Blue Wahoos Giving Away Car, Diamond On Consecutive Nights Of Homestand 

The Blue Wahoos during their tenure have arranged promotion giveaways ranging from Hawaiian shirts to a pair of Taylor Swift concert tickets.

This weekend will get grander.

In the team’s second-to-last homestand of 2025, someone will take home a brand new SUV on Friday night, sponsored by Hill Kelly, then another lucky fan on Saturday will receive a diamond in the fourth annual Bere’ Jewelers “Diamond Dig” on the infield at Blue Wahoos Stadium following the game.

This home series against the Chattanooga Lookouts, which began Tuesday, sets up as the team’s biggest back-to-back promo nights and most lucrative gifts in team history. It coincides with the Blue Wahoos locked into a chase for the Southern League’s South Division second-half title.

“In one weekend, someone will have a new ride and someone will have new bling. We think that is pretty cool,” said team president Jonathan Griffith.

The new vehicle, a 2025 Jeep Compass Latitude, valued around $27,000 (based on current MSRP), is parked out front of the stadium.

The idea of a car giveaway was formulated as Griffith and several front office members traveled back from the Minor League Baseball Fall Meetings last October. The trip followed a late-season game when the Blue Wahoos gave away two tickets to a pair of fans for the Taylor Swift concert tour Oct. 25-27, 2024 in New Orleans.

A chance to win attracted a large crowd at that Blue Wahoos game, many of whom said they only bought tickets in effort to be part of the drawing for Swift concert seats.

“Taylor Swift was a good day for us last year when we gave away the two tickets,” Griffith said. “And the thought was, ‘What could we do that would motivate you to come to a game?’ Someone said, well if I could win a car, I would come to a game.

“And I thought, well let’s do it. So we went to Hill Kelly (dealershiop) and talked to them about it. They loved the idea of giving away a brand new car.”

The Taylor Swift concert tickets were valued around $6,000. A new car pushes the Blue Wahoos into their most lucrative giveaway item in club history.

“Most of the time in Minor League Baseball, you see commercials for a game promotion of a used car, or a clunker, and that’s fun and all, but how can we be impactful?” Griffith said. “How can we make a memorable experience?

“Well, to me, if somebody left (stadium) in a brand new car, that’s pretty darn memorable for somebody. It’s a pretty cool thing for somebody to say they bought a ticket to a minor league baseball game and walked out with a new car. It’s a big deal. It will be a fun thing for our fans.”

Just as Hill Kelly has been a long-time corporate partner with the Blue Wahoos, the same is true for Bere’ Jewelers, which led to the promotion of “Diamond Dig.”

Any fan attending Saturday’s game can pre-register to participate. And with plastic spoons in hand, the fans will rush out to the infield area and begin digging into the dirt with a vague hint of location.

A plastic trinket will be buried prior to the game and the toy item is the redeemable prize for the diamond, along with help for a ring setting at Bere Jewelers, which has been in business for more than 40 years in Pensacola.

Owners Barry and Laura Cole have operated at the expansive store’s location on 12^th Avenue since 2017.

“We are very fortunate to have Barry and Laura being a great partner with us and do such a fun thing and give away a diamond,” Griffith said. “Again, just like giving away the car, some will buy a ticket to the game and walk out with a multi-thousand diamond.

“And everyone who participates gets a gift as well to Bere’ Jewelers to go to their store. We don’t limit how many people can do it. We just ask everyone to pre-register.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Homestand

WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

WHEN: Tuesday Through Sunday. Game times are 6:05 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 4:05 p.m. Sunday.

PROMOTIONS: On Friday, a new car will be awarded to one lucky fan, provided by Hill Kelly Dodge Jeep Chrysler. In addition, the first 1,000 fans through gates will receive Blue Wahoos Hawaiian shirts, courtesy of sponsor Harvesters Credit Union. On Saturday, in addition to post-game fireworks, it will be the fourth annual Bere’ Jewelers Diamond Dig. Fans can pre-register to enter field following game and dig for a trinket that will be redeemable for a diamond at Bere.

TICKETS: www.bluewahoos.com