The Sports Informant

The Sacramento River Cats host their season home opener tonight at Raley Field, looking to get back on track to their championship ways this season under coach Tony DeFrancesco.

The River Cats announced yesterday that limited tickets still remain for the team’s home opener against the against the Reno Aces (Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks) tonight. As part of the Opening Day festivities, the team will hold a tribute to honor the late Art Savage, host a pre-game autograph session, and give away 2010 magnet schedules to the first 10,000 fans. Additionally it will mark the first of many Toyota Family Value Friday promotions with $1 hot dogs and $1 desserts available for all.
 
The current weather forecast for April 16 is 72 degrees and sunny.  The team will open the Raley Field gates at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the game to accommodate early fan arrival.
 
Individual game tickets for Opening Night, and every game during the 2010 season, are on sale now at www.rivercats.com or at the Raley Field Ticket Office. 
 
The 2010 River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans and group outings can be purchased by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487).  For more information about the 2010 River Cats season, visit www.rivercats.com.  For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.

The Sacramento River Cats also announced a myriad of new offerings for fans at Raley Field this season:
 
HD Video Board and In-Game Production Studio – Fans will experience a brand new 800 square-foot HD Video Board, which is 60 percent larger than the screen it is replacing.  This new board features 480 x 992 resolution through nearly a half million pixels, delivering the same HD experience as a 44-inch diagonal living room HD TV, but over a 44-foot display area.  The video board was manufactured by D3 LED, a Rancho Cordova company, which has manufactured HD screens on display in New York City’s Times Square.  Local partner PRIDE Industries was also involved and built and tested 500 printed circuit boards which are used to power the control modules inside the new Raley Field HD video board.
 
In addition to the new video board, the River Cats have redesigned and renovated their in-house production studio, allowing for a more interactive in-game fan experience and better access to footage and highlights for local media.  Local partner Snader and Associates Inc. completed the installation which provides the key components to produce HD broadcast quality content.  Media outlets interested in receiving HD highlights and game footage should contact the River Cats Media Relations Department for more information.
 
Diamond Club Seating Section – The brand new Diamond Club seating section offers the most exclusive, all-inclusive hospitality experience in Raley Field history.  Located behind home plate, this V.I.P. section offers all-you-can-eat in-seat concessions service, more leg room, and special, newly installed built-in counter space.  A limited amount of season tickets and mini-plans are available in this special section.
 
New www.rivercats.com – Launched in March 2010, the new-and-improved www.rivercats.com offers more exclusive, behind-the-scenes content for fans than ever before.  Now a part of the minorleaguebaseball.com network – which includes all affiliated Minor League Baseball teams in the country – the new site offers expanded multimedia functionality and is easier for fans to use.
 
Ovations Food Service – The River Cats and Raley Field announced a brand new partnership with Ovations Food Service earlier this year.  Ovations is now the exclusive food service and catering provider for all events at Raley Field and will offer fans a fresh and exciting food and beverage experience.  Ovations’ plans include enhancing food service at Raley Field with the company’s “Everything’s Fresh™” program. Several new concepts will also be added to the lineup including: Hot Dog Nation™- which features specialty hot dogs from around the country, garlic meatball sandwiches, chicken pesto sandwiches, Straw Hat Pizza, and Gourmet Hamburgers.
 
“Kids Eat Free Tuesday Nights” – After receiving such extraordinarily positive feedback from fans on the pilot program of this promotion last year, the team has expanded “Kids Eat Free Tuesday Nights” to a regular promotion for the 2010 season. Every kid, 12 and under, who comes to a Tuesday night game will receive a free meal voucher to be redeemed at Raley Field concession stands. The Kids Eat Free meal includes a junior hot dog, snack and a 12 oz. soda.
 
“Seniors Eat Free Monday Nights – presented by Del Webb” –  On the heels of the success of the “Kids Eat Free” promotion, the River Cats and Del Webb will offer senior citizens (60 & older) a free meal at every Monday night home game.  Seniors need only sign up for the free Silver Cats Club to get their free food voucher from the On Deck Shop. The free meal includes a junior hot dog, chips and a 12 oz. soda. “Seniors Eat Free Monday Nights” will also be paired with the return of the popular Baseball Bingo promotion.
 
Special Value Corner Seating – Carrying over from last season the River Cats continue to provide extra value to fans.  At just $7, special Value Corner seating in sections 124 and 125 will be available for purchase day of game ONLY both online and at the box office.
 
Inside Pitch – Debuting this season is the River Cats official program, “Inside Pitch.”  Every fan will receive a free Inside Pitch upon entry to each River Cats home game.  The program will feature exclusive River Cats content, upcoming promotions, a scorecard and much more.
 
Other new items of note in 2010 include: new radio broadcast partner Talk 650 KSTE where you can hear Johnny Doskow call the action for every River Cats game, special Hawaiian shirts worn by our Guest Service Staff, a new full-time Dinger – the River Cats mascot – fresh from mascot boot camp, a new and free Dinger Kid’s Club and new flat screen televisions throughout Raley Field (concession stands, Solon Club, and suites).
 
For a complete list of all the fun, value-packed promotions at Raley Field this summer, visit www.rivercats.com.