The minor league professional baseball season begins later this week and clubs across the state will be breaking out new promotions in hopes of attracting fans through the turnstiles. Kirk Goodman is general manger of the Midwest League’s Quad City River Bandits, which has seen a 64% boost in attendance the last two seasons. He says promotions are a big part of that.
Goodman says they have no control over the players that are put on the field, who starts or how the team does, so he says they have play every game as if they are going to lose. He says with roster call ups and changes, there’s no way to predict from year to year how the team is going to be.
Goodman says it is imperative to show fans a good time even if the home team does not win. He says that’s where the promotions come, they have to make every night entertaining. The entertainment this year includes six bobble-head nights, 13 fireworks shows and a “monkey cowboy rodeo” in July. He says they try to get in things that fans won’t see anywhere else.
Goodman says the stadium is also a big part of attendance at minor league games and he feels Modern Woodmen Park gives them an advantage. He says not many ballparks have the river view that they have and U.S. Today just mention them as one of the top 10 “great places for a baseball pilgrimage.
Goodman says they had a guy from New York call the day of the article and wanted to come visit. He says those kind of things give the community a sense of pride.