AUSTIN, Texas -- The 2008 Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminar kicked off Tuesday evening with an outdoor reception at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, and not everything went exactly as planned. As seminar attendees enjoyed an open bar and socialized with their colleagues, the sprinklers went off. Those in the line of fire scurried out of the way as compressed jets of water shot about the premises, soaking everything in their path. For those who work in the world of Minor League Baseball, however, this impromptu water attack represented just another day at the office. These thick-skinned folks are used to dealing with such problems on a regular basis, so they were able to shrug it off with a good-natured grin. In a way, it seemed like a fitting start to this four-day gathering. At the Promotional Seminar, the best and brightest minds in the Minors trade information, celebrate success and plot ways in which to make the upcoming season better than the one that just ended. And there's no way that a malfunctioning sprinkler system can get in the way of that. "What most people don't understand is that Minor League clubs don't have to compete with one another," said Dan Migala, who emceed the opening reception and publishes the Migala Report. "We're family, and the Promotional Seminar is like Thanksgiving to us. We're here to share ideas and talk about what worked this past season. It's important for everyone to do well, because Minor League teams serve as the front porch for the communities that they are a part of." As in previous years, the theme of the 2008 seminar is "Because One Idea Is Worth the Price of Admission." Pat O'Conner, the president of Minor League Baseball, hammered this point home in a brief opening address Tuesday evening. "We believe that one idea will pay for the whole cost of your trip," he said. "But really, we think you'll end up with more than one. And if that's the case, feel free to send us an extra check." O'Conner then got serious for a moment, in order to put the record-breaking 2008 season in perspective. "We had to deal with a lot of hurdles, including the economy, hurricanes and floods," he said. "But we topped the 43 million mark in attendance mark for the first time ever, and all of you should be very proud of that." The seminar starts in earnest on 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, as event attendees share their best promotional ideas from the 2008 season. The morning also includes a presentation by Round Rock Express president Jay Miller on "Customer Service the Ryan/Sanders Way." The Express are the host ballclub for this year's seminar and are owned in part by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;}  A smaller group sessions is scheduled for later in the afternoon and will focus on game entertainment. Cedar Rapids Kernels director of broadcasting John Rodgers, Lowell Spinners general manager Tim Bawmann and Entertainment Sports International owner Bert Gould are the featured speakers. On Thursday, Tri-City ValleyCats assistant GM Vic Christopher will channel his alter ego "El Vic" and lead a discussion on "Vehicles, Villains and Various Oddball Concepts." This should be interesting, since it's coming from a man who regularly dresses as Elvis and once unveiled a mascot that was a deer/banana hybrid. Another interesting presentation will be "Greening Your Team Makes Cents," led by Lake Elsinore Storm president Dave Oster. In 2007, the Storm became the first team in Minor League Baseball to stage a "Going Green" promotion, and dozens of clubs followed suit in '08. The evenings will be packed as well. Wednesday will be highlighted by an evening trip to downtown Austin -- the "Live Music Capital of the World" -- for dinner and drinks in the historic sixth street district. Thursday's field trip is liable to be even more memorable, as attendees will tour Round Rock's Dell Diamond and then play in a softball game on the field. If nothing else, this contest will remind the participants why they gravitated toward the front office in the first place. Not to be forgotten amidst all this activity is the Trade Show, which runs from Wednesday through Friday. Dozens of exhibitors will showcase all manner of products and services related to Minor League Baseball, including merchandise, ticketing services, entertainment acts and ballpark improvements.
Benjamin Hill is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
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