Batter Up!
It's 7 p.m. and the scorching summer temperatures are finally sun beginning to subside.
The parents are home from work and antsy for some entertainment. The kids are desperate to break down the walls at home and get outside.
And the wallet is a bit on the empty side.
Sound familiar to anyone?
The darkness of the night and the nation's financial woes have set upon Yuma, but the brightest lights in town are beaming from Desert Sun Stadium where the Yuma Scorpions still offer a night of affordable family fun.
"When you first walk into the stadium you'll see the jumpy jumps (jump-o-lenes) and the slides and the dunk tanks, so we try to make it family affair," Scorpions president and team manager Mike Marshall says. "And with the difficulty of the economy we've lowered both ticket and concession prices this year. There is not a better deal around, and that's what were trying to do."
A typical family of four can easily enjoy a night out at the ballpark for less than $30 with the Scorpions. Parking is free, $6 buys a reserved seats located below a water misting system, and nightly $1 or 2-for-1 offers await at the concession stands.
"It's ridiculous how low our prices will be," Marshall said. "For some of these items, it will be cheaper than going to any fast food restaurant."
For the baseball and sports lovers in the family, the fun is right in front of their eyes for nine full innings. Parents can bring along a scorebook and teach the rules of the game to their children, then head down to the dugout afterwards for a souvenir autograph from their favorite Golden League Baseball player.
"I pride myself on bringing in players who are quality people and not just whether we can win with them, and we've still been very successful at home," Marshall said. "And if you look at the number of ex-major leaguers in our league, every night you can have a conversation with a guy that's been in the big leagues."
Long before Opening Night, the Scorpions have already made an impact on the children and families in Yuma. The team's reading program offers free tickets to elementary-school children, and many of the players are house guests of the team's host families during the season. The stadium itself recently got a face-lift as the first three rows around the field were tiered and replaced with new major-league style seats with cupholders.
Nearly every home games on Yuma's upcoming schedule involves a giveaway or special concessions offer or promotional event with one of the city's local businesses and clubs, such as 4-H Barnyard Night and a softball game between the fire department, police department, border patrol and Marines. The Scorpions' staff and volunteers aren't afraid to get a little zany in between innings either to give the younger ones something to look forward to with music and games. And don't be surprised if you're the fan who ends up on the field for a trivia contest, sumo wrestling battle or a footrace around the bases with Stinger, the team mascot.
For those who can't quite sit through an entire three-hour game, the stadium is just a hop, skip and a jump away from a playground and open grass areas within the Ray Kroc Complex.
Any way you look at it, there's something for the family to do when the Scorpions are in town.
2009 Scorpions Promotions
(Subject to additions and date changes)
Friday, May 22 (Opening Night)
- Cup Giveaway
- Fan Appreciation
- $1 Concessions courtesy of
Coca-Cola
- Yuma High School Centennial
Celebration
Saturday, May 22
- Glo-Necklace Giveaway
Monday, May 25
- Scorpions Love Reading Day
Friday, May 29
- Heroes of Yuma Weekend
Saturday, May 30
- Thunder Stick Giveaway
Friday, June 5
- Cowbell Giveaway
Saturday, June 6
- Baseball Bailout Cash Drop
Friday, June 26
- Faith Night
- Cup Giveaway
Saturday, June 27
- Diamond Giveaway
Saturday, July 4
- Fireworks Night
Sunday, July 5 (doubleheader)
- 2 for 1 tickets and concessions
Friday, July 31
- Tote Bag Giveaway
Saturday, August 1
- Fan Night
Saturday, August 8
- 4-H Barnyard T-shirt Night
Weekly Concession Specials
Mondays - $1 burgers, $1 beers
Tuesdays - $1 hot dogs
Wednesdays - $1 ice cream
courtesy of Dippin Dots
Thursdays - $1 beers
Sundays - 2 for 1 concession
specials
Ticket Prices
$5 - General Admission
$3 - Kids 12-Under and military
$6 - Reserved seating
(first three rows)
$50 - Season pass
