Ferris wheel wins America's Best Ballpark Improvement
The Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park was a revolutionary success in its first season of operation, and on Monday Ballpark Digest named the Ferris wheel the Best Ballpark Improvement in all of baseball for the 2014 season. Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard made the announcement at Modern Woodmen Park during a Monday press conference with River Bandits owner Dave Heller and government officials from the City of Davenport. The publication has recognized the 83-year-old stadium in its annual award for best ballpark improvement in four of the past seven seasons.
On May 24, the Quad Cities River Bandits became the first team in Minor League Baseball to open a Ferris wheel inside its ballpark. It was part of the debut for a full lineup of amusements - including the Mediacom Drop'N Twist, Space Camp gyroscope and dual zip line - that opened every weekend, including non-game days, for the Quad Cities community to enjoy through November 1. The amusements welcomed more than 68,000 riders combined in 2014.
"The Ferris wheel has elevated family-friendly entertainment to a new level in the Quad Cities, both literally and figuratively, so we are pleased to accept this great award on behalf of this entire community," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Ballpark Digest is widely respected and known as the industry standard, which makes this award that much more meaningful. Our great partnership with the City of Davenport has been critical to beautifying and enhancing Modern Woodmen Park, and our fans and community partners have bought into that vision to make this ballpark the best in America and the pride of the Quad Cities."
A year after Modern Woodmen Park was voted the Best Minor League Ballpark in America by readers of USA TODAY and 10Best.com, the ballpark drew its largest average attendance - 3,885 per game - in franchise history.
"We are humbled and grateful for the record support of our fans this season, and for the national recognition of the Best Ballpark Improvement award for the Ferris wheel," said River Bandits General Manager Andrew Chesser. "These achievements energize and propel us further toward our goal of making Modern Woodmen Park the central gathering place for the people throughout the Quad Cities region."
The Ferris wheel joins an award-winning lineup of several other improvements to Modern Woodmen Park under Main Street Baseball's ownership, including the iconic corn field, sports lounge, Pepsi Loge Boxes and Budweiser Champions Club - all previously recognized by Ballpark Digest.
"It's always a treat to return annually to Modern Woodmen Park - there's always something new to see and experience," said Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest publisher. "Adding a Ferris wheel to the ballpark is a great move: the views of downtown Davenport and the ballpark are spectacular, and, besides, who doesn't love a ride on a Ferris wheel?"
The Ferris wheel stands atop the ballpark's left-field berm, 105 feet above the playing field, with 20 gondolas seating up to six adults or eight people including children. Riders from two months to 100 years - and four-generation families together - have enjoyed the unparalleled views of Modern Woodmen Park, the Centennial Bridge, the Mississippi River, and both the Iowa and Illinois sides of the waterway. With millions of color combinations from the LED lights on the ride, fans and riders have enjoyed an entirely different light show each night.
The success of the Ferris wheel and amusements at Modern Woodmen Park also made a tremendous impact in the local community. For each ride in 2014 on the Ferris wheel, Mediacom Drop'N Twist, Space Camp gyroscope, and zip line, 50 cents will be donated to Genesis Health Services Foundation, benefiting Camp Genesis, Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities. With ownership personally making up any difference, the River Bandits pledged a $50,000 cash donation to the Genesis Health Services Foundation. In addition, the Ferris wheel opened on May 24 with the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser. Proceeds from the pre-sold 300 tickets and the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event went to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation in the Quad Cities.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.