The tiers of enjoyment

It's a good (and overdue) move to attract casual fans by the Shorebirds.

As I have probably mentioned more than a few times here I have been a half-season ticket holder for the Shorebirds off and on since 2007. There was a season I did the full-season package, but after I was laid off in the Great Recession that came to a screeching halt. And it’s hard to be there every night - but I think I did about 55-60 out of the 70 games they had back then. After a hiatus of about 5 seasons or so until I regained full-time employment, I got back to having the half-season package. (I think I broke down and cried tears of joy when I came home with the box with my package and parking pass, back when we got paper tickets, after being out of full-time work for so long.)

Now I’m pleased to have the half-season and make it to about 25-30 games a season, since I trade a few in on occasion to bring my wife to a game, such as Scrapple Night.

But there are people who like certain particular aspects of going to the games - some like fireworks nights and others like the giveaways. That’s why I was somewhat surprised to see the Shorebirds have finally came up with 6-game ticket packages that have these themes.

If I were to guess which of the three would be the most popular one, I would vote for the “All-Star Giveaway” package. It covers the Maryland pride hockey jersey and both Hawaiian shirt giveaway dates, games with Samuel Basallo and Jackson Holliday bobbleheads, and Opening Night. (I would like to see more people there for that one.)

Next up would be the Bobblehead Night package, which features the aforementioned Basallo and Holliday along with two others: Colton Cowser and Gunnar Henderson. They round out that package with Opening Night and Fan Appreciation Day in September - where they give out bobbleheads, among other things. (As proof: last season I got a Jackson Holliday bobblehead, signed. Finally ended my oh-fer at Fan Appreciation Night.)

Finally, there’s a package that has Opening Night and five of the fireworks nights during the season.

I’m glad the Shorebirds are trying this idea, which would hopefully stem the tide of declining attendance they’ve had since 2021 (and longer.) A casual fan probably isn’t going to commit to a 12-game or 22-game package but may bite for a 6-gamer that features an interest of theirs. Even though the inflation bug has bitten the team like everyone else, a Shorebirds game is still a rather cheap night out for 3 hours of entertainment.

So we’re getting closer to Opening Day and I still have a few things to do: pleasing predictions, (hopefully) my wild guess at the roster, and - a little bit down the road - fun itineraries for the 2025 season.

With the depressing snow on the ground, we are cheered by looking forward to summer nights with Sherman and the Shorebirds.

In the meantime, though, you can Buy Me a Coffee, since I have a page there now.