Eau Claire, WI.- With the twelfth season of Express baseball just over a month away, the team announced today its promotional schedule highlights for the 2016 season.  Firework Fridays will return this year each Friday night with a total of five spread out throughout the summer. A few returning promotions include the Dueling Duo Piano Show making an appearance at the park for the second consecutive year and a pre-planned funeral giveaway.  New promotional items for 2016 include a Jordan Zimmermann garden gnome giveaway and the Human Cannonball making an appearance at the ballpark this summer.  Here is the YouTube clip of David “the bullet” Smith performing at another ballpark: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y14kEY-6fk

Five of the biggest promotional nights of the year will be highlighted in the popular 5-Game Pack that includes a grandstand ticket and food/drink to each of the five nights for only $45.  The dates of the 5-Game Pack are predetermined, but fans can exchange their tickets for any other game as long as this is done 24 hours in advance.  Leading off the 5-Game Pack will be Strikeout Stroke Night and the first postgame Fireworks Friday show of the summer on June 17th.   The second game of the 5-Game Pack is the 4^th of July game which will feature a special Express red, white, and blue hat giveaway at the gates and fireworks following the game!  The next game in the pack is Friday, July 29^th and will also feature a postgame Fireworks Friday show.  Monday August 8^th will be a stadium replica giveaway of Carson Park and “Turn Back the Clock Night”.  Rounding out the 5-Game Pack will be a bobblehead of the beloved and recently married mascot Trix.  This will also be Princess Night at the ballpark with the appearance of several famous princesses.  The princesses will be available for photos and autographs during the game.  5-Game Packs are still available for purchase online, by calling (715)839-7788, or by stopping down to the Express office at 102 E Grand Ave.

All the fun begins on Tuesday, May 31^st with a magnet schedule giveaway at the gates.  Some of the other giveaway items this year include: Express t-shirts, thunder sticks, mini bats, player posters, and much more!   Local vendors are invited to showcase their products for Food Truck Appreciation Night held at the park on both Wednesday, June 8^th and Wednesday, June 29^th.  Each Friday night throughout the season fans will receive coupons/special offers from the Eau Claire Ale House located just down the road as they leave the park.  Every Saturday home game fans will leave with coupons for Sport Clips.  Sunday evening games will once again include $1 hot dogs courtesy of Ballpark and $1 Sundaes courtesy of Kemps.  As always, kids are welcome to run the bases and collect autographs from their favorite players after every Express home game! 

Special theme nights have been added to entertain fans of all ages.  This year will feature Opposite Night, Trax’s Birthday Bash, 1st Anniversary Party for Trax and Trix, Outdoors Night, Millennial Night, Tropical Night, and Star Wars Night with the appearance of characters from the movies!  The Express will offer a special ticket package for Star Wars fans and a VIP Meet and Greet with the characters.  A portion of the proceeds from these packages will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Dates and sponsors of all secured promotions are listed below.  Dates and promotions are all subject to change at any time.

The Express begin their twelfth season of play in the Northwoods League at Carson Park on May 31 versus the Rochester Honkers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. in that contest, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Season tickets and 5-Game Packs are on sale now and single-game tickets go on sale next Monday at 9am. Please note that certain seating areas for select games will not be available until a later date due to ticket package commitments.  All tickets can be purchased by calling the Express office at 715-839-7788 or by stopping at the downtown office at 102 E. Grand Ave.

The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23^rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com.