Peoria announces promotional calendar
Special Appearance
Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter headlines the special guests at O'Brien Field this season as the VIP guest for the annual Legends at the Ballpark night with IPMR on Saturday June 14. Sutter was a closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves amassing 300 saves from 1976-1988 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He and Chiefs Manager Ryne Sandberg had a memorable matchup in July 1984 when Sandberg tied the game twice with homers off Sutter on national TV at Wrigley Field.
Fireworks Shows
The Chiefs will again continue the tradition of spectacular fireworks shows at O'Brien Field starting May 24th, the sixth anniversary of the opening of the stadium. Overall there will be 12 fireworks shows, eight of them on Saturday nights: May 24, May 31, June 7, June 14, June 28, July 19, August 2 and August 23. There will also be fireworks after three special Friday games: June 20, August 8 and August 15. The June 30 game is a Monday night and will serve as the 4th of July fireworks show since the Chiefs will be on the road for the holiday. All games with fireworks start at 6:30 pm.
Post-game Concerts
A new Thursday night post-game Summer concert series is one of the highlights of this season's promotional schedule. Starting May 29, six games will feature post-game concerts presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing. The first concert will be Mike and Joe, an Indianapolis based Modern Rock/Alternative band. The June 5 band will be Hairbangers Ball, an 80s cover band from Chicago. Hip hop tribute band Too White Crew will perform after the June 19 game. On July 17, the August, a folk rock/alternative country band from Chicago will perform. The final two bands for July 31 and August 7 will be announced at a later date.
In addition to this concert series, Rush of Fools will perform on Saturday June 21 which is the Chiefs annual Faith and Family Night. Also, for the fourth time in six years, Coco Loco will take the field after the game on August 2 to perform Jimmy Buffett music.
Jersey Auctions
With the popularity of special jerseys and auctions the last few seasons, the Chiefs will host seven Jerseys Off Their Back nights with proceeds going to benefit various charities. The first jersey night will be on April 25 when the Chiefs wear soccer-style Bradley jerseys as part of the Bradley night festivities. The money raised will benefit the Danny Dahlquist Foundation at BU. The next night, April 26, will be the 2nd Annual Pink in the Park night with the Chiefs wearing pink jerseys and the money going to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.
On Memorial Day, May 26, the Chiefs will wear a Military themed jersey with the money raised benefiting Operation Santa. Also some time in May, the Chiefs will host the 3rd Annual Illini Night and wear Illinois jerseys with the money going to a scholarship fund at UI. On Father's Day, June 15, the Chiefs will wear light blue jerseys with the money going to Prostate Cancer Research.
The Chiefs will wear replica 1908 Cubs jerseys on June 20 with proceeds benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. On August 2, the Chiefs will again wear Hawaiian themed jerseys as part of the Jimmy Buffett Night festivities with the money raised going to the Pediatric Resource Center.
Giveaways
After the popularity of the 25th Anniversary T-shirts last season, the Chiefs will have four T-shirt giveaways this season. The T-shirts will feature caricatures of the four most popular players in Chiefs history: Mark Grace (June 27), Greg Maddux (July 18), Joe Girardi (May 30) and Albert Pujols (August 1).
Other giveaways during the 2008 season feature bobble heads of Derrek Lee (June 6), and the popular Roofman (August 22), a set of Chiefs baseball cards (June 8), a Chiefs hat (June 13) and a lunch box (August 3). During the opening 10-game homestand the Chiefs will give fans a 2008 Magnet Schedule (April 7-9) and a 2008 Chiefs Calendar (April 10-12).
Entertainment Acts
The Chiefs are bringing back entertainment acts in 2008 with Myron Noodleman, ZOOperstars and BirdZerk on the schedule. ZOOperstars kick off the entertainment acts for the season with a performance on Friday, May 23. BirdZerk will make two Friday night appearances on June 6 and June 27. Myron Noodleman returns two times as well June 13 and again August 1.
Day Games
In addition to the annual D.A.R.E Day game on Tuesday April 29, there will be two other 11:00 am games this season. On Tuesday April 8, the second game of the season, the Chiefs will start at 11:00 am with Bradley scheduled to play a night game against Illinois. The game on Monday July 21 will also be an 11:00 am game with a promotion for Super Splash Day for the third consecutive season.
Weekly Promotions
Monday - Sprint Money Mondays are highlighted by Half-Price tickets on seven of eight Monday home games with a chance for fans to win $50,000 at every Monday game. The June 30 game IS NOT half-price due to the post-game fireworks show.
Wednesday - Free all-you-can-eat hot dogs and peanuts on six Wednesday nights.
Thursday - Summer concert series presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing.
Friday - Various giveaways and entertainment acts.
Saturday - Fireworks after all Saturday games starting May 24 except June 21.
Sunday - All Sunday games start at 2:00 pm except May 27 (1:00). Sundays are Family Day presented by Taco Bell. By visiting local Taco Bell's, fans can get a voucher redeemable at the O'Brien Field Box Office on Sundays for 4 Club Box Seats, $20 in concession vouchers, a disposable camera, and a photo frame for $48.
2008 Peoria Chiefs Promotional Schedule
April
7 - Opening Day! Magnet Schedule Giveaway (First 1500 fans); Half-Price Monday
8 - Magnet Schedule Giveaway (First 1500 fans); 11:00 am Game
9 - Magnet Schedule Giveaway (First 1500 fans)
11 - Chiefs Calendar Giveaway (First 1500 fans)
12 - Chiefs Calendar Giveaway (First 1500 fans)
13 - Chiefs Calendar Giveaway (First 1500 fans); Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
14 - Half-Price Monday
25 - Bradley Night with Jersey Auction to benefit Danny Dahlquist Foundation
26 - Pink in the Park: Pink Jersey Auction to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure
27 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
28 - Half-Price Monday
29 - D.A.R.E. Day; 11:00 am Game
May
12 - Half-Price Monday
14 - FREE Hot Dogs & Peanuts presented by Vienna Beef
23 - ZOOperstars Appearance
24 - Fireworks! Presented by CEFCU; ALS Day
25 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs; Gary Pressy Chicago Cubs Organist
26 - Military Appreciation Day with Military Jersey Auction to benefit Operation Santa; Operations Santa Road Race; Half-Price Monday
28 - FREE Hot Dogs & Peanuts presented by Vienna Beef
29 - Post Game Concert by Mike & Joe presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing
30 - Joe Girardi T-Shirt Giveaway (First 2000 fans)
31 - Fireworks!
June
5 - Post Game Concert by Hairbangers Ball presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing
6 - Derrek Lee Bobble head Giveaway (First 2000 fans) presented by Methodist; BirdZerk appearance
7 - Fireworks! Presented by CEFCU; Classic Car Cruise
8 - Chiefs Baseball Card Set Giveaway (First 2000 fans); Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs; Principal Financial Family Fun Fest
13 - Chiefs Hat Giveaway presented by Budweiser (First 2500 fans 21 & Over); Myron Noodleman Appearance
14 - Fireworks! Presented by Auto Owners Insurance; IPMR Legends at the Ballpark Night with Baseball Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter
15 -TBA Giveaway presented by CAT; Father's Day - Play catch on the field! Prostate Cancer Awareness Day with Blue Jersey Auction to benefit Prostate Cancer Research; Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs;
19 - Post Game Concert by Too White Crew presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing
20 - Fireworks! 1908 Cubs Jersey Auction to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation
21 - Faith & Family Night with a Post Game Concert by Rush of Fools
22 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
27 - Mark Grace T-Shirt Giveaway (First 2000 fans) presented by Hardees; BirdZerk Appearance
28 - Fireworks!
29 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
30 - 4th of July Fireworks! Presented by Methodist
July
16 - FREE Hot Dogs & Peanuts presented by Vienna Beef
17 - Post Game Concert by The August presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing
18 - Greg Maddux T-Shirt Giveaway (First 2000 fans) presented by Sprint
19 - Fireworks! Diamond Dig
20 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
21 - Half-Price Monday; Super Splash Day; 11:00 am start
30 - Safari Night presented by Wildlife Prairie State Park; FREE Hot Dogs & Peanuts presented by Vienna Beef
31 - Post Game Concert TBA presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing
August
1 - Albert Pujols T-Shirt Giveaway (First 2000 fans) presented by Auto Owners Insurance; Myron Noodleman Appearance
2 - Jimmy Buffett Night presented by Waste Management; Post Game Concert by Coco Loco; Hawaiian Jersey Auction to benefit Pediatric Resource Center; Fireworks!
3 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
6 - FREE Hot Dogs & Peanuts presented by Vienna Beef
7 - Post Game Concert TBA presented by Miller Beer/Baumgarten Distributing
8 - Fireworks! Presented by Heart Technologies
13 - FREE Hot Dogs & Peanuts presented by Vienna Beef
15 - Fireworks! Presented by CEFCU
18 - Half-Price Monday
22 - Roofman Bobble head Giveaway (First 2000 fans)
23 - Fireworks! Presented by CEFCU
24 - Family Day Presented by Taco Bell; Player Autographs
27 - Fandemonium Night
28 - Fandemonium Night
*All promotions, gametimes and date subject to change. For latest up to date information check the Peoria Chiefs website at www.peoriachiefs.com
Ticket Information
Season ticket packages for the 2008 season are currently on sale. Ticket packages include 70-game package, 35-game package, 17-game package, and a Build Your Own package (minimum 12 games). Group tickets are also on sale for all O'Brien Field party areas and the seating bowl for all 70 home games. Single game tickets will go on sale at the O'Brien Field Box Office Monday March 3 at 10:00 am or by calling 1-866-MYTICKET. For more information or to purchase season or group packages, call the Chiefs account executives at (309)-680-4000 or go online at www.peoriachiefs.com