Choctaw Lazy River opening set for Friday during Heroes Game
For video of Dirk Nowitzki christening the Choctaw Lazy River, click here.
FRISCO, TEXAS (June 9, 2016) - The Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are pleased to announce that the Choctaw Lazy River will officially open on Friday, June 10 for Dirk Nowitzki's 2016 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game. The hospitality area will be open for the first time at a RoughRiders game on Saturday, June 11, the beginning of an eight-day homestand for the Riders at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Dirk Nowitzki christened the Choctaw Lazy River on Thursday, calling it "awesome" after floating around the 400-foot figure-eight. Nowitzki and a handful of his Heroes teammates were able to test drive the lazy river following a team practice on Thursday afternoon.
The public will have its first chance to enter the Choctaw Lazy River on Friday. The RoughRiders will be giving away passes for Friday's game to a lucky fan who uses the hashtag "#RidingtheLazyRiver" on Twitter. The contest ends Thursday evening.
Now filled with over 68,000 gallons of water and complete with 18-foot water curtains and a 113-linear-foot water fall, the Choctaw Lazy River is the largest body of water in a professional sports venue. The lazy river itself is large enough to fit over 1 million baseballs and nearly a half-million bottles of Dr Pepper.
The much-anticipated project, featuring the lazy river as part of a larger 12,000-square-foot outfield party and group hospitality area, has received incredible local, regional, and national media attention. Darren Rovell of ESPN suggested that the "new lazy river that the team is building should solidify" the RoughRiders' status as the top-drawing team in Double-A baseball. Media personalities across the country, including MLB Network's Kevin Millar and TMZ's Van Lathan, expressed interest in visiting Frisco to take a dip.
The new area will be the most all-inclusive gameday hospitality experience in the entire DFW market. Groups of 25-200 are eligible to reserve part or all of the Lazy River and Cabana Bar & Patio. No matter the size of the group, all Choctaw Lazy River guests will enjoy full 360-degree river access, a 2 1/2-hour all-you-can-eat buffet, complimentary Dr Pepper products, and a pair of RoughRiders sunglasses. Beer and wine is included for groups that purchase either the Cabana Bar & Patio or the entire area.
To book a Choctaw Lazy River group, contact the RoughRiders front office at (972) 731-9200 or [email protected].
During the remaining Thursday RoughRiders home games, fans can gain access to the Choctaw Lazy River with a "Thursday Night Pool Party" ticket. For only $39 per ticket, this ticket allows individuals to enjoy full 360-degree Lazy River access, pre-game live music, and all-you-can-eat hot dogs, brats, chips, peanuts, and Dr Pepper products. Plus, each Thursday is "Thirsty Thursday," offering $1 select domestic drafts and $2 craft beers from 6-8 p.m. for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
Thursday Night Pool Party tickets and seats for any other area in the ballpark for games during the 2016 season are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders box office. The RoughRiders host 70 games through Labor Day, September 5.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 11 seasons (2005-2015). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju. The new ownership group, together with the city of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements over the past two seasons, investing over $7 million in wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including the new state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store, and the newest and biggest creation, the 174-foot Choctaw Lazy River. The improvements made prior to the 2015 season earned the Riders and the City of Frisco "Best Ballpark Renovation" of 2015 by Ballpark Digest. More than 130 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, and C.J. Wilson as well as current Rangers stars Derek Holland, Rougned Odor, and Mitch Moreland. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Nathan Barnett at (972) 334-1976 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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