PRESS RELATIONS – The seventh season of Naturals baseball will begin on April 10th when the Naturals host the Frisco RoughRiders at 6:05pm. The home opener will allow fans from throughout Northwest Arkansas to see the talented prospects on display, as well as some new ballpark additions made to enhance the overall experience.
“The seventh season of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark has a lot of excitement built in but we wanted to continue to add to the Arvest Ballpark ‘Experience’ and these new additions should appeal to fans of all ages and continue to keep Arvest Ballpark on the cutting edge of Minor League facilities in the entire country,” said Naturals General Manager Justin Cole.
During the past off-season the Naturals have added new elements to Arvest Ballpark. Some of the changes fans will notice as soon as they arrive to the ballpark: the Naturals’ fountain on the landing in front of the main gates, ballpark-wide WiFi to accommodate smart phones and tablets, a Bullpen BBQ stand with food and drink items plus additional premium seating in the area, a revamped Wiffle Ball Field in our Kansas City Royals Kids Zone, the Truity Credit Union Kids Train, the Walmart Game Room Suite, new A/V equipment n the Sam’s Club Community Room, and a newly remodeled Naturals’ clubhouse.
The Naturals’ Waterfall
The Ballpark Operations department of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals created a great visual at the forefront of Arvest Ballpark. Located near the landing just outside the main gates, near the Sam’s Club Community Room, is a new fountain created to look like natural streams found all over the state of Arkansas. Local rock and stone was installed by hand by the Ballpark Operations crew to create the new addition to our front gate.
Ballpark WiFi
A highly anticipated addition to Arvest Ballpark is the NEW ballpark-wide WiFi that will be available during the upcoming season. The ballpark will have twenty-eight (28) different access points throughout that will provide FREE Cox high speed internet access, allowing fans to stay connected to their favorite websites, social networking sites, and all things Naturals while at the game.
Bullpen BBQ, NEW Food Items & Premium Seating in Right Field
Changes have been made to one (1) ballpark concession stand and additions have been added to another to offer a better variety of food and beverages to our fans. The concessions stand located behind sections 101 and 102 near the Naturals’ bullpen in right field has a new name to highlight the featured food. Renamed Bullpen BBQ, this stand offers delicious BBQ fare and the smoked turkey, pork, and brisket continues to be some of the most popular food options at the ballpark.
The Craft Beer Corner also adds a special dimension to the NEW Bullpen BBQ. Throughout the ballpark on a given night there will be 50 different beers available including 2 gluten free beers, 5 different wines, and multiple ciders.
Back by popular demand is The Sweet Spot, where fans can find the World Famous Funnel Dog, Ice Cream Sundaes, Shakes, Fried Oreos, Fried Snickers, Cotton Candy, and so much more. NEW to the stand this year is Fried Ice Cream and all concession stands in Arvest Ballpark will provide Topps Ring Pops.
Stay tuned throughout the year to our electronic menu boards that are located in every concession stand at Arvest Ballpark to keep you updated on new menu items and upcoming promotions during the year.
In addition to the Bullpen BBQ, the Naturals have added some custom seating in front of the stand. The custom seating in the area will feature the Naturals’ crown logo and will add additional areas for fans to be able to eat and watch the game.
Wiffle Ball Field
Kids and families enjoying the Kansas City Royals Kids Zone will see a new and improved wiffle ball field during the 2014 season. The Naturals enhanced the area with over 3500 square feet of artificial turf with base pads built in. The field will also come complete with an outfield fence for the young hitters to showcase their home run power.
Truity Credit Union Kids Train
The Truity Credit Union Kids Train was created to enhance the over family-friendly atmosphere at the ballpark. The train will be primarily positioned in the outfield and will transport kids from the Kansas City Royals Kid Zone around various locations on the concourse, adding a fun way to experience the game for families. The train will cost $1 for a ride which will last approximately 5-7 minutes, and only a select number of rides will be scheduled at each game.
Walmart Game Room Suite
The Walmart Game Room Suite has been added to the upper level of Arvest Ballpark. The Walmart Game Room is available for nightly rental for $1,000 and includes 20 tickets, six parking passes and a $250 catering credit. The suite features a PS4 and Xbox One equipped with games for kids of all ages. The suite also includes a vintage Stand-up Arcade Game featuring over 40 classic video games ranging from Pac-Man to Space Invaders. The suite is furnished with a cable TV to view the Naturals game while you improve your video game skills. The suite includes indoor/outdoor seating, your own restroom, air conditioning, and an area for food service.
Sam’s Club Community Room A/V
The Naturals installed new A/V equipment in the Sam’s Club Community Room. The area is now equipped with a new state of the art projector with WiFi connectivity, Blu Ray/DVD player, and premium sound for groups/meetings throughout the year.
Remodeled Naturals’ Clubhouse
The Naturals made improvements to the home clubhouse this off-season by repainting the clubhouse and adding new carpet. The clubhouse was also equipped with new TVs, new furniture in the player’s lounge, as well as new desks and furniture in the office area for our coaches. During some off-season events, fans will have the opportunity to tour this exclusive area.
The Naturals home opener is at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday April 10, 2014 at 6:05pm against the Frisco RoughRiders.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.
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