CCP to Host 2013 Triple-A Nat'l Championship
"This truly is a historic day for our franchise, our loyal and enthusiastic fans and the entire Lehigh Valley community," exclaimed IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. "The Triple-A National Championship is Triple-A Baseball's showcase event and we are thrilled to bring it to our fans at Minor League Baseball's showcase ballpark."
Added International League President Randy Mobley: "The Lehigh Valley hosted one of Triple-A Baseball's crown jewel events in 2010 with the Triple-A All-Star Game and now with the 2013 Gildan National Championship Game coming to the area, the IronPigs will become the first International League team to have hosted both of Triple-A Baseball's nationally televised games."
New and existing full-season, 36-game and 18-game ticket plan holders will have the initial opportunity to purchase National Championship tickets when the 2013 ticket renewal process begins on Friday, August 17 at 10 a.m. These plan holders will also receive a $2 discount per ticket off the individual game ticket price for the National Championship game of $19 for Club Level, $14 for Field Level and $11 for General Admission.
IronPigs full-season (Club, Front Row & Field Level) ticket holders that purchase tickets for the Natonal Championship game will have the benefit of remaining in the same seats that they have for their regular season plan. 18- and 36-game ticket holders will be seated based on first-come, first-serve basis beginning on Friday, August 17 at 10 a.m. To purchase or renew a ticket plan for the 2013 season and secure 2013 Gildan National Championship game tickets, please call (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or visit the Coca-Cola Park during normal business hours.
The Triple-A National Championship game debuted in its current one-game format in 2006 although it has never been hosted by a club in the Northeast. The Triple-A World Series, Triple-A Classic and Las Vegas Triple-A World Series all served are predecessors to the current championship event.
The International League has captured the Triple-A National Championship each of the last three seasons with Columbus ousting Omaha in Albuquerque, N.M., last year. The all-time series between the two leagues is tied, 3-3.
Coca-Cola Park will serve as a perfect backdrop for the 2013 event as the IronPigs are currently leading Minor League Baseball in average attendance for a third consecutive season and are on pace to surpass the elusive 600,000 fan barrier for a fifth consecutive campaign. The club is among a select group of just three Minor League clubs, along with Louisville and Sacramento, to exceed 600,000 fans during every season since 2008.
Coca-Cola Park and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have received numerous honors and distinctions since 2008, including Ballpark Digest's "Ballpark of the Year" award and "Best Game Operations and Presentation" award as chosen by gameops.com.
Coca-Cola Park debuted in 2008 and became an overnight sensation and drew rave reviews for its intimacy, fan-friendly atmosphere and architectural design. Furthermore, FoxNews.com recently ranked Lehigh Valley IronPigs fans as the best fans in all of Minor League Baseball.
Local support for the 2013 Gildan National Championship game is provided by Service Electric Cable TV & Communications, Air Products, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Service Master and Allentown Beverage. Additionally, Service Electric's Emmy-award winning television crew will handle the production of NBC Sports Network's national broadcast.
This year's Gildan Triple-A Championship game will be in played in Durham, N.C., on Tuesday, September 18.
Other events surrounding the 2013 Gildan Triple-A National Championship game will be announced in the near future.
Gildan is a vertically-integrated marketer and global manufacturer of quality branded basic apparel, as well as the leading activewear brand in the American and Canadian screenprint markets and one of the world's largest suppliers of branded and select national retailer brands of athletic, casual and dress socks. With approximately 30,000 employees worldwide, Gildan owns and operates highly efficient, large-scale, environmentally and socially responsible facilities in Central America and the Caribbean Basin. Based in Montreal, Gildan also has a US headquarters for its Branded Apparel division in Charleston, SC. For more information about Gildan visit www.gildan.com and for more information on Gildan's community involvement initiatives visit www.genuinegildan.com.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are dedicated to providing family-friendly entertainment and are the only Minor League team to offer bubbles to fans entering the AT&T Plaza and balloons for all children exiting Coca-Cola Park.