The Akron Aeros introduce a new club suite, while the Fayetteville SwampDogs unveil a promotion relying on serendipity.The Akron Aeros introduce a new club suite, while the Fayetteville SwampDogs unveil a promotion relying on serendipity.
We expect a lot of clubs to do what the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) are doing for the 2009 season: selling a suite to individuals on a per-game basis. The Aeros Club provides indoor seating in a climate-controlled environment, and also has outdoor seating which overlooks the first-base side of the ballpark.
"Previously, the only way to enjoy an Aeros game in a suite was to purchase a nightly package for 16 people," Aeros Vice President Kevin Brodzinski said. "We recognize that the nightly suite package, while still available and with reduced pricing for 2009, doesn’t appeal to every fan. Some of our fans would like to take advantage of a more unique setting than the reserved seating bowl to celebrate special occasions in smaller groups of two, three, and four people, and we believe the Aeros Club certainly fills that niche."
Seating is limited to just 20 people per game, and the suite includes a full service cash bar with hostess, a snack menu, cable TV, and nightly drink specials. The cost per ticket is $25, and full and partial season ticket holders can upgrade their regular game tickets to access the Aeros Club for $10 and $15, respectively.
The Fayetteville SwampDogs (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) unveiled a "Pick of the Litter" Mini Plan promotion, where one fan can walk away with $10,000 in cash.
SwampDog fans can purchase a nine-game mini plan of reserved box seats for any of the 28 home games for $54, as long as one is on a Monday. If the SwampDogs win all nine games in the mini plan, one lucky fan will win $10,000 in cash from the SwampDogs.
"After experiencing the thrill of giving away a $20,000 car last summer, we certainly hope one lucky SwampDogs fan will be able to walk away with some of our money," said SwampDogs Director of Operations Darrell Handelsman. And the odds are good a fan will walk away with the cash: the team has posted a .686% winning percentage at J. P Riddle Stadium since 2005.