CRUSTACEAN NATION!
INAUGURAL GAME A standing-room ONLY crowd of 7,180 attended the Blue Crabs historic inaugural game May 2 nd , 2008. Fans enjoyed an entrance of Pinch involving hundreds of Charles County Youth League members, a dramatic introduction of the Blue Crabs team and a special military tribute and delivery of the first-ever game ball.
2008 ATTENDANCE More than 225,000 fans attended Blue Crabs games in 2008, an average of 3,217 fans per game. The Blue Crabs attendance was in the top 1/3 of all minor league teams.
2008 CONCERTS Regency Furniture Stadium is now Southern Maryland’s premiere outdoor concert venue. Music legends REO Speedwagon and Kool and the Gang, as well as country stars Gary Allan and Craig Morgan performed this year to some of the largest crowds in the brief history of Regency Furniture Stadium, with over 10,000 fans enjoying concerts in 2008.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACPT Crossroads Hospitality See-Thru Windows Arby’s Dinner A’Fare Sharon’s Studio of Dance Archbishop Neal School ESFCU Shoppers Food BAE Systems Grandstaff Roofing Skanska Beltway Paving Hebrew National Sleepy’s Besche Oil Joanne’s Pet Sitting Snell & Son’s Bob Hall Inc. Ken Dixon Auto SoMDjobs.com Boston’s Kool Productions Speedy Carwash Bozick Distributing La Plata Pizza St. Mary’s Hospital Burger King La Plata Fitness State Farm Capital Clubhouse Lasher & Harriman TC Signs Capt Billy’s Little River Seafood Texas Roadhouse Cedar Point Federal Credit Union Meredith Management Tony McClure Real Estate Chaney Enterprises Nick’s Sausage Turkey Hill Charlotte Hall Veteran’s Home Pepsi US Foodservice Chick-Fil-A PNC Bank Victory Motorcycles Clear Choice Windows Raley, Watts & O’Neill Wawa College of Southern Maryland Raymond Funeral Home White Plains Golf Course Community Bank of Tri-County Red, Hot & Blue Winegardners Cottman Transmission Regency Furniture Wonderclean Country Florist Reliant Assembly Worldwide Moving Creelman Agency Saturn of Waldorf None of this would be possible without the support of our community partners. Without the support of them and everyone else in the community we would not be able to provide the entertaining baseball experience that we do.
ON-FIELD SUCCESS Despite being a first-year expansion team the Blue Crabs missed post-season play by one game in route to compiling a 74-66 record. During the 2008 season the Cleveland Indians purchased the contracts of Dan Reichert and John Halama from the Blue Crabs.
POST-SEASON AWARDS Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson was named the 2008 Atlantic League Manager of the Year. The Blue Crabs also had 2008 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, Knuckleballer Joe Gannon. Three Blue Crabs players were recognized as Atlantic League All-Stars following the 2008 season: Chris Maples – 2B, Patrick Osborn – 3B & Joe Gannon – RHS.
CRABBY COVE: BUMPER BOATS The Crabby Cove Bumper Boat Pond at Regency Furniture Stadium was named “2008 Ballpark Innovation of the Year” by Ballpark Digest, professional baseball’s leading facility publication, beating entries from all Major League and Minor League ballparks.
SCOUT NIGHTS During the 2008 season the Blue Crabs held overnight campouts for both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, with more than 600 scouts participating. The scouts were honored in a pre-game parade around the warning track and provided the color guard for the National Anthem. After the game the scouts and their families watched a movie on the giant video board, then called it a night.
ESFCU READING PROGRAM The Blue Crabs and Educational Systems Federal Credit Unions teamed up on the Blue Crabs Reading Program, to distribute more than 35,000 bookmarks to area schools. The Reading Program gave students in the tri- county area the opportunity to get free baseball tickets and to be honored on the field prior to a game, if they achieved their reading goal.
EMPLOYMENT Regency Furniture Stadium provided over 300 jobs in the summer of 2008. Over $120,000 in admission & amusement taxes and $100,000 in sales taxes were generated.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS The Blue Crabs helped to raise over $100,000 for various non-profit organizations throughout the 2008 season. Included in those organizations were: American Cancer Society, Southern Maryland Food Bank, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, Soldier’s Angels, Prostate Cancer Research Fund, CSM Foundation, Relay for Life, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network, & More…
PINCH APPEARANCES Pinch has announced his presence in Southern Maryland with authority, making appearances at more than 75 events in the area. He has taken part in fundraising events, visited schools and hospitals, thrown out the first pitch at Little League games and teed it up at charity golf tournaments. He’s also appeared at retirement homes, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, charity walks, check presentations and numerous local fairs and festivals.
PLAYER APPEARANCES Blue Crabs players and coaches truly become part of the communities in which they make their summer home. They’ve appeared at more than 30 events including: school assemblies, run clinics for young players and helped celebrate new businesses in Southern Maryland.
SHORTI’S GET IN FREE PROGRAM Wawa and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have given away thousands of free tickets to children 12 and younger who wear their youth athletic league uniform, jersey or t-shirt to a Blue Crabs home game. The initiative is designed to promote activity in all organized sports – which is a great way to keep kids healthy.
BAE SYSTEMS FIELD OF DREAMS The Blue Crabs honor local Little Leaguers before each game by choosing one area team to take the field with the Blue Crabs starting lineup. The “BAE Systems Field of Dreams Team” gets to find out how it feels to listen to the national anthem under the lights, in front of thousands of fans – just like big leaguers.
HOST FAMILIES A host family is one of the most important and influential aspects of a baseball player’s summer experience. Many of the players on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are in a brand new environment, away from home. It is extraordinary how the community has embraced these players on and off the field, and welcomed them into their homes and their families.
AMATEUR ATHLETIC GAMES Regency Furniture Stadium was host to 8 College of Southern Maryland baseball games as well as other amateur athletic events.
OTHER BALLPARK FUNCTIONS Regency Furniture Stadium is much more than just a ballpark. Outside of the three concerts the stadium has become a true meeting ground for Southern Marylanders from all walks of life. It’s a business conference center, hosting gatherings such as corporate luncheons and community meetings. With a year-round calendar of events, Regency Furniture Stadium is the place to see and be seen in Charles County.
Only the Beginning. . .
Recommend
More recommend
