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Paying for parking, pitch clocks and a new purveyor of plates pilot the number of perfect additions at PNC Field this season.
In an economy where everyone is trying to save a dollar or two whenever possible, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is attempting to do the same this season.
For the first time in more than a decade, the organization will charge a $2 parking fee for single-game buyers at the entrance in an effort to upgrade the 26-year-old lot, interim general manager Jeremy Ruby said.
“It’s been going back and forth on it with ownership the last several weeks. Ultimately we’ve decided to go with a new revenue stream,” Ruby said. “We want to enhance the ballpark. It’s only year three and we’re adding more and more things.
“When we built the ballpark, we completely left out the parking lot, left out the lighting system in the parking lot. You’re looking at a 26-year-old area out there that’s never been touched. We want that to be the next phase and complete the whole project.”
The team stopped charging for parking when it was still the Red Barons in 1993 and that continued when the affiliation changed to the Yankees in 2007. Ruby added that season ticket holders will not have to pay for parking as the cost will be included into the price of the package, and if anyone wants to purchase a five-game plan that will be considered a season ticket holder. Also, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday home games fans will receive a coupon book that will offset the price of parking.
“My advice is if you’re know you’re gonna be coming here for five or more games, we’d love to have you as one of our season ticket holders,” Ruby said.
If you think paying for parking is absurd, the price for RailRiders is actually a steal, compared to the cost of parking for other local venues. In Allentown, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs charge $5 to park, while that area’s professional hockey team, the Phantoms have parking cost of $3 or $6.
Sure, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins parking is free, but the $5 cost for general parking is included in the ticket price, and has been since the team’s second year of existence in 2000.
Take a ride south on Interstate-81 and go to Hershey’s Giant Center for a Bears hockey game and you’ll pay $12 for parking. Baseball is always a bit more affordable largely due to more games being played. In the Double-A Eastern League, Reading doesn’t charge for parking, while the Harrisburg Senators charge $3 to park.
Of the other nearby International League teams that the RailRiders will play this season, Rochester charges $6 and the fee at Syracuse is $5.
On the clock
Beginning this season in the minor leagues, Triple-A and Double-A games will follow the new pace of game rule, which is attempting to cut down on the time of game with visible clocks counting down in between pitches and innings. There is 2 minutes, 25 seconds allowed between innings, and 20 seconds between pitches. Pitchers will be alerted when 20 seconds remain on the between-inning clock to get ready.
The first month of the season will be a trial run, but starting in May if any times are surpassed penalties will be issued.
“We’re just gonna have to adjust to it. I don’t think anyone’s gonna have an issue with it,” RailRiders manager Dave Miley said. “It may take a while just because nobody’s used to it. I know they did it more at the Major League games in spring training, but we didn’t have it in minor league games so some of these guys are already familiar with it. And the guys from the Arizona Fall League, that’s when they implemented it the first time. It’ll be interesting but we’ll get through it.”
What the…?
A new vendor will be positioned in PNC Field this season as popular What the Fork will be providing menu items to fans. It will have a different menu each game, but its pulled pork tacos will be available during all games. The truck will be stationed on the first base side where the bleachers meet section 10.
It’s 50-50
You may be used to going to a high school, Little League or other event where a 50/50 raffle is held to help raise money for the respective club.
Professional sports teams started doing the same thing a few years ago, and more and more teams are getting involved to benefit charities.
For the first time, the RailRiders will be doing the same thing starting with Thursday’s home opener. At Scranton/Wilkes-Barre games, the raffle will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton.
The rolling prize amount will be visible on the scoreboard during games.