Austin, TX -
The moving trucks have arrived in Austin, TX and the unloading has begun. The team formerly known as the Edmonton Jackrabbits for the past 30 seasons is no more. The Jackrabbits are dead, long live the Shredders.
As the moving trucks entered the brand spanking new Austin Baseball Grounds, fans lined up to cheer and welcome the team. The plaza connecting the ballpark with the Austin Convention Center in right field was full of fans and more than one musician with an electric guitar playing their raddest guitar solo.
Players, still in street clothes as Spring Training does not begin until the 14th of next month, were also on hand. Some to take a look at their new digs, some, like Andre Ly strolled around right field, gawking at the 30 foot wall in Right Field. He was heard to ask GM, Chuck Valenches, "Do they leave that up during games?"
Ly was later seen with his son in the outfield, tossing balls off the wall and trying to measure their bounce and angles off the wall.Another feature of the new ballpark is the left field corner which juts in sharply right at the foul pole. Right handers will not have an easy time hitting the ball out of the park unless they can curl it around that foul pole. Left center is 389 feet away and there is a lot of territory to cover before it gets over the wall.
The ballpark has been referred to as a reverse Fenway with the Green Monster in right field and Pesky's pole down the left field line. Here in Austin, they have yet to name the foul pole or the 30 foot high wall in right field. A few names are being floated and there may even be a fan favorite poll to decide the nicknames.
Already sponsors logos such as Tesla, Amazon, Oracle and UT are being installed in left center and left field. Team officials have stated there will be no advertising, just a big blue wall in right field.
As for details, a sign near the park entrance and also at various points along the concourse give the dimensions of the park.
Other important info that will be included in the new Austin Shredders Media Guide next year will be:
Cost: $6.1 billion dollars. Funded through an entertainment, hotel and rental car tax as well as a .5% increase in drivers license fees passed by the state of Texas.
Capacity: 55,000 with room for another 10,000 seats. The stadium also includes 93 luxury suites, all but five of which were snapped up on the first day they were available as local corporations had deposit checks waiting.
Amenities: In the plaza in right is a stage area for post game concerts. Dubbed the SRV Plaza to honor Austin blues legen Stevie Ray Vaughn who cut his teeth playing bars on 6th Avenue before hitting the big time. Vaughn's life was cut short at the young age of 36 when he was killed in a helicopter crash near the Alpjne Valley concert venue in East Troy, WI
Other amenities include USB 9.0 G plugs in all seats to allow fans to be able to plug in and listen to Mike Capps Jr. call the game along with color commentator and former Edmonton pitcher Jubal Troop. You can listen to all 162 games starting with the Shredders Pre-Game show on FM 102.3 KFEJ thirty minutes before game time.
Tickets are available by calling (512) SHREDD-1 (847- 3331) or you can order tickets online at www.austinshredders.com
