Eau Claire, Wis. – Over the last month, the Eau Claire Express have revealed their 2018 promotional schedule piece by piece. This season’s promotional schedule features 8 fireworks shows, appearances by the ZOOperstars, Bucket Ruckus, and the Russian Bar Trio, over 10 unique gate giveaways, and 6 days of T-Shirt giveaways.
“I’ve worked in baseball for many years and this is the most excited I have ever been about a promotional schedule. We have put together a good mix of entertainment acts, unique theme nights, giveaways, and character appearances which will make every night at the ballpark enjoyable for fans.” Express General Manager Spencer Larson said. “Every year, our goal is to bring back some popular items from the previous years based on feedback from fans and then add new promotions we think the community will appreciate.”
Monday games will focus on the wellness of our fans with Massage Monday! Back for a second year, fans will be able to receive a complimentary chair massage from Paradise Massage while taking in an Express game!
Tuesday games will feature a special ticket deal for the senior citizens of the Chippewa Valley! Every Tuesday night is Senior Night; this promotion gives fans the experience of a traditional evening at the ballpark. For only $12, fans 55+ can take in a game at Carson Park and receive a hot dog and soda with their ticket.
Wednesday games will see the return of Buck Night in 2018! A small domestic beer, as well as a small soda, will be just $1 for the first three innings of Wednesday night games. New for 2018, $1 hot dogs will also be added to the mix as an option for fans at just $1. Courtesy of local winery and distillery, Infinity Beverages, wine will be available for $4 for the first three innings as well.
Thursday games bring back another fan favorite, Thirsty Thursdays, but this year they bring a stylish twist! All six Thursday games will feature an exclusive T-Shirt giveaway in 2018.
Friday games will continue the Eau Claire tradition of fireworks at Carson Park! We will feature a fireworks show that you won’t want to miss, every Friday. In addition, students in the Chippewa Valley will love Student Night! With a valid student ID, you can receive a fan deck ticket for just $20 or receive $1 off any other ticket. And as always, your Fan Deck ticket includes all you can eat ballpark food and four beer tabs.
Saturday games will also see a new addition to the Day of the Week promotions for the 2018 season. Live bands will be performing in front of the stadium on the Carson Park Plaza as an option for all fans for pregame entertainment.
Sunday games will allow fans to interact with their favorite players post-game! A post-game poster will be handed out to all Express fans and players will be available for photos and autographs.
The premium giveaways items begin opening weekend at Carson Park. On Saturday, June 1 as Mayo Clinic will be giving away seat cushions as part of their Strike Out Stroke promotional night. Sunday afternoon, June 2 is Faith Night presented by Regis Catholic Schools, where they will have baseball piggy banks to give away.
For the fans of our mini-bobbleheads of years past, the Express have a surprise for you! Mystery Mini-Bobblehead Night will be June 9, where some of your favorite mini-bobbleheads will make a return to Carson Park.
The Express also have a handful of giveaway items planned that fans may recognize from previous years. The ever popular Youth Jersey giveaway will be handed out on June 23 courtesy of Window World, so make sure you’re there early! Merrick Hand Surgery has the newest edition of an Express foam finger on June 26.
For our traveling fans, the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport wants you to travel in comfort, as they’re presenting a travel neck pillow for June 28.
With the 2018 edition of Bark in the Park on July 9, emBARK has an item for our furry friends, Express dog bandanas! Your pup will love repping their favorite baseball team. And Evergreen Funeral Home will be back to giveaway the last prize you’ll ever use, a prepaid funeral, on July 27.
Thirsty Thursdays provide a new look for Express fans in 2018, with the addition of T-Shirt Thursdays. Every Thursday during the 2018, the Eau Claire Express will have exclusive T-Shirts for fans when they enter Carson Park. T-Shirt Thursdays are the following dates: June 7, June 14, June 28, July 5, July 26, and August 9.
Bucket Ruckus makes their return to Carson Park on June 8. Bucket Ruckus will be performing before and during the game between innings. You will also find them banging on the dugout tops, running through the stands leading cheers and interacting with fans all game long.
The second national act returning the Eau Claire is the ZOOperstars on June 23! The ZOOperstars is a unique show that features hilarious inflatable characters with clever names such as Harry Canary, Clammy Sosa, Shark McGwire, and many more! The inflatable performance combines dance routines, acrobatics, tricks and comedy in order to connect with fans of all ages.
The famous Russian Bar Trio is the newest addition to the promotional schedule! The Russian Bar Trio will be at Carson Park on July 27 and has been featured on Oprah, Ellen, and America’s Got Talent; they’ve toured with Cirque du Doleil; and performed at sporting events across the entire United States. And now they’re coming to Carson Park to perform for you!
The full 2018 Eau Claire Express Promotional Schedule is listed below:
Friday, June 1 – Opening Day | Strike Out Stroke presented by Mayo Clinic Health Systems | Stadium Seat Cushion giveaway presented by Mayo Clinic Health Systems | Fireworks Friday
Saturday, June 2 – Faith Night presented by Regis Catholic Schools | Baseball Piggy Bank giveaway presented by Mayo Clinic Health Systems | Pregame Band
Wednesday, June 6 – Presented by Mid-West Family Broadcasting | Reading Club Night 1 | Buck Night
Thursday, June 7 – Presented by Wagner’s Lanes and The Complexx | Double Your Pleasure Night | Express T-Shirt Giveaway | Thirsty Thursday
Friday, June 8 – Presented by WESTconsin Credit Union | Bucket Ruckus | Fireworks Friday
Saturday, June 9 – Presented by Cesspool Cleaner Company | Mystery Mini Bobblehead giveaway | Pregame Bank
Thursday, June 14 – Express T-Shirt giveaway presented by Career Development Center | Thirsty Thursday
Friday, June 15 – Princess Night | Fireworks Friday
Saturday, June 16 – Presented by Subway | Reading Club Night 2 | Pregame Band
Sunday, June 17 – Postgame poster giveaway | Player Autographs
Tuesday, June 19 – Presented by Eau Claire YMCA | Senior Night
Wednesday, June 20 – Presented by Charter Bank | Eagles Concert Tickets giveaway | Buck Night
Saturday, June 23 – Youth Jersey giveaway presented by Window World | ZOOperstars | Pregame Band
Tuesday, June 26 – Foam Finger giveaway presented by Merrick Plastic & Hand Surgery | Senior Night
Thursday, June 28 – Travel Neck Pillow giveaway presented by Chippewa Valley Regional Airport | Express T-Shirt giveaway | Thirsty Thursday
Friday, June 29 – Home Run for Life presented by Mayo Clinic Health System | Fireworks Friday
Wednesday, July 4 – Independence Day Celebration with a Fireworks Show | Presented by Cohen Law Offices, LLC | Buck Night
Thursday, July 5 – Express T-Shirts giveaway
Monday, July 9 – Bark at the Park presented by emBark | Doggy Bandana giveaway
Tuesday, July 10 – Bad Gift Night | Senior Night
Wednesday, July 11 – Presented by Satellite Six | Buck Night
Friday, July 13 – Presented by Time Federal Savings Bank | Home Run for Life presented by Mayo Clinic Health System | Fireworks Friday
Tuesday, July 17 – Senior Night
Wednesday, July 18 – Buck Night
Thursday, July 26 – Presented by EO Johnson Business Technologies | Express T-Shirt giveaway | Thirsty Thursday
Friday, July 27 – Prepaid Funeral Giveaway presented by Evergreen Funeral Home | Russian Bar Trio | Fireworks Friday
Monday, July 30 – Presented by Novo Nordisk
Tuesday, July 31 – Free Admission Night
Wednesday, August 1 (Day) – Kids’ Day presented by Marshfield Clinic | Buck Day
Wednesday, August 1 (Night) – Buck Night
Monday, August 6 – Win Bill’s Grill
Wednesday, August 8 – Turn Back the Clock Night presented by Royal Credit Union | Buck Night
Thursday, August 9 – Express T-Shirt giveaway
Friday, August 10 – Cancer Awareness Night presented by Marshfield Clinic | Rally Towel Giveaway | Fireworks Friday
Saturday, August 11 – Pregame Band
Sunday, August 12 – Postgame poster giveaway | Player Autographs
The Express begin season number 14 in the Northwoods League on May 29 as they travel to Rochester, Minn. for the season opener against the Rochester Honkers. They continue to La Crosse to take on the Loggers for one game before opening their home schedule at Carson Park on Friday, June 1 versus the La Crosse Loggers. First pitch of the home opener is set at 7:05 p.m. and the game will be followed with a fireworks show.
Season tickets and 5-Game Packs are on sale now. 5-Game Packs include a reserved seat, Express jersey, Express hat, Express mug, and unlimited food and beverage for $70. Click here to purchase your 5-Game Pack online and we will contact you about your seats. You can also call us at (715)839-7788. Jersey sizes will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
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The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 185 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Express as your favorite team.