The Great Fresno Tweetup

Fresno, CA - On Thursday, July 30th the Fresno Grizzlies and FresnoBeehive.com will host The Great Fresno Tweetup, an interactive event that will encourage the community's Twitter users to mingle with each other in person at a ballgame. Friends and followers of the Grizzlies on Twitter (www.twitter.com/fresnogrizzlies) will be able to RSVP for a special ticket package that will give them access to a reserved seating section for the Tweetup. Grizzlies "tweeps" will then be able to put faces with names of people they normally interact with online. The game will be themed around the social networking phenomenon, with recognition of in-game tweets from the crowd and special Twitter based contests.

The Grizzlies have become early adopters when it comes to Twitter and other social media to distribute up to the minute information on the team as well as new promotions and ticket offers. For The Great Fresno Tweetup, Grizzlies' friends and followers will be available to purchase a $5 package that includes a game ticket and a drink coupon. Tweeps will simply need to direct message or reply to @FresnoGrizzlies to reserve their space in the designated Tweetup section. Once at the game on Thursday, fans that have RSVP'd via Twitter will receive a name tag featuring their user name so others can recognize them in person. The $5 Tweetup offer will only be honored for those who respond directly to Grizzlies' tweets and further instructions on purchasing the package.

Partnering with the Grizzlies on The Great Fresno Tweetup will be FresnoBeehive.com, The Fresno Bee's online blog that covers pop culture, entertainment and all things Fresno. The Beehive (@FresnoBeehive) will be selecting a Twitter follower to throw out the "First Twitch" (the first pitch preceded and followed by tweets), and they will also tweet live throughout the game. Fans in attendance should use the hashtag #TGFT when tweeting so others can easily search for all updates from the event.

During the game, which is also a Thirsty Thursday with $1 Tecate and Tecate Light beers through the end of the 5th inning and $1 sodas all night, the Grizzlies will recognize the best tweets of the Tweetup by displaying them on the Chukchansi Park video board. Fans that are not currently using Twitter will be able to see how the Grizzlies and Beehive use social media to keep the community informed and entertained in real time, wherever they are.

The Grizzlies return home for an eight game homestand beginning this Friday, July 24. For tickets and information on the Grizzlies' award-winning promotional schedule, visit FresnoGrizzlies.com or follow the team online at Twitter.com/FresnoGrizzlies, Facebook.com/FresnoGrizzlies, or MySpace.com/FresnoGrizzlies. For those less technically inclined, you can still call the Chukchansi Park box office at 559.320.TIXS.