Saints Opening Weekend Won’t Be Deflating

PRESS RELEASE – Maybe the long, harsh winter has left you emotionally deflated, but the St. Paul Saints have something that will cheer you up.  Saints baseball is back and the 2011 opening homestand begins on Thursday, May 12 against the Sioux Falls Pheasants.    It includes Military Appreciation Night, Friday Night Fireworks, Dog Day, and the most anticipated giveaway item of the season – Metrodome Whoopie Cushions.

Opening Day, May 12, will have all fans feeling very patriotic with Military Appreciation Night presented by Cub Foods and AUSA.  This is a chance to honor the men and women whom serve our country year-round and allow us the freedom to live in the greatest country in the world.  The game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. following a pre-game ceremony featuring the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day.  The colors will be presented by cadets from MTS Leadership/JROTC Academy.

 

This Thursday marks the first Thirsty Thursday of the regular season presented by Old Chicago.  $1 Beer will be available on the first and third base sides of the ballpark.

 

On Friday, May 13 the first Friday Night Fireworks presented by Xcel Energy will take place following the 7:05 p.m. contest.  For the first time in club history, the Saints and Xcel Energy are offering Fireworks following every home game.

 

In celebration of the 30^th Anniversary of “Inflation Day” of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, and, subsequently, the 2010 “Deflation Day,” the St. Paul Saints will have a Metrodome Whoopie Cushion giveaway given to the first 2,501 fans at the Saturday, May 14 game at 7:05 p.m.

 

Many Minnesotans remember the most dramatic day in Metrodome history with “Inflation Day” that occurred on October 2, 1981.  Few will forget the events of December 12, 2010 when three panels of the roof were damaged during a blizzard that paralyzed the Twin Cities and forced a Vikings/Giants game to be moved to Detroit.

 

While the Metrodome’s roof is made up of 800,000 square feet of fabric, a whoopie cushion is two rubber sheets glued along the edges.  The roof utilizes up to 20 fans, blowing 250,000 cubic feet of air pressure per minute to remain inflated.  A whoopie cushion takes someone with enough hot air to blow it up.

 

Saturday also marks the first Success Saturday of 2011, presented by the University of Wisconsin – River Falls.

 

The homestand wraps up on Sunday, May 15 with Dog Day at 1:05 p.m.  Fans are invited to bring their well-behaved dogs to the game and enjoy contests such as “Best Dressed Dog,” “Dog-Owner Lookalike Contest” and “Musical Sit.”  After the game, kids can run the bases and get autographs from the entire team as part of S&W Beans and Butter Kernel Family Sunday.

 

Tickets are still available for Opening Weekend.  Tickets are $5 for general admission, $8 for outfield reserved and $12 for infield reserved.  Friday Home Games with post-game fireworks (except July 1, August 26) are an additional $2 per ticket.  July 1 and August 26 feature extended post-game fireworks and are an additional $3 per ticket.  Tickets purchased on the Day of the Game are an additional $1 per ticket.  Children under the age of 12 and seniors 65 and older receive $1 off the admission price.  Children under 2 that don’t require a seat are free. 

 

The regular season begins Thursday, May 12 and tickets for all Saints exhibition and regular season home games are available now in person at the Saints Box Office, by phone at 651-644-6659 or online at saintsbaseball.com.