Yesterday I finalized a schedule for myself to make up for lost time and travel to 21 games in 10 Northwoods League cities in the final 25 days of the regular season. It seems like a lot and it may come with some difficulities but that is my current plan. I didn’t get to as many parks in the first half of the year as I would’ve liked to but I knew that traveling the League would be easier after the all-star break.

My journey started last night in St. Cloud and will continue this afternoon in Duluth. It was the second game I’ve seen this year in St. Cloud and this will be the first in Duluth. St. Cloud’s Joe Faber Field looks as good as ever, and the presentation of the game and the variety of activities that go with it were done as well as anywhere in the League. They had post-game fireworks that were some of the best I remember seeing in the League the past seven years. I’m not a big fireworks guy. To me, there doesn’t seem to be a lot that can be done differently from one fireworks show to the next. Well, last night was different. The pace that the fireworks launched was as fast as I ever remember seeing. It was non-stop all over the sky for the better part of ten minutes. I truly and thoroughly enjoyed a fireworks show for the first time in a couple years (I’m thinking the 2006 All-Star Game in La Crosse had a really good show). Kudos to St. Cloud.

There were some other things I really liked last night. The party deck at Joe Faber Field, “The Charter Sports Deck built by Rhino Deck”, was built last year and it’s really well done. It’s down the third base line and closer to home plate than most around the League. Specifically why it’s great is because its massive (something like 3,000 square feet) and it’s got the newly stained look and feel. It’s very inviting. Oh and the food is spectactular! My point is, what was neat about last night, the River Bats and Rhino Deck partnered on a deck giveaway. After the game about a dozen fans were on the field with a chance to win a free deck from Rhino Deck. One lucky fan went home with that prize. That’s an exciting promotion.

What else? Jeneo Turkey sponsors the “Fowl Pole” down both lines. Why is that so great you might ask? It’s a day later, I remember it and I’m blogging about it. It stood out and that should be the goal of any business that hangs a banner or sign anywhere in a ballpark.

They had a Famous Dave’s rib eating contest during the game for a half inning (it took place on the Charter Sports Deck). Some dude ate 18 ribs in about ten minutes to win the competion. He won a free meal (a second free meal, I suppose) and has a chance to win a grand prize of some sort later in the year.

There was more to like about last night’s Joe Faber Field/St. Cloud River Bats experience but I’ll stop there. As I continue my travels during the final 25 days of the regular season I’ll blog about more unique things from ballparks around the Northwoods League. Hopefully I see as many positives elsewhere as I did in St. Cloud. Honestly though, it’s going to be tough. St. Cloud does a really great job.

Curt Carstensen
Director of Operations
Northwoods League