Blue Wahoos Stadium Club Level Just The Place For Unique Murder Mystery Dinner Play 

In a year where Blue Wahoos Stadium has transformed to host many first-time events, next up is a throwback-era venue for a unique Murder Mystery Night dinner play.

Utilizing the stadium's Hancock Whitney Club level and local actors, the Blue Wahoos will present “Mystery At Pier 51” on Friday Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. – the night before Halloween.

It will be a murder mystery-theme play cast in the 1920’s with the stadium’s club level becoming a “Speakeasy” private club, which were common during the Prohibition Era

“Our setting will be this club in the port district of our fictional town and that’s what lends itself to our stadium setting,” said Adam Waldron, the Blue Wahoos creative services manager. “We have a view of the port, we are on the water. We are playing to our strengths. So we wanted to accentuate strengths of the ballpark.

“We have this view of downtown, the bay, the sunset, that is something nobody else can compete with.”

Tickets are $75 apiece and include hors d’oeuvres, a four-course meal prepared by Blue Wahoos executive chef Travis Wilson and a Champagne toast.

Ticket holders are encouraged to dress in 1920’s attire or Halloween costumes. Guests also have the option to stay for a separate event, the showing of famed horror movie, “Halloween,” which is $5 admission on only for ages 18-older. Gates will open at 8 p.m. and the movie will start at 9 p.m.

“These kind of events lend itself to what the ballpark was meant to do… it was meant to adapt and change from thing to thing,” said Waldron, who has been with the Blue Wahoos since their inaugural season in 2012 when he began as an intern and has since moved into a manager’s role.

The idea of a Murder Mystery Night was formulated by Anna Grace Carrick, a recent college graduate and now working with Waldron in the Blue Wahoos promotions department.

“When she suggested the idea and we began thinking and researching, it was agreed that we could pull this off,” Waldron said. “We are putting a lot of effort into setting this up. When you step off the elevator, it will not be like walking into the Hancock Whitney Club on a baseball game day.

“It will be like a club. The stage will be in the middle and the tables set up around it with unique décor. It will feel like a club.”

In keeping with the Prohibition era theme, a password will be used to enter the “Speakeasy” club at the HWC entrance and elevator.

“Those who purchase a ticket will be given the password to come up to the Speakeasy,” Waldron said. “We are sticking to that tradition of what it was,” Waldron said.

In addition, guests will be treated to music of that era by the Pace High jazz ensemble.

The scenes from the movie will occur during the dinner. At the end of the meal, which includes desert, the diners will be provided a card to write the name of the “murderer.” During the meal, there will be games of chance at the club including roulette.

“For these fall events, it was a way to come up with something for Halloween,” Waldron said. “So let’s come up with a way to do a twisty, turning, murder-mystery story. Let’s get some good food and cool décor. Something people would not expect the Blue Wahoos would do.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Murder Mystery Night and Horror Movie “Halloween.”

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30. Murder Mystery Night entrance begins at 6 p.m. at HWC club entrance on third base side of stadium. Dinner and play begins at 6:30 p.m. Gates will open at 8 p.m. for the movie.

WHO: Ages 18-up for the movie.

*ADMISSION: *Murder Mystery Night is a $75 ticket, which must be purchased in advance. It includes hors d'oeuvres, ,option of four-course meal choice, plus Champagne toast at Hancock Whitney Club Level. The movie is a $5 general admission ticket and moviegoers can sit on the outfield grass or in the stands for the movie.

WHERE TO BUY: Tickets can be purchased on the Blue Wahoos website at www.bluewahoos.com, or at the stadium box office.