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It’s my favorite time of year again! Time for the crack of the bat, the smell of freshly grilled burgers, and the special feeling that comes from cheering along with a crowd of fellow fans.
I’m talking, of course, about the opening of baseball season. For us in the Fresno area, that means welcoming back the Fresno Grizzlies, complete with stadium renovations and new ownership that promise to make a trip to Chukchansi Park more fun than ever before.
Opening Day is just around the corner, so I want to highlight the top six reasons you should go to a Grizzlies game this month, and even give you a chance to win free tickets to the first game on April 10!
1. It’s a Better Value Than Ever
The new ownership group that purchased the Grizzlies during the off-season is committed to keeping baseball in Fresno, and making it accessible for the whole community. That means lower ticket prices and, maybe more importantly, the cheapest beer in minor league baseball. The price for a 20 oz. draft beer is dropping from $8 to $5 for every game!
Photo Courtesy of Fresno Grizzlies.
There are plenty of other great deals, too. Opening Day is a Taco Tuesday, which means the team will take the field as the Fresno Tacos, and there will be $2 specials for authentic tacos from local trucks, churros, and sodas (and free tacos for the first 1,000 fans through the gate!).
Monday Madness provides two reserved tickets, two hot dogs, two sodas, two Fresno Chaffee Zoo vouchers, and two Pieology pizza or salad voucher—all for $25.
But perhaps the best deal of all is the Friends and Family Membership. For $229, you will get six tickets to every Monday-Thursday game all season long, along with invites to exclusive events like player autograph sessions and stadium tours, as well as discounted $10 weekend tickets. Purchase a membership here.
2. Post-Game Entertainment
Entertainment at a Grizzlies game extends beyond baseball. On April 13, a ticket will get you into the game as well as post-game fireworks and a concert by Christian recording artist Ryan Stevenson as a part of Christian Fellowship Night.
As is Grizzlies tradition, there will also be fireworks after Opening Day, as well as every Friday home game. Who decided those are just for Fourth of July, anyway?! (Even though there will, of course, be fireworks at the July 4 game.)
If you’ve never experienced the spectacular show at Chukchansi Park, it’s a must. They’re set off just over the scoreboard, making it a very up-close fireworks display.
Fireworks after a game last season. Super professional photography courtesy of me.
3. Stars and Barks
Saturday, April 14, is the perfect night to bring the whole family out to Chukchansi Park — and I do mean the whole family, four-legged members included. It’s the first Bark in the Park of the season, benefiting Valley Animal Center. Bring your dogs to the game and sit in a special designated section in right field. Tickets and canine waivers can be found here. Advance purchase is required. Five dollars from each canine ticket will be donated to the local no-kill shelter.
Photo Courtesy of Fresno Grizzlies.
For the kids, Saturday is also a time to enjoy NASA Night. There will be live demos of Moon and Mars portals, an “Ask a Scientist” booth, rocks from Mars, telescopes, and more “edu-tainment” out on the concourse.
4. Honor Vietnam Veterans
Another special event is happening at the ballpark on April 28. Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans will be hosting an event to honor local Vietnam vets before the game. The organization is working with Amvets and the Grizzlies to give a proper “welcome home” ceremony to veterans who may have encountered protests and/or didn’t receive recognition when they returned from the Vietnam War because of the political climate at the time. Organizers are planning recognition on the field, a military salute, a formal flag ceremony, speeches by city and military officials, and a fly-over.
Vietnam veterans can get two free tickets to the game by entering the code “VETERANS” on the following website. If you or your company would like to sponsor the event, you can find details here.
5. Celebrate the World Champs
When you strip it down to the basics, Chukchansi Park is simply a place to watch really good baseball. Four of the last eight World Series-winning teams were affiliated with the Grizzlies, including last year’s Houston Astros. Several players who played with the Astros last year will begin the season in Fresno, as will five of the Astros’ top 30 prospects.
Photo Courtesy of Fresno Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies will have giveaways to celebrate the Astros’ World Series triumph all season long, beginning with the Replica Championship Ring Giveaway for the first 5,000 fans through the gate on April 28. The Astros just unveiled the ring, and it’s a beauty!
6. Free tickets
[Ed. note: Contest has ended; congrats to our winner!] What better reason to go to a game than free tickets? If you’re our lucky winner, I’m sure this will become your number one reason.
We’re giving away four vouchers to Opening Day! Simply click here and fill out the form to enter to win all four vouchers, which you will exchange for tickets at the Fresno Grizzlies box office on Tuesday, April 10. One winner will be chosen at random and must be able to pick up vouchers from the FresYes Realty office during business hours on Monday, April 9, 2018.
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For a full list of this season’s events and promotions, visit the Fresno Grizzlies website or follow the team on Facebook. Tickets for games can be purchased online or at the Chukchansi Park box office.
I would definitely recommend Lewis Creek Trail to others for a great day hike experience. Though slightly more difficult than the