plus the introduction of the players. It’s part of what makes opening day a little extra special.
Many folks have asked about the 5:05 start time, and if there was a special reason for the unique scheduling. So, I reached out to IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes for the official word. He said, “We’d like to try something different” and he mentioned the cold weather concerns. It should be a little warmer at the earlier hour, with some additional daylight yet to be enjoyed. He added, ” I feel that Opening Day should always be a holiday for baseball fans and the game time sets this day further apart with that spirit in mind.” He also mentioned that the earlier start time may allow folks to stay at the park for more of the game.
There have been concerns about rush hour traffic, but really it shouldn’t be too much different from 7:05PM. I travel Route 22 every day, and the rush starts shortly after 3PM and continues through 6:30PM or so. That’s the time you’d be traveling to the park anyway. There may be some additional in-town traffic around 5PM, but that’s the time I’d be coming through for a 7 o’clock game many times.
Another question I heard had to do with the Phillies: The Phillies’ home opener is the same day, with a 3:05PM first pitch. Some wondered if the IronPigs start was designed to compete with, or mirror that start in some way. While it might be nice to watch most of the Phillies game before coming out to the IronPigs, I’m not sure there’s any other connection–other than the desire to have a little bit more warmth and a little bit more “special-ness” about the day. Perhaps the IronPigs can put the Phillies game up on the big screen before the pageantry begins.
I thought of some additional advantages to the 5:05 start: First, it’s a school night. I know the other opening days were usually Tuesdays or Thursdays, but this will allow more kids to experience the opening day and, as Mr. Landes points out, stay for more of the game. Second, it should relieve some of the crush at the concession stands. In years past, the ballpark-food-starved masses have spent most of opening day in line as the concession workers try to find their groove. Hopefully this start time will spread that out a bit as some will eat early before the game, and others might wait for later in the evening before grabbing a bite.
So let this post serve as a reminder: Put in for half a vacation day. Take the whole afternoon off. After this winter, you deserve it. Go out to lunch, then head home and pick up the kiddos, and get to the park as early as you can. You’ll get a free T-Shirt (sponsored by Service Electric, so you know it’ll be nice. Right RK?) and you can watch the Phillies on the TV’s along the concourse, at the Biergarten, in the Club, or at the Tiki. Be in your seat for the introductions and the first pitches. Let’s get this season off to a rousing start! You’ve got five weeks to get ready for the 5-0-5!
@kram209
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