The start of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees 2010 season is one week away. Officials at PNC Field Stadium said the outfield that caused so many problems last year is fixed and better than ever.
Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday. Cindy Mullen from Scranton just bought tickets to four Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees games, including next week's home opener at PNC Field. "My mom and I are great fans of the Yankees," Mullen said. On the first day of ticket sales, she didn't have to wait in line at all. She said that's a big difference from last year. "There were more people in line. I waited in line for about 45 minutes before I got to the box office."
While ticket prices are the same as they were last year, something new and different this year is the brand new field. On Thursday morning, the company that put it in turned it over to the Stadium Authority to maintain.
Last summer, games were postponed and played at other stadiums when the drainage system failed and water flooded the outfield. Temporary fixes like drilling holes, and even bringing in a helicopter to dry things out got the team through the season. Now, the new field has survived even the recent rain that caused flooding in parts of the Northeast.
The new field cost more than $1 million and was installed by Sports Construction Group. "Big sigh of relief, yes. There's no doubt about it. While that is going on we're also doing repairs, maintenance repairs to the rest of the stadium and we will be ready by opening day," said Stadium Authoity Board Vice President Jim Timlin.
"Last time the field was done, the field was converted from astro turf to natural grass, but the drainage system underneath was not replaced. This time was a complete overhaul," explained Stadium Authority Solicitor Frank Tunis. He added the cost of the field came in under budget.
The Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees home opener is on Thursday, April 8 at 7:05 p.m. against the Buffalo Bisons. The game will be broadcast live on WNEP 2.
Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday. Cindy Mullen from Scranton just bought tickets to four Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees games, including next week's home opener at PNC Field. "My mom and I are great fans of the Yankees," Mullen said. On the first day of ticket sales, she didn't have to wait in line at all. She said that's a big difference from last year. "There were more people in line. I waited in line for about 45 minutes before I got to the box office."
While ticket prices are the same as they were last year, something new and different this year is the brand new field. On Thursday morning, the company that put it in turned it over to the Stadium Authority to maintain.
Last summer, games were postponed and played at other stadiums when the drainage system failed and water flooded the outfield. Temporary fixes like drilling holes, and even bringing in a helicopter to dry things out got the team through the season. Now, the new field has survived even the recent rain that caused flooding in parts of the Northeast.
The new field cost more than $1 million and was installed by Sports Construction Group. "Big sigh of relief, yes. There's no doubt about it. While that is going on we're also doing repairs, maintenance repairs to the rest of the stadium and we will be ready by opening day," said Stadium Authoity Board Vice President Jim Timlin.
"Last time the field was done, the field was converted from astro turf to natural grass, but the drainage system underneath was not replaced. This time was a complete overhaul," explained Stadium Authority Solicitor Frank Tunis. He added the cost of the field came in under budget.
The Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees home opener is on Thursday, April 8 at 7:05 p.m. against the Buffalo Bisons. The game will be broadcast live on WNEP 2.
