Staff Highlight: Kim Duplak, Stadium Operations Manager

Since she was a kid attending various professional sporting events, Kim Duplak has always had interest in a role that is integral to crafting the game experience for baseball fans.

Her love for baseball was made on the field – not in the game itself, but in the way a front office could package entertainment and customer service separate from the result on the scoreboard that day. She wanted to be in the center of the fan experience.

She broke into baseball with the Asheville Tourists – the then-Low-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, where she served as the marketing and promotions intern. Her best days were working in the center of it all, being able to fully take in the ballpark atmosphere while interacting with fans. Her worst days were when, due to an injury, she was stuck indoors over the Fourth of July.

In 2020, Duplak found a place in the Indianapolis Indians stadium operations department, and discovered her niche. Quickly rising to the ranks of a full-time employee as stadium operations coordinator following her internship, she has broken the all-time Indians game day parking revenue record, records from previous seasons in offseason parking revenue, is an important member of growing non-baseball events at Victory Field and is a friendly face around the ballpark each day.

Her success quickly earned her a promotion to stadium operations manager following the 2021 season, and she is one of two women in a stadium operations role among all 30 Triple-A ballclubs. Her organization, leadership and drive have kept Victory Field looking just as good as it did when it opened in 1996.

What made you want to return to the Indians full time following your internship?

It’s a great place to work and a great environment. There is a lot of freedom and responsibility in working in stadium operations, and it’s a great department to be able to grow in.

What is your favorite part of your job?

The variety of it. Even though we’ll have 75 home games this year, it’s going to be 75 different situations – there’s always a curveball thrown at you. Outside of baseball games, our stadium events department is growing, and I enjoy working the variety of events that we house in the Elements Financial Club or other parts the stadium.

What does being one of two women in stadium operations with a Triple-A team mean to you?

There were other women in my life that motivated me in working in sports. They weren’t in stadium operations, but they showed me that I could also have a role in the sports industry. With being one of two women stadium operations managers in Triple-A, I hope that I can be an example to other women considering this type of role.

Did you always want to work in baseball?

You know, I haven’t really broken it down psychologically as to if this is why I wanted to work in sports, but I grew up playing sports and going to baseball games. I remember being more interested in the experience and atmosphere of the stadium than the players on the field.

What do you remember most from your first Opening Day with the Indians?

Just the atmosphere of it all. Opening Day, the Fourth of July, it always reminds me of that feeling as a player as you gear up for one of those big games. There’s a rush of adrenaline and a feeling of excitement that I get from opening the gates on those days… You know the feeling of reeling in a 10-pound largemouth bass? It’s like that.

What is your favorite restaurant in Indianapolis?

Kilroy’s and the Victory Field concession stand behind section 112. Next question.

What is one piece of advice you would give to other women wanting to work in baseball?

There are a lot of different opportunities through different departments, so don’t be afraid to go for it. Be ready to work hard and that will help you make a name for yourself in the industry.

What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

I’m excited for fans to be back in the stands and getting to see those regular fans that I made relationships with in 2021. I’m also overseeing more gameday employees, so I’m excited to take on more responsibility in my role and see them grow.