Opening Night 2012 Brings A Lot Of New Changes

Centennial Field is the oldest ballpark still in operation in professional baseball.  Since the day in April 1906, when Ray Collins threw the very first pitch of the first game played here, the facility has undergone a lot of changes.  Over the past year, it has received some of the most notable changes it has seen in a long time, possibly ever.

As a Vermont Lake Monsters fan approaches the stadium gates, it may be hard not to notice one of the most visible changes.  Where there once was an old scoreboard with bad light sockets making it hard to read some of the numbers, there is now a brand new digital scoreboard underneath a 27' by 16' video screen.  The Lake Monsters have certainly hit the ground running making use of the new screen.  From sponsor ads, to birthday announcements, even a live camera in the ballpark showing fans and promotional games on the screen.  What kid, or adult, wouldn't be excited to see their face pop up on the screen?  Unless of course you were just biting into that hot dog.

Once you're inside, you'll start to notice other changes.  Some are more subtle than others.  First, the field lights were all replaced.  Those who are familiar with the park may notice on the way in that the light posts are actually set differently on the concourse.  They are a little further back from the bleachers and moved along as well.  Looking at some of the new lights over the field, the first impression isn't necessarily that they were upgraded.  Most of the units actually have fewer lights than before.  However, the new units are an entirely different technology allowing them to provide more light with energy and fixtures.

Many fans may not even notice the change which is actually the one the change the players will notice the most.  The entire infield was resurfaced over the off season.  The most notable result of this is that they were able to fix the significant drop between the infield and the outfield.  This makes for a better and safer experience for the players.  If you look closely, you'll see the difference when an infielder steps off the clay.  In the past, their feet would drop out of sight, but not anymore.

The infield was one of the two primary complaints heard from visiting teams in the past seasons.  The other was the visitors' clubhouse, which had been located at the far side of the soccer field behind the scoreboard. Now, it has been moved to the renovated locker room located directly below the scoreboard.  The switch makes for a significantly shorter trip between their dugout and the clubhouse.

Not to be left out, Champ decided it was time for a change too.  He retired his old green four-wheeler for the new 'sportier' yellow one.  The Lake Monsters even included a video on the screen showing Champ's story of how he found his new ride.

Summer has "officially" started now that the Vermont Lake Monsters are back at the ballpark.  They split the opening homestand against the Tri-City ValleyCats with a loss in the opener and a 7-4 win on the second night.  They now head out on the road to Tri-City for their first road trip of the season.  They'll be back in town on the 25th to take on the Connecticut Tigers.  Stay tuned to The 405 for updates on the team during the roadtrip.

Game photos available at http://www.bradboquetphotography.com

See you at the ballpark!

VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS MEDIA RELEASE

LAKE MONSTERS UPGRADE CENTENNIAL FIELD FOR 2012 SEASON
New Video Board, Scoreboard and Lights Among The New Additions To The Ballpark

BURLINGTON, VT --- With the security of a long term lease that was signed with the University of Vermont in April, the Vermont Lake Monsters have been busy upgrading the facility and ballpark to help alleviate several major concerns of Major League Baseball about historic Centennial Field, the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics announced today.

The biggest difference that Lake Monsters fans will see at Centennial is a brand new 27-foot by 16-foot video board and new scoreboard in left field provided by LSI Industries, Inc. The video board will give all fans a new game experience with the chance to get up close-and-personal with Lake Monster players through live video, headshots, player information, commercials, in between inning promotions and fan interaction.

Along with the video board, other upgrades to Centennial include:

* Each of the eight light towers taken down and replaced by new light towers with new wiring, fixtures and energy efficient lights as part of "Must Go Green" technology.

* Visiting teams have a new clubhouse (located underneath the scoreboard) including a coaches office, training room and locker space for all players.

* During the spring of 2011, the Lake Monsters clubhouse in the LaPointe Fieldhouse was renovated with a new lockers, training room, coaches offices and a players lounge.

* Following the 2011 season, the Centennial infield underwent a total renovation including regrading and resurfacing.

In all, the Lake Monsters have spent roughly $1,000,000 in upgrades and renovations to Centennial Field over the past year.

None of the improvements or renovations to Centennial Field would have been possible without the help of Total Sports Entertainment out of LaCrosse, WI, Twin State Signs, Melody Electric, Musco Lighting, Delta Electric, Burlington Electric, Lakewind Construction, SportsTurf Enterprises, the State of Vermont, the University of Vermont and the Centennial Field neighbors.

The 2012 Lake Monsters season opens this Monday, June 18th against the Tri-City ValleyCats at Centennial Field beginning at 7:05 pm.

WHERE IN CENTENNIAL? Part 1

Here are the answers for the first 2 photos in the Where In Centennial? trivia from "The 405 Blog" Facebook page

Photo #1 was Champ's 4-Wheeler

Photo #2 was the menu board on the first base concession stand

The Lake Monsters are here to stay

Full video of the conference can be seen

at the bottom of this entry.

BURLINGTON, VT – Wednesday afternoon, a lease agreement was signed between the University of Vermont and the Vermont Lake Monsters.  The team will be hanging their hats at historic Centennial Field for the next 20 years.  Lake Monsters owner, Ray Pecor, and UVM Interim President, John Bramley, signed the agreement at the start of Wednesday's press conference.  The agreement states that team will pay $1 a year for the use of the ballpark.  Prior to this new arrangement, the team was paying $40,000 per season.

With the virtual removal of this annual cost, the franchise is now able to focus on making repairs and upgrades to Centennial Field.  This also puts an end to the recent concerns about the future of the Lake Monsters in Burlington.  John Bramley commented “It allows an activity, Minor League Baseball, for the enjoyment of families and the continuation of a tradition, and for the benefit of the community and the state.”

After hearing from Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, as well as complaints from visiting teams about the visitors locker room and other issues, it became a very real possibility that the franchise would be leaving Burlington.  The new lease will help to keep professional baseball in Vermont for at least the next two decades.

When asked about the next steps, Lake Monsters Vice President, Kyle Bostwick, said the following, “..at minimum, the rental payments that have gone into the facility will be reinvested back into the facility.  There’s a lot of things that we’d like to do, and a lot of things that we have to do.”

"The Vermont Lake Monsters are very appreciative of the university's commitment to a long-term lease,” said team owner Ray Pecor.  “We are excited about being able to continue to bring Lake Monsters baseball to our fanbase and explore all of the opportunities that exist in renovating our beautiful ballpark.”

Since Pecor brought baseball back to historic Centennial Field, baseball has been a great tradition for families.  It has become a favorite way for people living in the Burlington area to spend their summer.  “It’s been a partnership between the University of Vermont and Ray Pecor that’s created the opportunity for thousands to experience the joy of Minor League Baseball here for nearly 20 years.” Bramley said in reference to the team’s history here.

An independent study was conducted in 2010 and found that fixing the immediate needs of the ballpark will cost $3.3 million.  It will take a total of $9.2 million for Centennial Field to meet the standards set by Minor League Baseball.

Originally opened in 1906, Centennial Field continues to be the oldest operating ballpark in professional baseball.  This has been viewed as both a positive and a negative.  On one hand, the age of the ballpark has presented many of the problems that are being addressed now.  On the other hand, Centennial has a kind of character that can’t be duplicated in the new stadiums being built around the country.  As Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss observed, “We are surrounded by 100 years of baseball history, and 28 years of Minor League Baseball history.”

If all leagues and schedules remain as they are, Centennial Field will host 760 Lake Monsters games over the 20 year span.  The first of this year's 38 home games will take place on June 18th as the Lake Monsters host the Tri-City ValleyCats.

Thank you to Jeremy Boquet for videoing the press conference
PART 1 - The Press Conference

PART 2 - Question & Answer session

See you at the ballpark!

Vermont Lake Monsters to Sponsor 2012 Vermont Scripps Spelling Bee

- Lake Monsters Press Release -

BURLINGTON, VT --- The Vermont Lake Monsters baseball team is sponsoring the Vermont Scripps Spelling Bee, being put on by the Burlington Free Press. The Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday March 12th at 3:30pm on the Saint Michael’s College campus in Colchester. The Scripps Spelling Bee is an annual, national event.

The goal of the spelling bee is to improve students’ spelling skill and increase their vocabulary. “This is a national competition that every state participates in,” said VPA Associate Executive Director Bob Johnson. “These students need to have the ability to speak in front of a large crowd, memorize words, and have the ability to perform under pressure. When it gets down to the last four or five spellers, it becomes a very high pressure situation!”

These students are performing under similar pressures to those facing a Lake Monsters’ batter in the bottom of the ninth inning. It is only fitting that Champ, the Lake Monsters mascot who cheers on the team at the field, will be cheering on the spellers next Wednesday. “This is a great event for our community,” said Lake Monsters’ Assistant General Manager Joe Doud. “We are excited to be a part of the competition. We are a lot more than just baseball. We have several programs to promote literacy and education in the community. Hopefully, a young Lake Monster fan will be winning this competition in the future.”

The champion of the competition will be traveling to Washington DC to compete for the national title. The winner will also receive the Samuel Louis Sugarman award certificate valued at $50, a one year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, and a Webster’s Third New International dictionary. In addition, all travel expenses will be paid via event sponsorship to Washington DC for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Please keep checking back here to the 405 Blog for Vermont Lake Monsters news.  To find out more about the team, please check out the official Vermont Lake Monsters website, www.vermontlakemonsters.com

See you at the ballpark!

Today

The graphic in the photo is the sticker that was worn on the
back of the batting helmets this season

TODAY

TODAY is September 11, 2011.  10 years ago, our lives were changed forever.  It was one of those days where people vividly remember where they were and what they were doing when they got the news.  I was at home that morning watching TV, Lois & Clark actually.  The phone rang and it was my uncle telling mom to turn on channel 3, a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.  I can still tell you the exact episode and the moment in the episode that was on when the TV changed to the horrific image of the towers with smoke billowing.  I couldn’t even imagine what was to follow.  None of us could.

TODAY, we honor the heroes.  The first responders who ran into disaster, never stopping to think what may happen to them.  The passengers aboard flight 93, who fought with their last breathes to see that their plane did not reach it’s intended target.  All those who died that day, in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, and to the families they left behind.  The brave men and women who put it all on the line everyday to keep us safe, and to their families at home as well.  Thank you all.

TODAY, take the time to let your friends and family know that you love them.  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Also, take the time to thank the heroes that are in your community everyday.  Those in the military, both home and away, ready to do what is asked of them, and much more.  Also, the first responders, who are ready to respond to the call, not always sure exactly what they are headed for.  If you see a man or woman in uniform today, say thank you.  It is something they are not told enough.

TODAY, and everyday, I am proud to be an American.

15 years later.

Have you ever been to a game where there home team wins 11-7 but most of the celebration doesn’t happen until 1 hour and 20 minutes after the game concluded?  Probably not, but that is exactly what happened at Centennial Field.

After finishing 1 and a half innings down 5-0, there was only one thing to do.  The Lake Monsters answered back by scoring 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning.  From there, the Monsters would take the lead by scoring 1 run in each of the next 2 innings, only to have the ValleyCats tie it up again with 2 runs in the sixth.  Apparently all the Monsters needed was to stretch along with the crowd to “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” because the bottom of the seventh brought in 3 more runs, giving them the lead again, this time for good.  They would even add on an insurance run in the eighth bringing them to an 11-7 win.  This was only have the battle though.

Bobby Crocker slides into home during the Lake Monsters
second inning 5 run rally.

Despite the win, the Lake Monsters season still would have come to an end today if the Connecticut Tigers defeated the Lowell Spinners.  Thanks to this, you could go to almost anywhere in the ballpark and find fans using their phones to try and find out how the other game was going.  As a matter of fact, when I went up to the press box to find out the score update, I stuck my head in the door and Paul, the head of Media Relations, told me the answer before I even had to ask.  Even though there were so many sources being tapped to find the score, fans were still anxiously awaiting the “Out Of Town Scoreboard”.  A loud collective sigh could be heard through out the stands when it was announced that Connecticut had won their game 6-5.  That meant that, no matter what happened then, the Lake Monsters season was over.

As everyone was settling in to watch the end of what was still a great game, an interesting bit of news was coming to light.  That’s when Rich Haskell’s voice came over the P.A. system with some of the best news he has announced in his 18 seasons as the stadium announcer.  Connecticut’s winning run was reversed as a result of runner interference.  The resulting cheer was far louder than the sigh that had preceded it.  It wasn’t over, the Monsters could still take the title.

Following the conclusion of the game in Vermont, the stadium music was replaced by the play by play radio coverage of the game in Connecticut.  Looking at all the fans in the stands, you’d have know idea that the current game was actually happening 272 miles away, and not right in front of them.  Then all we could do was wait.  After the call was reversed in the ninth inning, the game would go into extra innings…..a lot of extra innings.  Everyone sat there as the game rolled on.  A rollercoaster of reactions went along with the game.  Cheers came as Lowell made a good play, followed by moans as Connecticut managed to get out of it, time after time.

Finally, in the top of the sixteenth inning, Lowell scored a run.  Again, the resulting cheer sounded as if the runner had crossed home plate right there in Centennial.  Now we just had to wait for Connecticut to get 3 outs…..yikes.  Suddenly, it was over, Lowell had won the game!  In all the years I have been a part of the Vermont Expos/Lake Monsters, I have never cheered for the Spinners (despite being a Boston fan), but tonight their winning was just as important as the Monsters winning.

Lake Monsters owner, Ray Pecor, celebrates after the
Monsters win the Stedler Division title.

It really happened, the Vermont Lake Monsters are the Stedler Division Champions!  15 years might not rank as a full “Curse” but the fans had become accustomed to the year ending with the regular season.  Being a New England team, maybe there was some significance to the fact that the end our title drought rested on the Boston Red Sox affiliate Lowell Spinners.

What’s next?  Well, onward and upward of course.  Tuesday night, the Lake Monsters start their playoff run against the Auburn Doubledays.  The Doubledays are the affiliate of the Washington Nationals, who were the parent club of the Vermont franchise from 1994 until 2010.  This should be quite a game as the Auburn team will include some faces familiar to Vermont fans.

With the momentum of these last 2 victories behind them, I believe your Vermont Lake Monsters are ready to start this post season off right.  Be sure to come out to Centennial Field on Tuesday for the 7:05 pm game.  There is a special playoff price of $3 a ticket, so come cheer them on as they begin this run for the Champioship.

See you at the ballpark.