Blue Wahoos Create Special Family Memories In Hosting Corporate Outings

The Blue Wahoos in their first two homestands have hosted two of the largest company outings of their home schedule.

Navy Federal Credit Union had its day on April 4, the opening weekend of the season at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It was followed April 18 by Florida Power & Light hosting an employee outing for its Northwest Florida Region employees.

Both were pregame events at the Community Maritime Park area on the bayfront, located behind the ballpark’s right field side. Hundreds of attendees at each outing then went into the stadium for the Blue Wahoos game.

Wrapping an event within an event has been an attractive lure for area companies and employees.

“The dynamics of having a location on the waterfront is special,” said J.T. Young, the vice president and general manager of FPL’s Northwest Region. “While you’re at the game, you’re looking out at the bay, then you have a (children’s) park right there (outside stadium) where kids can play and it’s easy access into the stadium. It just all comes together.

“It is a unique experience and one that I don’t think can be duplicated anywhere else, just because of the location.”

Young grew up in Pensacola, before earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Florida, then a master’s degree in business administration at the University of West Florida.

He vividly remembers when the landscape where the ballpark and Community Maritime Park are now situated was neglected, fenced-in property framing an industrial part of Main Street.

“I am familiar with how this used to be. And I know how the Wahoos have made a huge difference in this community,” said Young, smiling, as he looked around at the festive scene, which FPL called its “FamFest.”

“This venue is a real blessing to the community, just in general,” he said. “And for our employees and their families when they come here, they are able to enjoy this location.

"It’s really a time for our employees and their families to relax and meet one another. Some of them have not met. So, it It really brings about great camaraderie among our employees.”

Each company outing had a massive tent set up on the grass lawn fronting the bay. There was a deejay spinning music, along with a face painter for kids at each outing. The Blue Wahoos children’s train was in use for rides, a Kona Ice Truck was nearby, plus lawn games, food and beverages available.

“I think a pregame tailgate like these (outings) are perfect for companies looking to enhance the experience,” said Shannon Hannah, the Blue Wahoos events manager. “Families can come in…. and they are among the first ones at the stadium, so they get first access to the parking… and that makes parking instantly easier.

“And we have this big wide-open space. Kids can run around, ride the train, get their face painted, get Kona Ice… have some snacks all before they go into the game.

“So, it is a fun, safe spot for kids to run around on the grass right outside the stadium. It becomes a fun gathering space. When you’re in the stands at a baseball game, you are enjoying the scene, you are watching what is happening on the field, but you might not have the opportunity to talk and mingle with your co-workers. Having a pregame event like this provides that chance.”

Both the Navy Federal and Florida Power & Light outings enabled hundreds of people to attend the game, many of whom were visiting the stadium for the first time.

Both companies have been loyal corporate partners with the Blue Wahoos. FPL has its corporate headquarters in Juno Beach, located about 90 miles north of Miami. Young said the company has a similar event at the Miami Marlins’ LoanDepot Park, the Blue Wahoos Major League Baseball affiliate, along with one in Daytona Beach at its minor league stadium.

“There is a lot of planning and a lot of people working behind the scenes to pull this off,” Young said. “There is a lot of coordination with the food, the location, the entertainment, the timing.

“At the end of the day, the identity of the Blue Wahoos is part of Pensacola, part of Northwest Florida. We want to make sure as we support our communities and strengthen our communities that we are engaged with entities like the Blue Wahoos because they mean so much to this community."