For those in the Harrisburg area, the Senators will be hosting their FanFest on March 1 from 11AM to 4PM at Harrisburg Mall’s Center Court. As part of their FanFest, they will be holding the following contest (press release copied/pasted)
Are YOU the biggest Harrisburg Senators fan around? Prove it! Kids aged 12 and under can enter the Senators’ Klubhouse Kids contest for a chance to receive the VIP treatment for the entire 2008 season! “Tryouts” are scheduled for March 1st at Center Court of the Harrisburg Mall, 11:30am-2pm as part of the Harrisburg Senators FanFest.
Two kids will be selected: one boy and one girl. Each prospect will have about 60 seconds on stage during the FanFest to show judges why he or she deserves to be a Klubhouse Kid. Youngsters can show off their cheering prowess, sing a song, perform magic tricks… whatever it takes to convince the judges that they are the most enthusiastic fanatics in town. Prospects do NOT need to be baseball players to win; just huge fans of the Senators!
Entrants must pre-register by calling Emily Winslow at 717-231-4444 or e-mailing ewinslow@senatorsbaseball.com. Only 100 tryout spots are available. Prospects must attend the FanFest to be considered.
The winners will be the face of the team for the 2008 season; they will receive a free pass to every home game, a cameo in at least one Senators’ TV commercial, an appearance in the Senators’ gameday program and other print media and baseball cards featured in the Senators’ 2008 team set. Just like a top draft pick, the Klubhouse Kids will be introduced to the media at a press conference and presented with a Senators’ jersey and hat. They will throw out ceremonial first pitches on Opening Night, April 3rd at Commerce Bank Park.
The Senators’ FanFest is set for 11am-4pm, March 1st at the Harrisburg Mall’s Center Court. This is the third year in a row the Harrisburg Mall has hosted the event. The FanFest will feature various games for kids of all ages, the Senators’ famous winning spinning wheel, and for the third year in a row, the Senators will have National Anthem tryouts. The 2008 edition of the FanJam will make an appearance and Rascal and Grrrounder will sign autographs!
The 2008 season begins on Thursday, April 3rd at Commerce Bank Park when the Senators host the Cleveland Indians’ Eastern League affiliate Akron Aeros. The 2008 season marks the 22nd season for the Senators since baseball returned to City Island in 1987. For more information about the 2008 season or FanFest, please check out the Senators website at www.senatorsbaseball.com.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 14-Feb-08 at 7:32 pm | Permalink
It’s a shame that Potomac and Hagerstown don’t follow suit. It doesn’t even have to be at a mall; a lot of the indys have it at the ballpark itself. It can be positioned as an Open House, and, wouldn’t you know? The pro shop is open and you can buy hot chocolate and pretzels, too!
pahou | 15-Feb-08 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
I think that it is a shame that the Senators are not having players or at least the manager there. Well thats one thing that the new owners are not doing as well as the old owners. whats next?
Brian Oliver | 15-Feb-08 at 4:01 pm | Permalink
On March 1st? It would seem to me that the players would be involved in spring training. I guess they could fly Stearns up for the day, but it would not surprise me if the Nationals were less inclined to pull players/coaches away from spring training.
pahou | 16-Feb-08 at 8:58 am | Permalink
in all previous years past fan fest has been held in the begining of February, what i am saying is that it seems that the new ownership of the Senators do not have it together yet. and what i am wondering is how it is going to shape the fans experience for the new baseball year. To me this is strike one.
Senatorsfansunite | 16-Feb-08 at 9:29 am | Permalink
pahou,
They do have surprises planned for FanFest. Not sure if it will include players. Maybe former players.
Here is a link to more details on FanFest.
http://senatorsfansunite.blogspot.com/2008/02/surprise-filled-fanfest.html
Senatorsfansunite | 16-Feb-08 at 7:06 pm | Permalink
pahou,
You may have alread read this, but for those that did not, this was posted on GM Randy Whitaker’s blog:
“I’ve gotten lots of questions about Fan Fest for this year. Obviously it is going to be a little later this year, and that is on purpose. Spring Training will be well under way. Football will be well behind us. It will be all baseball all the time!”
“We have one BIG addition to Fan Fest this year that you definitely will want to come see. A real Senators first.”
Terry Byrom | 16-Feb-08 at 10:18 pm | Permalink
Just to clear some things up, new management or old management, we were likely going to have fanfest in early March this year. We found out before the management change that we weren’t going to be able to get the Nationals players we wanted to try to get.
And once we found out John Stearns was the manager, there was no since in “introducing” him to Harrisburg since he was here two years ago.
So we decided that having it closer to the season, focusing very much on the family entertainment, was the thing to do.
I’m sorry that you think not having a player or manager makes it less an event. I’m guessing there are literally several thousand people that will be there and still have lots of fun.
Terry
pahou | 17-Feb-08 at 9:58 am | Permalink
See the managements out there putting the spin on it already. In case anyone didnt know Terry Byrom is part of the Senators fromt office staff.
pahou | 17-Feb-08 at 1:40 pm | Permalink
Big surprise guys, its on the gm’s blog the Klubhouse Kids, yeah who cares?
Terry Byrom | 18-Feb-08 at 1:06 pm | Permalink
Yes I do work for the team and I think everyone here knows that. And no, I’m not trying to spin anything. I’m not going to get into an argument here.
It is anyone’s perogative NOT to come to the FanFest, but I think we’ll do just fine.
Just FYI, but Trenton and Altoona among other teams have their fanfest’s closer to the season and they don’t include any players or coaches either.
So we aren’t doing anything that’s all that different from anyone else in the minor leagues. Heck, as it was pointed out above, most teams don’t even do fanfest’s.
Terry
Jesse | 19-Feb-08 at 6:53 pm | Permalink
Pahou sure seems to be a Negative Nancy. I think the entire organization is shaping up/improving, and the new Senators management will keep up with the pace.
pahou | 20-Feb-08 at 5:51 am | Permalink
A negative Nancy, maybe, but i challenge you to tell us one good new thing that the new Senators Management has shaped up. After listening to Randy Whitacker last night I do have good feelings about the way us CUSTOMERS will be treated this year. But the ball was defenetly dropped on fan fest this year. Hopefully it will be the only thing that doesnt improve this season. Even Randy acknowledged last night that other that watching kids jump around on stage and listening to National Anthem hopeful singers there really will be nothing for adults at fan fest this year. Everyone says its about the kids well i think that that is bull. Its the adults who spend the money its the adults who bring their children to the ballpark. Hopefully Randy can change things around like he wants to and I believe that he will give it a great shot, I hope he is very succesful. If he is it will make for a much cleaner, friendlier stadium this year. I think it will be a shame if the winner of the WII system is some mall shopper that has no intention of going to a Senator game. But who am I but a customer that wants a better return for my dollar this year, and I am not talking about the product on the field because the new Senator management has nothing to do with that.