Following The Minor League Baseball Teams In NC Will Make You Feel Like A Kid Again

By Kevin Stevens


If you want to take your family out to the ball games these days, you might have to take out a loan. Championship rivalries can command thousands of dollars for the best seats. Once upon a time, fans went to the field to see their favorites play, buy a hot dog, a soda, and box of popcorn, and still come out with enough for a cheap tee shirt. Those days can be recreated, for the most part, if you follow the minor league baseball teams in NC.

Smart managers know that a vital part of sports is showmanship. If you want to go to a game in North Carolina, you may be bombarded by promotions and marketing that extol the latest ballpark improvements. The whole idea is to create a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm rarely seen outside the most intense college football rivalries. If this is your first experience with the minor leagues, you are in for some surprises.

The pre-game warm up is a lot of fun to watch. If you get to the field early, you will have a chance to interact with players, take pictures, and get autographs. This is not like the big league games. Players don't make mega millions, and they aren't surrounded by officials keeping fans away from them. You can usually take your child down to the field for some little league pointers and suggestions.

Some of the owners and managers are shameless hustlers. They will do anything to get fans inside the stadium. That includes holding contests, offering giveaways, and promoting special events. It doesn't hurt to enter everything you can. If you are lucky, you might score some free tickets.

These games are great places to take kids. The atmosphere is relaxed and energetic at the same time. Children do get lost however, even at small venues. Pinning the ticket on their shirts will tell the usher where to return them. If you have small children and don't want to risk a stray ball hitting them, getting seats behind the home plate screen is a good idea.

Most adults love the team mascots, but they can frighten small children. Not all little one's are thrilled to shake the hand of a huge dog or tiger. If your kid is wary of the mascot, don't push it. There will be plenty of time to take pictures in a few years.

This might not be the major leagues, but you are going to see plenty of talent on the field. Whether you are in Charlotte, Asheville, Burlington, or Winston-Salem, the next Chipper Jones, Cal Ripken, or Derek Jeter, could come up to bat on the day you're watching. This is exactly where they started their careers.

A good baseball game can be like a trip back in time. Everything seems simpler sitting in the stands at a ballpark. Following the minor leagues is a great way to enjoy a sport that epitomizes America.




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