Put Me In, Coach, Part 1

I was fortunate to grow up literally within eyesight of a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium. In that era, big-league baseball didn’t comprise entrenched haves and have-nots, and even the Cincinnati Reds could annually contend. As much as I’ve enjoyed going to MLB games throughout my life, I’ve long envied small-town fans of Doubleday’s game who could watch a more idyllic, minor-league version, with players hungry to earn a trip to “the Show” (and unencumbered by prima-donna temperaments or disgraced by tawdry substance-abuse headlines).

However, although the players on the field may be more driven to succeed, minor-league team owners are just as motivated by the bottom line as their big-time counterparts. Today, most such ballparks feature suites and other premium seating, as well as corporate-sponsored promotional events. Of course, signage plays a role in creating a stadium identity and marketing the team as a viable venue for corporate or family functions.

Moreover, without the mega-million-dollar TV contracts afforded MLB franchises, affiliate owners must aggressively generate revenue. Signage plays a vital role in these teams’ economies. Inkjet-printed graphics decorate virtually every inch of an outfield wall; scoreboards are inundated with static or changeable-message advertisements, and banners and rigid-media panels often ubiquitously hover near the dugouts.

So, as winter yields to spring, and kids of all ages eagerly await the “Boys of Summer,” a gallery of minor-league stadia might be the tonic to shake off blustery weather and envision sunny afternoons and the crack of hickory hitting horsehide. Play ball!

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