Kalamazoo Growlers
| Kalamazoo Growlers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | Northwoods League (South Division) |
| Location | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
| Ballpark | Homer Stryker Field |
| Year founded | 2013 |
| League championships | 0 |
| Division championships | 0 |
| Colors | Dark blue, California blue, gold and white |
| Ownership | Dick Radatz, Jr. and Kathy Radatz |
| Management |
President/Managing Partner: Brian Colopy Assistant General Manager, Partnership Sales: John Bollinger |
| Manager | Matt Lawson |
| Website | growlersbaseball.com |
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a baseball team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Growlers were founded in 2013 and played their first game on May 30, 2014. The team plays its home games at Homer Stryker Field.
History
On June 3, 2013, the Kalamazoo City Commission approved a contract with Kalamazoo Baseball, LLC to bring a team to the city. Kalamazoo had been without a baseball team since the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League disbanded in 2011. The contract stipulated that the Northwoods League would pay expenses associated with the team's home games, practice and the maintenance of Homer Stryker Field.[1] On Nov. 15 of that year, the team was formally introduced as the Kalamazoo Growlers, a tribute to the city's brewing tradition and the black bears that call Michigan home. Former Ohio head baseball coach Joe Carbone was introduced as the team's manager and Jared Kujawa and Brett Sunde of Western Michigan University were introduced as players.[2]
The mascot of the team is an anthropomorphic black bear named Porter. He was named after a dark style of beer, paying homage to Kalamazoo's microbreweries. The original mascot was a bear of the same type named Barlee, but the team lost the rights of the name to the Hillsboro Hopps of the North West League.[3]
Ballpark atmosphere
The Growlers organization has made a number of enhancements to Homer Stryker Field. The Miller Lite Party Zone is located down the left field line and offers groups of up to 500 picnic seating with prime views of the game and all-you-can-eat food, soda and water, as well as a selection of beer. The Bell's Bear Cave is an indoor/outdoor suite beyond the right-center field fence that offers guests premium food and drink options in a modern, air-conditioned space. The Home Plate Club includes individual tables with barstools fashioned out of seats from Orioles Park at Camden Yards and offers fans all-you-can-eat food, soda and water served by wait staff.
Recognition and Promotions
The Growlers were recognized as a finalist for Ballpark Digest's 2014 Logo/Branding of the Year[4] and the team took home the top prize as the 2014 Summer-Collegiate Promotion of the Year for their "Salute to Selfie" Night jerseys, featuring a collage of selfies submitted by Growlers fans.
In the 2015 season, the Growlers were 5th in the nation in attendance for summer collegiate baseball.
One of the feature items on the concessions menu is the Bear Claw Burger. The Bear Claw Burger is a half-pound Angus hamburger topped with Michigan based Ebel’s barbeque pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and coleslaw between two Sweetwater’s Donut Mill bear claw donuts. This towering burger serves two people and is available at all Kalamazoo Growlers home games.
Gallery
External links
References
- ↑ Monacelli, Emily, "Northwoods League president 'confident' baseball team will play at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo in 2014" ""MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette."" Retrieved May 26, 2014.
- ↑ Fishell, Aaron, "Kalamazoo Growlers bring baseball back to Homer Stryker Field" ""MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette."" Retrieved May 26, 2014.
- ↑ http://northwoodsleague.com/kalamazoo-growlers/2014/12/15/growlers-lose-barlee-to-milb-launch-new-name-contest/ ""Northwoods.com"" retrieved June 2015.
- ↑ Reichard, Kevin. "2014 Logo/Branding of the Year: Akron RubberDucks". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
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