Naturals Unveil Opening Day Plans!
Ceremonies will begin at 4:00 PM with a ribbon cutting ceremony that will take place outside the grand entrance to Arvest Ballpark. Gates to Arvest Ballpark will open at approximately 4:30, and all fans will be presented will a ceremonial Commemorative Opening Day ticket as they enter the park.
Rogers native, Universal South Records recording artist, and Grammy-Award Nominee Joe Nichols will sing the National Anthem prior to the game, and the special guests on-hand will include Kansas City Royals' Hall of Famer George Brett, David and Dan Glass, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, Springdale Mayor Jerre Van Hoose, and Subway Restaurants spokesman Jared Fogle. John George, the Razorbacks' Hoops PA announcer, will serve as our pre-game emcee.
Weather permitting, three skydivers will deliver the special game balls to the Texas League umpires after landing on the field just behind second base, and the 188th Fighter Wing of Fort Smith will perform a F-16 pre-game flyover just after Nichols completes his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. All members of the 2008 Naturals will be introduced on-field prior to the game.
Ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Beebe, Van Hoose, Springdale Chamber of Commerce President Perry Webb, and Dennis Smiley, President of Arvest Bank-Springdale.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and will begin play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale, on Thursday, April 10th against the San Antonio Missions. The Naturals have established a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website also offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.