2016 Curve Schedule Features Plenty Of Summer Dates
2016 Game Schedule Download (.PDF)
CURVE, Pa. - A schedule with plenty of summer dates - including July 1-3 - is on tap for the Altoona Curve (AA-Pirates) for the 2016 season, it was announced today. Of the 71 home games on the slate, 44 of them will come on June 3 or later. In addition, the league schedule includes a three-day All-Star break July 11-13.
"From our opening night on April 7 through our final home game on September 1, we feel very fortunate to have a schedule filled with strong early dates and plenty of games after school gets out," said Curve General Manager Rob Egan. "We're also looking forward to a very patriotic weekend July 1-3 with a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday leading right into the nation's holiday. Those dates will provide a great opportunity for family and friends to congregate at the ballpark and celebrate."
The 2016 season opener will also be the home opener as the Curve start the campaign against their closest geographic rival, the Harrisburg Senators (AA - Nationals), on Thursday, April 7. The annual Trenton Thunder (AA - Yankees) series will be early in the season taking place Monday, May 9 through Wednesday, May 11. Other sets of note include weekend series against the Red Sox and Phillies' affiliates. Portland visits May 20-22 while Reading plays at Peoples Natural Gas Field Aug. 12-14.
The Curve will face off against the newly renamed Hartford Yard Goats (AA - Rockies) for the first time June 17-19 in Altoona. The Yard Goats (currently the New Britain Rock Cats) will host the Curve at Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford July 18-20.
Returning for 2016 will be the earlier, weekday game times in April and May. Popular with the fans and teams alike, regular start times Monday-Saturday will be at 6:00 p.m. in April, May, and during the team's final homestand (Aug. 29-Sept. 1). The exceptions will be Saturday, April 23 (1:00 p.m.) and May 11, 25, and 26 (10:30 a.m.).
"Our fans spoke with their strong attendance in April and May this year," said Egan. "Simply put, they like the earlier start times before school gets out and it allows us to take advantage of an extra half-hour of daylight. In speaking with the teams, coaches and players also prefer the 6:00 p.m. game times early in the season."
Beginning June 3 and running through Aug. 26, the Monday-Saturday home game times will be 7:00 p.m. Only Sunday, July 17 (1:00 p.m.) and Wednesday, July 27 (12:00 p.m.) will provide exceptions. Meanwhile, the first three Sunday home games will be at 1:00 p.m. (April 10, 24, and May 8), while seven of the eight remaining Sunday games on the schedule will be in the evening and followed by the Curve's popular Sunday Night Fireworks series. Starting May 22, the standard Sunday night games will be at 6:00 p.m. with July 3 (7:00 p.m.) and July 17 (1:00 p.m.) providing the lone variances.
The Curve continue their homestand tomorrow taking on Akron at 7 p.m. with gates at 6 p.m. NFL Hall of Famer and Pitt Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett will be at the ballpark to throw out a first pitch and sign autographs courtesy of Peoples Natural Gas. The event will coincide with a Thirsty ThursdayTM presented by Rocky 104.9 with 16oz. Miller Lites and 22oz. sodas on special for $2.
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