Why The Economy Can Give Minor League Teams A Boost

The South Bend Silverhawks at Coveleski StadiumNeighborhood: Downtown South BendSouth Bend, IN46601United States of America In the city of South Bend, Indiana, it is starting to show signs of springtime. Well, sort of. Even with an unusually cool spring start, the signs and sounds of a warmer season pop up all over. Construction is underway, robins are singing in the morning, and the crack of the bat at Coveleski Stadium, which can only mean the Silverhawks are back in town.

South Bend and surrounding areas are first and foremost "Notre Dame" country, there is no doubt of that. But there is something quaint about having your very own professional baseball team, even if it is single A. In fact, the people of South Bend like their team so much, this past off-season was met with renovations to increase the seating capacity of the stadium.

But, with the Chicago White Sox a short drive away, and the Chicago Cubs not much further, why go to minor league games? Why not see the big boys play? There is no shortage of fan base for the Sox or Cubs in the area, that's for sure. The answer is easy: it's far more economical. With the average price of a ticket to a Major League Baseball game approaching 75 dollars if you include parking, food, and the occasional adult beverage, it is far too costly to take the whole family out to the ballpark. The Silverhawks, much like other Minor League Teams, have promotions all season long to draw fans. Just imagine $4 tickets, $1 hot dogs, and $1 sodas (not to mention free parking). That's less than $30 for a day at the park for a family of four on "Dollar Mondays, " a regular occurrence at Coveleski Stadium.

That's just one determining factor in choosing where to take the family for a good time at the old ball game. Another great reason to come out and support your local minor league team is to also support your local economy. Although many large corporations bring their shops into the big stadiums, smaller venues do not have the traffic to entice the bigger names. This gives the local business a chance to thrive in an area where they almost never get to even catch a glimpse. From local print shops selling memorabilia to the local bar and grill catering for the suites during games, there are many great opportunities to support the local businesses when you root, root, root, for your home team.

So this summer, when the kids are driving you crazy with that same video game they've been playing since school ended, gather up the crew and head on out to your local ballpark. You'll be creating memories without creating a big hole in your wallet, and at the same time supporting your local team and economy, and who knows- you may just happen to see the next rising star before they get to the next level.