At Home With the Miracle

Today we speak with Steve Gliner, executive vice president and general manager of the Fort Myers Miracle. As one of three affiliated teams in the Mike Veeck-led Goldklang Group, the Miracle are strong proponents of the "Fun is Good!" operating philosophy.

MiLB.com: How would you characterize your team's fan base? Has it grown or changed in recent years?

Steve Gliner: We have seen our fan base grow over the past few years. We set an all-time attendance record in 2006 and then again in 2008. Our fan base has also become younger. We are seeing many more families with kids coming to our games, especially in the past few years.

MiLB.com: What type of marketing strategies do the fans respond to?

SG: Our best means of marketing the Miracle is to regularly remind our fans about the value that they get for their dollar and the entertainment that we provide here at the ballpark. That is what gets us the most return. Our front-office staff is featured in our TV commercials and this also creates a buzz with our fan base. Miracle fans also love anything that is unique and gets us in the news, especially national media attention (see below). We also have built a strong community relations effort, which involves speaking engagements, appearances in the community, etc. We have started a program called "Miracle Cares," where once a month our entire front-office staff will do something to give back to our community. Recently, we helped out at the Harry Chapin Food Bank and we also cooked dinner for those families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. This is another way for us to be out in our community and to give back to the community that supports us so well.

MiLB.com: Has your team staged any notable promotions in recent years? Any that just didn't work?

SG: The Miracle are known for attention-getting promotions. "Billy Donovan Night" got us the most national notoriety as well as MiLB.com's "Promo of the Year" in 2007. Bobble'ction -- the Goldklang Group's answer to the presidential election -- was once again a huge hit for us in 2008. "Cheaper by the Gallon" helped us create a great spin on a negative item -- we priced Monday night games at the cheapest price of a gallon of gas in South Fort Myers last season. A few years ago, our area was suffering from a severe drought and as a result, we had to cancel a huge fireworks display on Memorial Day weekend. Instead, we substituted the fireworks with a laser light show. The fans appreciated our effort to provide a "big splash" on a big night. One that didn't work was an appearance by the Professional Pillow Fight League. Our staff was entertained by them, but it didn't seem to catch on with most of our fans.

MiLB.com: How has the internet affected the way your team is run?

At a Glance: Fort Myers Miracle

• First season: 1992, but the first incarnation of the franchise began play in 1926. • Affiliation: Minnesota Twins (1992-present) • Stadium: Hammond Stadium (1991-present) • League Championships: None • City Population: Approximately 68,000. • Notable Fort Myers Alumni: Michael Cuddyer Matt Garza LaTroy Hawkins A.J. Pierzynski • People who've called Fort Myers home: Thomas Edison Henry Ford Jerry Lawler Deion Sanders

SG: We use the internet as a marketing tool. Our Facebook page has been very successful in spreading the word about Miracle Baseball and also bringing in a younger crowd. In all of our advertising, we highlight the fact that tickets are available online. Online ticket sales have been incredible for us and have grown by leaps and bounds each year. Email blasts to our fan base and keeping our Web site up to date are key for us as well.

MiLB.com: Does your concession stand serve any regional specialties or otherwise remarkable items?

SG: Turkey legs and brats at the grill, while not necessarily regional, are our best known and most desired concession items. We began to offer Alligator Ribs in 2008 (yes ... Alligator Ribs!), and these were a huge hit! We will be offering fried conch on our party deck in 2009.

MiLB.com: What type of merchandise sells the best at the team store? Are there are any unique items available for purchase?

SG: Novelties and non-traditional Miracle caps (fashion colors) are our best sellers. Our favorite item is a hat that looks like our mascot, Miss A-Miracle (for kids young and old alike). "Fun Is Good" merchandise is also popular in our gift shop.

MiLB.com: How large of a role does your mascot play, both at the stadium and within the community?

SG: "Miss A-Miracle" is a major part of the atmosphere at the ballpark. In the community, she is at every appearance we make and is a huge hit with the kids.

MiLB.com: Minor League stadiums often vary greatly from one another. What are the positives of playing in your facility? Any drawbacks?

SG: While Hammond Stadium is entering its 19th year, you wouldn't know it. Lee County Parks and Recreation handles the stadium upkeep and the field, and they are the best there is. The palm tree-lined plaza in front of the stadium, complete with fountain, makes for a picturesque front and a great photo spot. Brand new box seats, a grass berm and a party deck were all added over the last two years. We have a new scoreboard in 2009 as well. However, with the stadium being 19 years old, there are also some drawbacks. There is a severe lack of on-site storage, a small gift shop and our suites do not offer outdoor seating.

MiLB.com: What are some of your favorite on-field moments since you've been with the team?

SG: Winning the first round of the Florida State League playoffs at home last season against Dunedin, who had beaten us in the first round three previous times, was a great moment. Yohan Pino's seven-inning no-hitter in 2007 was a nail-biter! Watching so many players move up through the Minnesota Twins system to the big club, including the entire starting rotation for the Twins right now, (Baker and Liriano in '04, Perkins and Blackburn in '05 and Slowey in '06) is a great story for us to tell.

The most emotional on-field moment took place last year when the widow of a local sheriff's deputy threw out the first pitch on a night when we paid tribute to her husband by wearing specialty ball caps in his honor. Also, on a slightly different note, a sight gag we did on Opening Night last year created a fun buzz in the ballpark. We had someone in a bear costume sit on the camera deck in left-center field. He sat there for most of the game and would jump up and down when the team would score a run, etc. Fans were calling our offices to inform us that we needed to bring in Animal Services to take care of the bear. We continued to leave him out there most of the night and let the buzz just keep going. "Fun is Good!"