Blue Wahoos Airbnb Feats: 70 Guest Stays, 24 States, 64,000 Miles Traveled, 5-Star Acclaim

When launched eight months ago, the Blue Wahoos had no idea their unique, Airbnb stadium experience, would create such an impact.

The numbers illustrate a defining pronouncement.

In 2020, the year without a baseball season at Blue Wahoos Stadium, there have been 70 guest stays, including the first two weeks, so far, in 2021. The visitors have come from 24 different states. They have traveled more than 64,000 combined miles in round trip journeys to Pensacola.

While at the Airbnb, the guests have celebrated birthday parties, bachelor parties, military reunions, anniversaries, youth travel ball team trips, family vacations and surprise gifts to loved ones.

The stadium Airbnb has also been an experience in partnership with Covenant Care to help lift spirits from a family loss or recovery from a serious illness.

It has led to a perfect five-star rating of all reviews on the Airbnb website.

“When we first talked about doing this, back in May, we really thought it might just be popular for a month, or maybe the summer,” said Bailie Tate, the Blue Wahoos group sales executive who has managed the Airbnb since its inception and has been the contact person for the group stays.

“The way it has taken off and how it continues to take off has been amazing,” she said. “It is so great for all of us, our entire team here, that it has stayed this popular as it was since the day (May 30) we had our first guests.”

The Blue Wahoos’ Airbnb is the first of its kind at a sports venue in America. It has brought world-wide attention. Tate has been interviewed by media outlets in Japan and Germany.

She has been taking reservation requests for stays throughout 2021. The plan is to continue offering the Airbnb experience throughout the year, excluding the dates, of course, when the Blue Wahoos will be in town and playing home games.

During the past summer, the Blue Wahoos added beds in the visitors’ clubhouse to provide for a larger group stay, such as a youth baseball team.

The Blue Wahoos entire front office staff has all played a role in helping operate the Airbnb, including the laundry, the clubhouse cleaning and the turnaround between guest stays. The Blue Wahoos operated the Airbnb by utilizing front office staff to make sure each guest stay was special.

“This has truly been a team effort,” Tate said. “I think sometimes that all of us who work here every day at the stadium, we see the field every day. So it might not mean as much as it does to other people.

“But once you get that letter or email from a guest saying, ‘Oh my gosh, we had such a great time!’ Or once you see that five-star review and people are thanking us for what we are doing, it really makes you feel warm inside.

“You realize your hard work has helped make their experience awesome and it was something they will never forget. And hopefully, they will come back for a game, or another stay. It’s been gratifying to see.”