At just $5 a ticket and with a fabulous array of family-friendly fun and festivities, the RubberDucks fan experience steals home
By Patricia Nugent
The fan experience at Canal Park this season is taken to new heights for ticketholders of all ages.
Kids, families, couples and ardent baseball fans can catch an Akron RubberDucks game and enjoy thrilling action, entertaining promotions and all-American staples, like $2 hot dogs and spectacular fireworks.
“We strive to be the most affordable, family-friendliest recreational choice in town, a place where folks know they can have a great time and not worry about the budget,” says Jim Pfander, Akron RubberDucks general manager and COO.
A prime example of this effort are the fireworks shows. Every weekend evening home game, the shows are synchronized to music, from Rush (Friday, July 20) and Counting Crows (Saturday, July 21) to the Allman Brothers (Friday, August 10), Matchbox 20 (Saturday, August 11), Foo Fighters (Friday, August 24), Phil Collins (Saturday, August 25) and, rounding out the season, Tom Petty (Thursday, August 30).
Thrills-a-Minute
Some promising promotions include:
Big Splash Day – Wednesday, July 25: Canal Park is transformed into a giant water park. With help from the Akron Fire Department, there will be “wet zones” along the first base line, as well as “dry zones” for those who don’t want to get wet. Cool down in the splash water park and race through a fearsome water luge.
Fauxback Friday ‘70s Night – Friday, August 10: Kicks off with a festival on Main Street from 5-7 p.m., this night answers the question…what would the RubberDucks look like back in the ‘70s?
As Featured on the Travel Channel
The Travel Channel made a stop here to film an episode of Food Paradise.
“Our Screamer, which is 21 scoops of ice cream served in a batting helmet, made for a great episode,” he reports.
“They also had fun featuring the Notorious P.I.G., which is a sandwich that uses pork cutlets instead of bread slices to hold in a tasty variety of pork products, from pounded and pulled pork to Canadian bacon and honey mustard slaw. Since the show aired, we’ve seen a spike in folks traveling from all over just to experience those dishes.”
Other new extreme menu items this season include the Thanks Joe!, in honor of recently retired Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas, which is a sandwich of two butterflied bratwursts smothered in beer cheese, peppers and onions on a hoagie bun. And you don’t have to be Italian, or even a mountain climber, to relish the La Montagna (the Italian word for mountain). Atop garlic toast, they pile layers of pepperoni, sausage, salami and mozzarella drizzled with zesty marinara.
Scouting Report
As this story goes to press, the RubberDucks are in first place in the EL West Division.
“We’ve got some players who make things very exciting for spectators, from first baseman Bobby Bradley to third baseman Joe Sever, who is John Elway’s nephew,” says Jim.
“Fans recognize the fact that they may be watching future greats who are on their way. From pitcher Shane Bieber, who just debuted with the Indians this spring, to Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Bradley Zimmer, so many big-league players got their start here.”
The Akron RubberDucks play at Canal Park, 300 South Main Street in downtown Akron, less than five minutes off I-77. Game tickets are on sale now, starting at $5. To check out the game schedule or purchase tickets, visit AkronRubberDucks.com or call at 330-253-5151.