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Bandits to donate part of every Ferris wheel ride ticket to Genesis Foundation

Ferris Wheel Fast Pass Lane for IHMVCU members also announced
May 24, 2014

Every ride of the opening season for the new Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park will help benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation, the Quad Cities River Bandits and Main Street Amusements announced on Friday. For each ride, 50 cents will be donated to the Genesis Health Services Foundation, benefiting Camp Genesis, Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities.

The River Bandits also announced a new Fast Lane to board the Ferris wheel for IHMVCU members who purchase tickets for the ride and show their membership at the Ferris wheel queue.

Beginning Saturday, May 24, the amusement areas of Modern Woodmen Park - including the Ferris wheel and the Bounce QC Kids Zone are scheduled to be open - weather permitting - to fans at every River Bandits home game, and will also be open on weekend non-game days during the following hours:
Fridays, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.,
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon and 6 p.m.-10 p.m., 
Sundays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This weekend's special Memorial Day hours will be noon to 6 p.m. on both Sunday, May 25, and Memorial Day Monday, May 26, to celebrate the opening of the first Ferris wheel inside of a minor league ballpark.

"We are so excited to open the Ferris wheel and amusements for the Quad Cities community and visitors for every game and every weekend all summer long," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Not only will our guests enjoy some of the best and most affordable family-friendly entertainment in the Midwest, but they will also be supporting a local charity and creating lifelong memories."

To ride the Ferris wheel and enjoy the other amusements at Modern Woodmen Park, fans may purchase special tickets that can be redeemed at amusement areas, including the Ferris wheel and Bounce QC Kids Zone. Tickets are sold at $1 each, 5 for $5, 12 for $10, and 20 for $15. One Ferris wheel ride is 5 tickets. No tickets are required for children three years and under, but children shorter than 42 inches must be accompanied by an adult on the Ferris wheel.

The Ferris wheel has 20 gondolas, with each able to hold a maximum of six adults or up to eight people including children. The loading process requires weight balance throughout the Ferris wheel. Once loaded, a full ride is approximately three to four minutes. The wheel moves at approximately 7.5 miles per hour.

The River Bandits and Main Street Amusements are offering an all-you-can-ride-and-bounce daily pass for $20, and a season pass for unlimited rides and play in the Bounce QC Kids Zone for $49. Purchases can be made at the amusement areas of Modern Woodmen Park.

UP NEXT: A limited number of tickets are still available for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation May 24. Only the first 300 will be sold for the noon to 3 p.m. event at Modern Woodmen Park. Call 563-421-6865 or visit Modern Woodmen park to order tickets. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, will open May 24, followed by a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.