Two things from the UT this fine Easter morning:
First, Michael Kinsman profiles Petco Park's coming year.
What's good is they're realizing that going to the ballpark needs to be an interactive experience for people to keep coming.
In recent years, the Padres have marketed to specific segments of the community as well as the hard-core baseball fan. It regularly has special promotions for children and military families and is marketing season tickets to the Latino community with Spanish-language brochures.
After I read that, I thought to myself, they should have days where they market to people who like to eat. I got psyched when I read this next:
They've even upgraded hot dogs and will grill them in the open in response to fan requests.
"The hot dog may sound like a weird issue because people don't go to a baseball game because of the hot dogs," Overton said. "But when you're at the park, a good hot dog may help make it a better experience."
Man, I love me a good hot dog. Overton saying it may sound like a weird issue is weird to me. Everybody loves a good hot dog at the ball game. It's not weird. It's integral! I know people who never eat hot dogs unless they're at a game.
"The hot dog may sound like a weird issue because people don't go to a baseball game because of the hot dogs," Overton said. "But when you're at the park, a good hot dog may help make it a better experience."
The Padres also heard complaints from fans about some concession services, which caused the club to conduct extensive training for all concessions workers, including volunteers from nonprofit groups.
Ah man. Does this mean they're still sticking with the freakin' volunteers at the concession stands? Can't they volunteer doing something else? I don't care about your dumb organization. In fact, I'd go so far as to say your stupid organization leaves a bad taste in my mouth when it takes 3 innings to get a hot dog and soda. I can get a hot dog and soda at Costco for a buck fiddy in about 3 seconds. You think people don't remember that? Ugh. Why don't they have these people sell candy out by the street? Stupid Petco Park cheapskates. HIRE SOME EMPLOYEES!!![editor's note, by Dex] OK. I just re-read this and it's angry and unconstructive. So here's a constructive way for these organizations to actually earn money for their organization without impeding the timely arrival of my hot dog. You give the organization a stand of their own. This will be the only stand where you can by peanuts and Crackerjack. Then you advertise which organizations are supplying you with peanuts and Crackerjack. People who love peanuts and Crackerjack and/or want to support the organization will spend the extra time in line. To be perfectly honest, I'm not even sure what organizations we're talking about. I'm sure there are plenty of decent organizations that I shouldn't be insulting, but if it's something like Grossmont High J.V. cheer and it's taking forever, then I don't apologize. (I went to Monte Vista.)
The second item is this headline: Mayday: Padres call for mound help . I'm apparently real good at thinking up the painfully obvious puns. To his credit, Brian Hiro opted to go with something more subtle: May loses the spring in his step.
That's why I like Brian Hiro just a little more than Tom Krasovic.