SYRACUSE, NY — The sights at NBT Bank Stadium last week were different than they have been over the past few months. Kids running around, fans in the stands cheering.
That’s how you know baseball season is underway. The Syracuse Mets began their home campaign last weekend against the Rochester Red Wings.
It’s an exciting season in Syracuse, with three of the Mets top ten prospects – Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos, and Brett Baty – making Syracuse their temporary home.
Number one prospect Francisco Alvarez was on the roster for a short period of time, but already found his way to Queens with the Major League squad.
“With Vientos, Mauricio, Baty, there’s a lot of young talent,” said Syracuse Mets Community Relations and Marketing Assistant Nick Costanzo. “I think this is probably one of the best teams we’ve had in years. It’ll be really fun to watch these guys.”
It’s not just baseball that is so exciting. One of the biggest parts of minor league baseball is how entertaining they try to make the games for people.
Promotions are huge for the Mets, and they are introducing a few new things this year in an attempt to draw different crowds.
One new promotion is “We Care Wednesday,” where they bring non-profit organizations to the stadium.
“We are highlighting certain charitable organizations and allowing them to set up camp on the concourse and join us on the radio and streaming broadcasts and promote their causes, which are excellent causes,” said Syracuse Mets Play by Play Broadcaster Evan Stockton. “We had a couple of really cool organizations here yesterday.”
A constant in these promotions is a fan favorite, Dollar Thursday.
Dollar Thursday started at NBT Bank Stadiums years ago, when fans could come to the stadium and get beer, hot dogs, soft drinks, and certain merchandise items for just one dollar.
Since then, prices have changed a bit, but fans still take advantage of the promotion, especially college students.
“Well I don’t know if you know this, we are located in the same town as a very popular university where a lot of the students like to have a good time,” said Stockton. “So when you give them an excuse to have a good time with discounted alcohol, they’re going to show up at your baseball game.”
Another new factor at NBT Bank Stadium this year is the method of payment.
The stadium is now completely cashless. It started last year with the parking lot going cashless.
The Mets are on the road this week, and return to NBT Bank Stadium next Tuesday, April 18, when the Durham Bulls come to town.
