Round Rock Express - Minor League Baseball

Round Rock Express 2015

COMMUNITY

IMPACT

REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION S E C T I O N

4-5 1

BASEBALL DEVELOPMENT S E C T I O N

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COMMUNITY EVENTS at DELL DIAMOND S E C T I O N

APPENDICES

48-52

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YOUTH PROGRAMS S E C T I O N

32-47

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MILITARY APPRECIATION S E C T I O N

24-31

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IN-GAME FUNDRAISING and AWARENESS S E C T I O N

18-23

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FRONT OFFICE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT S E C T I O N

12-17

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH S E C T I O N

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before we begin, THANK You! The Round Rock Express is proud to be an exemplary community partner in Central Texas, and we are always looking for new opportunities to help an individual, a cause, those in need, or a nonprofit. Each time we call to action, we are blown away by the support from you – Express fans, Express season ticket holders, and Express corporate partners. Without all of you, the positive impact we are able to make on the local community would not be possible. We are grateful to be able to use the platform of baseball to spread goodwill, and are even more grateful to all of those who support us in our mission. On behalf of the entire Round Rock Express family, thank you for both motivating and enabling us to “do more good” in Central Texas and beyond. We’re in this together!

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The Best Minor League Baseball Town

DETERMINED BY SMARTASSET.COM When Financial Technology Company SmartAsset released a study in September 2015 naming Round Rock the “Best Minor League Baseball Town in America,” it hardly came as a surprise to the Central Texas Community (Appendix I). Instilled by the founders and ownership in Ryan Sanders Baseball, one of the prominent Core Values of the Round Rock Express is to “Passionately Participate in the Community.” By bolstering the people, businesses and organizations directly in its backyard and throughout the Central Texas region, the Express not only set the standard for involvement from day one but continues again and again to raise the bar. SmartAsset’s article reinforces what Ryan Sanders Baseball and Central Texas citizens already know: Dell Diamond is a pillar in our community and will continue to flourish through the commitment of the staff and ownership to create lasting memories and relationships both at the ballpark and throughout the region.

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Other than providing the best fan experience possible, it is through partnerships with local organizations in Central Texas such as United Way of Williamson County and annual events like Military Appreciation Night that the Express work to thank the 10 million fans who have passed through the gates since the club’s inaugural season sixteen years ago. Annually, the Express make more than 1,000 donations to various organizations in the form of tickets, merchandise, on-site promotional activities and personal involvement in service projects. In the first ten months of 2015 alone, the Express have donated over $500,000, but the donations and the monies barely even begin to scratch the surface of the club’s impact. The Round Rock Express partner with a multitude of charities and nonprofit organizations each year and take a step further than simple fundraising. By bringing on service-minded employees to our front office and event staff and encouraging them to “pay it forward”, whether it be with their time, money, or resources, the Round Rock Express’ philanthropic involvement starts within. Those efforts spill over and inspire Express sponsors, season ticket holders, and fans to follow suit, exponentially increasing the community impact. When the Express asked for disaster relief support from the community in May 2015 when fatal floods threatened the Central Texas Region, or when President Chris Almendarez’s wife was diagnosed with a Stage IV brain tumor in June, the people of Round Rock and the surrounding areas rallied to help, exhibiting how deeply seeded in this community the ball club really is. The ever-popular Chasco Community Partnership Program provided 76 unique nonprofits the chance to create awareness for their cause in front of an average of 8,623 fans a night in 2015. The Express staff not only work hard to make sure local nonprofits, civic groups, and youth organizations all receive personalized recognition at the ballpark during games and events, but also support and effort these same causes personally. From the ownership group to seasonal staff, the Express have hands in a multitude of causes – the ALS Association of Texas, RBI Austin, the HeartGift Foundation, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin, to name a few. The Round Rock Express Baseball Club has steadily been ranked as one of the top minor league baseball organizations in the country, not only because of the quality of players that come through the system, but because of the quality of people who represent the team and the strong support of the surrounding communities. As a company, the Express acknowledges its duty and constantly reaffirms its commitment to service through this wonderful and boundless platform called baseball.

Baseball

DEVELOPMENT

Baseball Development

Baseball Camps – The Express offer yearround baseball camps serving over 500 kids annually in the Central Texas region and beyond. The Express partner with area high school and college baseball coaches as well as its own professional coaching staff to assist with the camps, making it a true community effort. Express camps provide quality instruction on the fundamentals of the game in a big-league atmosphere. For the overnight camps, kids get the chance to spend the night at Dell Diamond in the United Heritage Center in sleeping bags. The team provides dinner and breakfast for the campers as well as evening activities like free swim in the pool and spa area. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Austin Baseball Clinic Fifty members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Austin joined Express Manager Jason Wood, Coach Geno Petralli and Shortstop Beamer Weems at Dell Diamond in July 2015 for a free 2-hour baseball clinic in the outfield. B&GC provided equipment and the Express provided instruction in fielding, batting, and pitching. Prior to the clinic on the field, the children were given a private ballpark tour where they learned about the business of baseball. Once the sessions were over, the Express staff stayed late signing a baseball for each of the children to add to their Express goodie bag with a team photo, a pencil and a Spike autograph card. The counselors, children and their families were all provided free tickets for that night’s game to bring the effort full circle. Central Texas Area Baseball Leagues – The Express partner with multiple little leagues across the Central Texas region to not only provide on-field inspiration from Express players, but to help alleviate the high cost of playing organized baseball. Each participating league was honored at their own “Youth League Night” during the season and the Express front office, mascot, or players made appearances at every league’s opening ceremonies or mid-season carnivals. Participants joined their teammates for an on-field parade before the game and each league received a portion from every ticket sold that night to offset league expenses. In total Dell Diamond hosted over 9,000 baseball and softball players and raised over $3,000 for all of the leagues combined in 2015. As part of the partnership this year, the CenTex Classic Series held their opening and closing ceremonies at Dell Diamond. The Super Series Summer Nationals were recognized during a Round Rock Express home game and presented their opening ceremonies on the field before the game, giving their participants the opportunity to take to the warning track in front of their friends and families.

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High School Baseball Fundraiser Program – 2015 marked the inaugural year of the Round Rock Express High School Baseball Fundraiser Program. This initiative allowed for Austin Area public, private and home schools to participate in the experience of a lifetime by playing a game during their spring season on a professional field while at the same time fundraising for their respective schools. Game entertainment was provided by Express staff, complete with a PA Announcer, walk-up music, and school logos and graphics on our LED outfield boards. Parents, friends and family were encouraged to come support their athletes with free parking and admission to the ballpark provided by the Express to maximize community involvement. To participate in this fundraiser, each team committed to purchase 250 discounted tickets for an Express game during the 2015 season, which were then sold by the student-athletes for a $5 per ticket profit for their baseball program. All told, 3,169 tickets were sold for a total donation of $15,845 to area schools. Miracle League Town & Country – The Round Rock Express Miracle Field (Austin, TX), home of designated Express charity Miracle League at Town & Country, has been recognized nationally as a premier alternative sports facility that offers specialized rubber-surfaced fields to over 14,000 local disabled and handicapped children in the Central Texas area. The Express played an integral part in securing funds for the creation of the field in 2014 and continued in 2015 to show support for the families and the volunteers who make baseball possible for children statewide. This year, corporate sponsor Papa John’s donated $2,500 to the Miracle League as part of the yearlong “Express 7” promotion. Representatives from the league were invited to a game at the end of the season for a live check presentation. Nolan Ryan Hall of Fame Plaque – For the first time since his induction in 1999, Nolan Ryan’s Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque left Cooperstown for Round Rock, Texas in April 2015. As part of the Opening Weekend ceremonies, the plaque was displayed on the concourse for fans to view. Local photo company TapSnap was available both Friday and Saturday night to take pictures of fans with the plaque which were later uploaded to the Express’ Facebook page. Not only that, but front office staff were invited into the press box for private photos with Nolan himself standing next to the plaque. Later, Express employees were surprised when an autographed copy of his/her photo with Nolan was given to them as a gift and as encouragement to have a successful 2015 season.

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Nolan Ryan and Dr. Tom House – In November 2015, Dell Diamond will play host to the first ever Nolan Ryan and Dr. Tom House Elite Pitching Clinic. The event will feature a Dinner and Lecture with Nolan and Dr. House on Friday evening before the clinic on Saturday afternoon. Another lecture from the duo will be paired with field and bullpen work for the participants that day. This opportunity will only be available for pitchers, catchers (2016 and 2017 graduates only) and coaches and the space is limited.

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Player and Family Amenities – An assignment to the Express is seldom seen as a demotion. In fact, because of amenities like stadium family discount cards, a state-ofthe-art Family Room with babysitting services and hi-definition televisions, on-site massage services, personal hairstylist, vehicle detailing and curbside car rental pickups and drop-offs, it is an assignment sought after by players and their families alike. When one of Manager Jason Wood’s three young daughters underwent a surgery that prevented his family from coming to Round Rock for Opening Weekend, the Express brought Opening Weekend to them by sending a “Welcome to Round Rock” package with Express, shirts, hats and goodies for the whole family to California. This is just one example that shows the value the club places on truly being a “baseball family”.

RBI Austin “Triple-A for a Day” – The Round Rock Express teamed up with RBI Austin, a designated nonprofit of the organization, to host the third-annual “Triple-A for a Day” experience at Mabson Field in Austin. For the first time, the Express hosted the event for both the baseball and the softball championship games at the conclusion of their summer season. The Express promo and entertainment teams were out in full force as they transformed Mabson Field into Dell Diamond for the night to provide once-in-alifetime experience for the RBI athletes, their families and the community. The excitement included commentary and interviews by Express PA announcer, games and promotions hosted by the Party Patrol, a Kids Zone with face painting, balloon twisters, and coloring sheets, inflatables donated by Express partner SockHop, and many other elements that would normally be seen during an Express game. RBI Austin is an affiliate of Major League Baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program (RBI) and serves youth ages 4 - 18 through free clinics, low-cost summer leagues and year-round mentoring. Other Involvement – The partnership with RBI Austin does not stop at this annual event, but includes monetary donations through sponsorships with the Express, a turf services internship program with RS3 Turf at Dell Diamond, donations to the annual RBI Austin Banquet in January, and free summer baseball camps for RBI participants on the field at Dell Diamond. The Express also work closely with Executive Director Matt Price to ensure that all RBI participants are able to catch at least one Express game for free throughout the season, donating over 1,000 tickets to the program every year. “The Round Rock Express has been an invaluable partner and advocate for our RBI Austin kids. Through experiences such as Triple-A for a Day, RBI Night at Express games, and camps at Dell Diamond, the Express have helped our RBI kids and families fall in love with baseball. Thanks to the Express, hundreds of inner-city Austin youth are being developed by caring RBI coaches and mentors.” – Matt Price, Founder & Director, RBI Austin

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THSBCA/CenTex All-Star Games – Dell Diamond once again hosted the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) All-Star games (2A-4A & 5-6A) in 2015, which feature the state’s top amateur athletes, and the CenTex All-Star game, which highlights players specifically from Central Texas. These high school baseball players are given the chance to experience playing on at a Minor League ballpark at Dell Diamond with hundreds of coaches, family members, friends, and members of the community cheering them on.


“[The] Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association has “depended” upon our 15 year partnership with the Round Rock Express and that dependence has yielded nothing but positive results for our association. We have organized major events/All-Star Games with the Express and have found [the Express] to be enthusiastic, helpful, and agreeable. Their facilities are always in immaculate condition, the staff ready and competent, and the baseball ethos evident. This is unquestionably a class organization that contributes heartily to baseball in the state of Texas.” – Rex Sanders, Executive Director, Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association

UIL State Baseball Championships – This year marked the 16th year for Dell Diamond to host the annual University Interscholastic League (UIL) state baseball playoffs championships, which brings schools from all classifications across the state of Texas to compete for their respective state title. Dell Diamond has become the premier destination teams across the state set their sights on reaching each and every season. The Express’ partnership with local baseball programs continues to give high school players opportunities to perform in a big league setting and goes farther than just renting out the ballpark. This year when the Georgetown High School Eagles beat Aledo to advance to the UIL Championship, the Express invited them back out to be recognized on the dugout during a mid-inning break at a home game in June. Players lined up to be honored by Express fans, their friends and family alike and it was a powerful moment for everyone involved.

Community Events AT

DELL DIAMOND

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Community Events at Dell Diamond

Chivas v. Pachuca – For the first time ever in 2015, Dell Diamond was transformed from a baseball field into a soccer pitch by RS3 Turf in July to host two Mexican rival soccer teams – Chivas and Pachuca. More than 11,000 soccer fans infiltrated Round Rock for the event, making it the second largest soccer crowd in the history of the Austin area.


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Fan Fest – In an effort to generate excitement for Opening Day, the Express open their gates to the public for free for a one-day Fan Fest every spring. This year’s event offered guests the chance to take batting practice on the field, throw heat in the bullpen, participate in a hot dog eating contest, and sit in on Question & Answer sessions with Express Front Office Management and radio broadcaster, Mike Capps. The family-friendly event brought in more people than ever in 2015 and was a funfilled day for all! Fire Truck Pull Challenge benefiting Special Olympics – The sixth annual Austin/Round Rock Fire Truck Pull Challenge took place in the Dell Diamond parking lot in August 2015. The event was hosted by the Round Rock Police Department, Round Rock Fire Department, Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Round Rock Express. 25 teams comprising over 300 people competed in the event to be named the 2015 Fire Truck Pull Champions. In total, the event raised $8,740 with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Texas. Later that afternoon, Special Olympics Texas was honored as the community partner at the Express game where one of their members threw out a first pitch with his friends, family, and Special Olympics family all there to cheer him on and ten of their other members stepped in as the “Baseball Buddies” for the night. Rangers Winter Caravan – Dell Diamond once again played host to the annual Rangers Winter Caravan stop in Central Texas in January of this year. Members of the 2015 Rangers and Express teams joined the local baseball community for an afternoon of meet and greets, panel sessions, and autograph opportunities at the United Heritage Center where sponsors and fans alike were able to interact with the coaches and players in an intimate setting while enjoying lunch provided by Dell Diamond concessionaire, RS3.


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Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam – Austin-based roots-rock band Reckless Kelly and the Express hosted the 7th Annual Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam at Dell Diamond that brought together professional athletes and musicians for a fun-filled softball game and an afternoon of live music. All proceeds went to benefit various nonprofit youth baseball groups, including The Miracle League at Town &

Country and The Miracle League in San Antonio. The seven softball jams have drawn more than 40,000 people and raised more than $200,000. In 2015, over $54,400 was raised through the event by way of tickets, concessions, donations, and a silent auction. Salvation Army Sock Drive – The Express the Salvation Army teamed up to host a sock donation drive at Dell Diamond in August as part of the nonprofit’s annual Shoe-In Drive. A dropoff bin was placed in the Railyard – the Express’ official team store – for fans to make sock donations during a fourgame homestand. All fans who donated at least two pairs of new socks received two free tickets to a future Express game. More than 30 pairs of new socks were collected during the drive and will be given to children in need during the distribution event this fall.

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SPIRIT Fest – Dell Diamond will once again serve as host to the annual SPIRIT Fest in November 2015, presented by Spirit 105.9. In 2014, more than 14,000 guests came out to the ballpark for the concert. The day is jam-packed with great music, food, and entertainment for the whole family and has proven to be a notable attraction to the Central Texas communities and beyond.

Sport Clips “Team Member for a Day” – For the fourth-consecutive year, the Express partnered with Sport Clips Haircuts to offer a “Team Member for a Day” contest which was available at numerous Sport Clips locations in the greater Austin area. The Grand Prize Winner was selected at random and offered a one-day, official contract to join the Round Rock Express. The contract was signed during a press conference, alongside Express President Chris Almendarez and manager Jason Wood, and included an official locker in the Express clubhouse, a personalized jersey, the opportunity to participate in pregame batting practice, dinner with the team, throwing out the night’s first pitch, delivering the official lineup card during the managers’ meeting at home plate and, of course, sitting in the dugout during the game.


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Throwin’ Smoke BBQ Benefit for #TeamJana On Saturday, October 3, 2015 the Round Rock Express hosted the first ever “Throwin’ Smoke BBQ Benefit” for #TeamJana here at Dell Diamond. The event featured $10 two-meat BBQ plates donated by Southside Market and Barbeque, a Budweiser football tailgate with free beer, kids activities, live radio entertainment, and much more. Donations were accepted from friends of the baseball club for a silent auction that raised $10,555 on its own. Central Texas Harley-Davidson joined in the fun by bringing out display motorcycles and another TV set up for football, and the classic car collector group Sweet Rides of Austin brought out at least ten specialty vehicles for people at the event to explore. In just five hours, the Round Rock community helped raised $25,500 for the Almendarez family through donations, t-shirt and bracelet sales, the silent auction, and, of course, BBQ plates! The event was a huge success thanks to many generous sponsors and volunteers. The Express hopes to make the event an annual tradition benefitting and different cause each year.

YMCA “Halloween at the Y” – In October, YMCA will bring their “Halloween at the Y” event to the ballpark where adults and children alike enjoyed carnival games, a petting zoo, a costume contest, and lots of candy. In 2014, this event brought over 8,000 out to Dell Diamond to celebrate Halloween, and they expect it to be even bigger and better this year!

COMMUNITY Outreach

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Community Outreach

10 millionth fan – The Express anticipated seeing its 10 millionth fan come through the turnstiles in July 2015, so in true Express fashion, a celebration was planned. Sponsors were generous enough to donate hundreds of dollars in gift cards, products and services – all in increments of 10, of course – to create the ultimate giveaway package valued over $26,000. When the one lucky fan came through the gates, the Party Patrol strategically followed them to their seats and the announcement was made over the PA and on the videoboard. A local drumline volunteered their talents to amplify the event and the winners took their prizes home after the game!

Alumni Weekend – The Express were honored to invite former player Morgan Ensberg back to Dell Diamond to be inducted into the Express Hall of Fame for the 2nd annual Alumni and Hall of Fame Weekend. More than 15 former players and their families came out to the ballpark to be a part of the special weekend that included autograph sessions for fans during the game, an induction ceremony on the field, a private, all-inclusive hospitality area in the park for the alumni celebration, and lots of reminiscing, fun and laughter among old friends. The recipient of this year’s honor was determined by fans through an online poll earlier in the season.

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Ballpark Tours – The Express offer guests a behind-the-scenes look at Dell Diamond year-round. Visitors are not only provided with a thorough history of the organization, but are also shown some of the most exclusive areas of the ballpark including the press box, Intel Club, hospitality areas and the Express clubhouse. As of October 2015, more than 40 unique groups boasting a total of approximately 1,300 children from local daycare programs and schools had toured Dell Diamond so far this year.

Community Outreach

Coats for Kids – Dell Diamond will once again be the site of Round Rock Area Serving Center’s annual “Coats for Kids” distribution event in the fall of 2015. The Serving Center collects coats for children who are enrolled in the Free Lunch Program in Round Rock and average approximately 3,500 donated coats each year. The Express were able to collect over 1,500 coats at the ballpark last year and were thrilled to host the event where they all got distributed to the kids in October. The Express and the serving center hope to again break records at the 2015 event later this fall. DeVry University “Student of the Month” – One of the “Students of the Month” named by Minor League Baseball and Official Education and Career Development Partner of Minor League Baseball, DeVry University, was honored in-game in August 2015 as part of the new partnership between the league and the university. Kendrick Barnett from the Austin, Texas campus is an Army veteran and Texas National Guardsman who is pursuing a Master of Business Administration from DeVry’s Keller Graduate School of Management. The Express were honored to host Kendrick and recognize him for his accomplishments at Dell Diamond. Fan Appreciation Weekend – The last weekend of the regular season is always pinned as Fan Appreciation Weekend at Dell Diamond. The weekend includes autograph sessions at the gates with Express coaches and players, sponsor giveaways, multiple fireworks shows, and a Fan Appreciation video – a compilation of the Express’ favorite moments of the 2015 season. ShirtOff-Their-Back-Night brought in support for the United Way for Greater Austin this year, and Kerbey Lane Café’s pancake and egg mascots even threw out a first pitch – a Dell Diamond first! Not only that, but ALL fans were invited to run the bases after Sunday’s game, an opportunity that normally is just reserved for kids.

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Community Outreach

First Responders Matter – In light of the media frenzy on both local and national levels regarding violence against law enforcement, the Round Rock Express front office stood beside the Round Rock Police Department in solidarity on September 4, 2015 at Dell Diamond to honor fallen Deputy Goforth who was senselessly murdered at a gas station in Cypress, Texas just days before. After the event, Express staff created blue bows and adorned all of the trees outside of the stadium with the ribbons to signify that as an organization we stand with our law enforcement. In an unrelated Random-Act-of-Spikeness, our beloved mascot, Spike, delivered freshly baked cookies from the kitchen of RS3 Executive Chef Ed Ebert to local fire departments as a “thank you” for all that they do for the Round Rock community during the season and all year long. Honor Flag – Shortly after the September 11th attacks in 2001, a flag was gifted to Chris Heisler by the Texas House of Representatives. Since 2001, this one very important American Flag has traveled around the world to educate, honor and inspire by paying tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty protecting our lives, our homes and our country, and also those who currently serve our communities and our nation. The United States Honor Flag has now traveled over 7 million miles to honor America’s Finest who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. In July, the Hutto Police Department (Hutto, Texas) lost Sergeant Christopher Kelley in a dutyrelated accident, and the Honor Flag was brought to Dell Diamond in his honor. The flag was displayed on the concourse for fans to view, and a special postgame ceremony was conducted on the field presenting the flag before the fireworks on the 4th of July.

Community Outreach

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Hospital Visits – To bring some excitement to children undergoing treatment at local hospitals, two groups of players visited Dell Children’s Hospital and the recently opened St. David’s Children’s Hospital, both in Austin, Texas during the 2015 season. At Dell Children’s, players interacted with a group of children in their playroom, coloring photos of our mascot, signing autographs, and painting pictures on easels. St. David’s facility offered a different experience, as players were invited into individual children’s rooms to take pictures, watch TV and talk baseball. The Express was the first local sports team to make an appearance at the new St. David’s Children’s Hospital, which opened at the end of 2014. Not only that, but Spike took time out of his busy schedule to make a surprise visit without the players to St. David’s during postseason, which was a welcome distraction for the kids and staff alike! “On behalf of the children, families and staff here at St. David’s Children’s Hospital we would like to thank you for visiting the patients, families and staff today. Spike was a welcome distraction for the patients and their families. They had fun visiting with Spike and taking pictures! And of course the doctors and nurses loved to meet Spike and take pictures with him. We are very grateful for your visit and wish you the very best.” – Robyn Moyer & Candace Hernandez, Child Life Specialist, St. David’s Children’s Hospital

Mascot and Player Appearances – The Express offer year-round mascot appearances and seasonal player appearances to the local community. So far in 2015, Spike has made over 100 free appearances at fundraisers, assemblies, sporting events, ribbon cuttings, and more! As the most memorable face of the Express, Spike is always in high demand at events across Central Texas. Additionally, Express players are available for public speaking, appearances and autograph sessions during the baseball season. The players and coaching staff showed up to support many local organizations over the course of the year including the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Austin and the Brain Power 5K.

Community Outreach

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Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Fund – Former Express favorite Mike Coolbaugh was struck and killed by a line drive on the evening of July 22, 2007 while coaching first base for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. A memorial fund was established at Spirit Bank in Tulsa, OK and donations can be made through the Round Rock Express. As of 2014, the Express have passed along in excess of $21,000 to the memorial fund and continually donate to the annual Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Golf Tournament. It was also an honor to have Mike’s wife, Mandy, and their three children out to Dell Diamond to celebrate the 2nd Annual Hall of Fame and Alumni Weekend this July, as they are still so much a part of the Express baseball family. National Anthem Tryouts – Rather than handpicking the performers for the National Anthem at Express home games, the ballpark entertainment staff hosts an annual tryout in the spring for any and all local talent to showcase their abilities to potentially sing at a game that season. This year, more than 90 groups and individuals came out to the United Heritage Center to perform where an Express panel then ranks and chooses those who meet the criteria to perform that year. Not only that, but large choirs and bands who want to participate have the opportunity to fundraise through group ticket sales, landing themselves a spot on the 72-game anthem roster.

Front Office

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Front Office Community Involvement

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#DrewStrong – In May 2015, one of the Express Account Executives, Drew Maulsby, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after months of blood clots and excruciating headaches. Taking a leave of absence, Drew moved to Houston to be close to his treatment facility at MD Anderson. As a staff, the Express front office designed, ordered and sold #DrewStrong bracelets, giving back all the proceeds to his family to help cover treatment costs. On #PackthePark Night at Dell Diamond for the first Nationally Televised Minor League Baseball game of the year, members of the staff made posters cheering Drew on in his fight and sat right behind home plate so they made it on TV. Cueing up his family, they made sure Drew was watching as his friends and baseball family showed their support for him a couple hundred miles away. Two months after his diagnosis, Drew announced that he was cancer-free and returned back to work with the Express. He has done great since, and will be heading on a mission trip with another colleague to the Dominican Republic to help those less fortunate in November of this year.


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ALS Association Beyond the Bucket – The Round Rock Express continued its partnership with the ALS Association in 2015 with “Strike Out ALS Night” at the ballpark where the group was featured as the Chasco Community Partner for the evening, educating fans on the cause and encouraging them to get involved by going “Beyond the Bucket”. The mascot Spike donned a Lou Gehrig pinstripe jersey for the night and even doused some of his Party Patrol friends with a bucket during pregame. Not only that, but Ryan Sanders Baseball COO JJ Gottsch continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Texas chapter, strengthening the partnership even more. Every August Until a Cure – In August 2015, Express players and coaches teamed up with ALS patients and their families to once again complete the Ice Bucket Challenge. Ten members of the team lined up outside of Dell Diamond after batting practice one afternoon to be drenched for the cause. Each ALS Association participant received a signed baseball from the player or coach they “iced”, and the Express used the platform to challenge the University of Texas Football Team, the Texas A&M Football Team, and the Texas State Football Team. Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp0aLKI6wxA Walk to Defeat ALS – The Round Rock Express front office has once again created a walk team for the annual Walk to Defeat ALS event that will take place in Austin in October 2015. All money raised from the event will go towards finding a cure for ALS and helping to sustain local care services for people and their families in Central Texas living and dealing with the disease. Spike, the Express mascot, will make an appearance on walk day to cheer on the participants and bring the Express to the ALS community on their special day.


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Bonner Paddock, One More Step – The Express ownership group put together a very special luncheon for staff and close friends of the team in July of this year featuring Bonner Paddock, author of One More Step. Bonner is the first person with cerebral palsy to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and the first to complete the Kona Ironman. He is the Founder and CEO of the OM Foundation, an organization that provides funding and medical treatment for individuals in third-world countries who normally wouldn’t have access to advanced medical procedures. Bonner gave a moving and very inspirational presentation to the Express and Ryan Sanders Baseball staff over a lunch spread provided by RS3 Executive Chef Ed Ebert. He ended the event with a personal meet and greet and book signing where each person in attendance got a copy of his story.

Brain Power 5K – A little over two months after Jana Almendarez, wife of Express President Chris Almendarez, was diagnosed with Stage IV Glioblastoma (brain cancer), she and more than 100 of her closest friends, family and colleagues came out to the Brain Power 5K in September 2015 and completed the 1-mile walk in her honor. A longtime community partner of the Express, Brain Power was founded by brain cancer survivor Kelly Bolinger and her husband as the only brain cancerfocused fundraising event in Central Texas. The event continues to grow in numbers and in impact, strengthened this year by #TeamJana. The Express Street Team brought out an inflatable batting cage for participants to play with, the prize wheel with Express prizes, and hundreds of free tickets to the playoff games against the Fresno Grizzlies later that week for anyone at the event. Not only that, but twelve Express players and coaches, including Manager Jason Wood, surprised Chris and Jana by showing up to the event at 7:30 in the morning and completing the walk beside her. The event was a true showing of the support of the Express “baseball family” and was hugely successful in raising funds and awareness for the fight against brain cancer. The next day, on September 14, 2015, the Almendarez family received news from their doctors that Jana’s radiation treatment was indeed working – her tumor had shrunk.


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Front Office Honors – In January 2015, the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce recognized the Ryan family for their continued contributions to the city by awarding them a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 47th annual awards banquet. Reid, Reese, Nolan and Ruth Ryan were present at the ceremony to accept the award. That same day, Executive Advisor to the General Manager and President and former Express President Dave Fendrick was honored with the Citizen of the Year Award for 2014. Dave was also granted the 2014 Executive of the Year award by the Pacific Coast League in October as well. For the full article, please see Appendix III. Then-General Manager Chris Almendarez was also honored with an induction into the Humble High School Hall of Fame in January 2015. He and his family traveled to Humble to participate in the induction ceremony where his name will be displayed for years to come at the school. HeartGift Foundation – Founded in Austin, the HeartGift Foundation provides lifesaving heart surgery to children from developing countries. Round Rock Express CEO Reese Ryan has been involved with the organization in both Austin and the Dallas/Fort Worth area for many years, so when the foundation contacted Reese about a young boy named Edison, the Express were eager to get involved. After receiving an open heart surgery here in Austin just two weeks before, Edison and his family, who are from Bolivia, joined us for a game in June 2015. Edison was featured during pregame programming and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The best part? It all happened on little Edison’s birthday, and it was a joy to watch him celebrate with the Express players, staff, and fans that afternoon.

Hope Alliance – Based in Williamson County, HOPE Alliance serves as a domestic violence and sexual assault response and prevention program for the women of Central Texas. Several members of ownership – including Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and his wife Ruth – are personally involved with the organization and play a huge role in their fundraising efforts throughout the year. In 2014, Express ownership participated in the annual “Safe At Home” dinner, and the “Women Fore Hope” golf tournament. Hope Alliance is one of the designated nonprofit organizations for the Express.


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Round Rock ISD Community Partnership “Show Your Love” Campaign – For the past few years the Express front office has partnered with the Round Rock ISD to collect clothing for children in need in the district. Around Valentine’s Day, RRISD representatives bring a donation box to Dell Diamond where staff and guests can donate new packages of socks and underwear. In 2015, the Express staff donated one full box of socks and underwear for the cause. Score International Short-Term Mission Trip – In November 2015, two Express front office staff, along with 200 other men, are scheduled to follow President Chris Almendarez’s footsteps in bringing baseball and faith to third-world countries. Account Executive Drew Maulsby and Client Services Manager Zach Pustka, both survivors of blood cancers, have been raising funds all year to attend a four-day mission trip to the Dominican Republic where they will use the platform of baseball to share the gospel to underprivileged children through Score International’s ShortTerm Missions program. Special Guests of the Express Anthony Thomison - In May 2015, a connection of the Express contacted the team regarding a young man and lifelong Express fan named Anthony Thomison who was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 17. After several years and many methods of treatment, Anthony and his family were told by MD Anderson that there was nothing else they could do. After hearing his story, members of the front office got a Rougned Odor autographed baseball bat and a custom jersey for the boy and invited him and his whole family out to the ballpark for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Anthony was given the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a game and met pro-wrestling celebrities from Global Force Wrestling on the field during pregame. Just two weeks after the event, Anthony lost his battle against the disease, but the Express were honored to have had him as a guest at a game and he has a special place in the hearts of all involved.

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Special Guests of the Express continued… Merlyn Hileman – The Express were thrilled to learn about a young fan this year named Merlyn Hileman. Merlyn is a completely blind high school student who loves nothing more than vbaseball. Because she cannot watch the games, she listens to Mike Capps, radio broadcaster and voice of the Express, on her headphones. Her family reached out to the Express via social media thanking Mike for his work over the radio and explaining how much it meant to Merlyn to be able to picture every play that takes place in the ballpark at games. The story went viral in the office, and within days Merlyn and her father were special guests on Mike’s broadcast in-between innings at a Round Rock Express game. Merlyn has a standing invite to join Mike in the booth any time she is in the ballpark and has done so multiple times since the initial game. Samantha Lorek – Also in May 2015, the Express were contacted by the parent of a classmate of a young disabled girl named Samantha Lorek. Samantha had come home from school crying because she had never in six years at this school been awarded the “Shining Star Award” – something that all children were supposed to receive over the course of their time at the facility. Wanting to make a difference, the Express invited Samantha and her family out to the ballpark for a special presentation. They were brought on the field and the General Manager of the Express presented Samantha with her very own “Shining Star Award” in front of thousands of fans on the videoboard. Samantha had a great time at the ball game and her family was more than grateful for making their little girl feel special when so many others had overlooked her before. Dr. Steve Wilson – On the last game played at Dell Diamond for the season, Express President Chris Almendarez joined Dr. Steve Wilson on the field to be recognized for his many years of service to the ball club. Dr. Wilson’s practice, the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Texas, celebrated its 30th year in 2015 and as the lead team orthopedist for all sixteen seasons of Express baseball, as well as a team physician for Round Rock High School, Dr. Wilson is an integral part of the Round Rock community. He was invited to throw out the first pitch for the game and was also recognized in-game on the dugout.


Speakers Bureau – The goal of the Round Rock Express’ speaker’s bureau is to provide quality knowledge and information to better empower the surrounding area. Staff members provide free guest and keynote presentations year-round in Central Texas. Express employees have many diverse backgrounds spanning all levels of baseball, including: journalism, finance, marketing, sales, ownership, team building, motivation, media relations, public relations and many other sectors which are vital not only in business and education, but also in life.

Sunshine Kids – The Sunshine Kids is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children. Various families made the trip to Dell Diamond from local hospitals to watch a game from a Party Suite in the United Heritage Center, eat some great catered ballpark food, receive goodie bags of Express merchandise, take a behindthe-scenes tour of Dell Diamond and have a meet-and-greet with some Express players and staff. In all, about 15 different kids being treated at Dell Children’s and their families enjoyed a night at the ballpark in 2015. U.S. Department’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports Initiative – As part of a global effort to engage women and girls through sports, the U.S. Department of State’s international sports programming along with espnW is sponsoring a number of visitors from foreign countries to travel to the United States and take part in learning about sport in America. The Round Rock Express hosted guest Najat Al Sayegh from Kuwait for a private tour and question and answer session on Minor League Baseball and specifically how women can get involved in the sport on the business side. Najat’s personal project is to create multiple sports projects that help tackle obesity in Kuwait, and she is working on her thesis during her four-week stay with the Austin Spurs basketball team. The Express was just one of Najat’s stops, after which she visited with the University of Texas and the San Antonio Spurs.

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IN-GAME FUNDRAISING and AWARENESS

In-Game Fundraising & Awareness

#TeamJana In-Game Fundraising – On June 28, 2015, the Round Rock Express baseball family was rocked by the news that Jana Almendarez, our President Chris’ wife, had been diagnosed with Stage IV Glioblastoma. The tumor in her brain was the size of a pecan, and due to its location is inoperable. As a community and baseball family, the Express and professional baseball industry as a whole has rallied together to raise funds for the Almendarez family and awareness to the cause through #TeamJana as she has undergone radiation and chemotherapy treatments over the last three months. While the support has been overwhelming, so have the medical bills, so the Express front office made it their mission to bring in as much financial and moral support as possible while she continues to fight her battle against this disease. In July, shortly after the diagnosis, the Express hosted a silent auction of the gameworn 4th of July-themed caps that the players donned during Red, White and Blue Weekend. Each player placed the initials “JA” in silver Sharpie on the front of the hat and autographed the other side. More than $8,000 in silent auction funds and donations was raised at the game and was given directly to the family to help alleviate treatment costs. #TeamJana bracelets were purchased by the team and sold to members of the community along with ribbons and personalized t-shirts with one of Jana’s favorite Bible passages. These purple, pink and gray tees can now be seen all over Central Texas, as hundreds have been sold to the local community with all funds going back to the family. Additionally, the Director of Ballpark Entertainment at the Express came up with #KsforJana, a fundraising initiative during a game in July where front office employees vowed to donate $5 for every strikeout made by the Express pitching staff. With nine total strikeouts from pitchers Martin Perez, Phil Klein and Luke Jackson, and with some employees doubling up on donations, the front office raised $1,365 for the Almendarez family in just one night.

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Social Media – Going even further than just fundraising, the hashtags #TeamJana and #JanaStrong went viral in moral support. Pictures of people in the community holding up signs with “#TeamJana” on them began popping up all over social media. The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Frisco Rough Riders, and even all of the mascots at the Major League Baseball All-Star games in July showed their support by posting photos, tweeting, and calling people to action by sending them to a GoFundMe account created for the family. Express players personally got involved by doing interviews with local media, inscribing “JA” on their gear, and wearing #TeamJana bracelets and t-shirts. At Express home games from July on, fans were flashed #TeamJana on the video and auxiliary boards as well as on the pads in the outfield. The hashtag was even painted on the field behind home plate, where it remained for the entirety of the season. Additional Support – Furthermore, updates on Jana’s treatment and progress were posted on a site called CareGiving for the community to follow her journey, and a CareCalendar was setup online by Express staff so that over the course of her treatment, dinner would be brought to the Almendarez house for the family every night during the week. More than forty individuals and families signed up to participate in the CareCalendar, relieving a lot of the day-to-day stress of worrying about cooking and cleaning while chemo and radiation were the biggest part of the day for Jana and Chris and their two boys, Chase (19) and Luke (14). On her last day of radiation, thirty of Jana’s friends and family showed up to Texas Oncology and surprised her with balloons, confetti, and smiling faces.


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Bark in the Park presented by Action Pack Dog Center – The Express’ annual Bark in the Park Nights have been so successful over the last three seasons that they decided to host two in 2015! This years’ events brought in more than 300 dogs to Dell Diamond at games in April and May. These popular theme nights featured a pooch pregame parade, a doggy costume contest and multiple dog-themed, ingame elements as well as dog treat giveaways at the gates from MiLB sponsor, Pedigree. Fans interacted with adoptable pups at the Chasco Community Partnerships kiosk where Austin Pets Alive! and Texas Humane Heroes volunteers educated the community on the work their organizations do in the rescue and adoption space in Central Texas. In fact, two Express employees ended up adopting dogs from these organizations that they met on the concourse that night to bring home as part of their own families! “Berm Bucks” Ticket Fundraiser – The Express offer nonprofit organizations the opportunity to sell Express tickets as a fundraising effort throughout the season with the “Berm Bucks” fundraising program. Each “Berm Bucks” coupon sheet contains six general admission coupons which can be redeemed for a lawn ticket to any regular season game (excluding Opening Day and Independence Day). The organization sells each coupon sheet for $20 ($48 retail value). $10 stays with the organization and $10 is returned to the Express. The “Berm Bucks” fundraiser so far in 2015 has helped raise almost $8,000 for various youth baseball/softball teams and local nonprofit organizations such as the American Heart Association. Big League Weekend – This year’s annual Kings of the Diamond Dinner in conjunction with the 3rd annual Big League Weekend game at the Alamodome in San Antonio benefitted ChildSafe, a child abuse prevention and treatment organization, and Heroes Baseball, a military organization that focuses on bringing awareness to PTSD and suicide rates in veterans. The event featured Nolan Ryan and Pete Rose and served as a kick-off to the ever-popular BLW that weekend. More than $15,000 was donated to these two organizations as a thank you for the work they do in the State of Texas.


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Budweiser’s Good Sport Program – In an effort to discourage drinking and driving and encourage drinking responsibility, Budweiser, Brown Distributing, and the Express once again teamed up to implement the “Good Sport Program”. Every Thursday and Friday evening game, Budweiser recognized individuals who made the commitment to being the designated driver for their group by giving them a voucher for a free hot dog and soft drink. Each registrant also was given the chance to win a gift package and the title of “Good Sport of the Game.” Central Texas Flood Relief – The weekend of Memorial Day this year was a somber one for Central Texans as severe storms in the area caused fatal flooding in Williamson, Travis, Bastrop, and Hays Counties. While the Express suffered their own losses – a rained out Military Appreciation Night, for one – they were nothing compared to the devastation and havoc wreaked in the communities around Round Rock. Acknowledging its commitment to helping the efforts, the Express teamed up with United Way of Williamson County to host a donation drive at an upcoming home game. Every person that brought in a donation of highly needed goods such as cleaning supplies, diapers and bottled water received two free tickets to that night’s game. Overall, United Way WILCO and the Express collected 342 cases of water, 40 cases of diapers, 21 boxes of wipes, 28 boxes full of cleaning supplies, 24 boxes of miscellaneous items (food, tableware, etc.), 26 boxes of paper towels, 51 brooms and mops, 11 boxes of trash bags, 10 buckets and 9 bags of clothes on top of $2,300 in cash, checks and gift cards. BTX Global donated a moving truck and volunteers from United Way drove the items down to the area most in need the morning after the game. Over 1,500 tickets were given out to the game that night – a huge success for all parties involved that drastically impacted the lives of those affected by the flooding. Not only that, but the Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam announced that 100% of the proceeds from tickets to the event purchased online using the code “TXFLOOD” would go directly back to relief and recovery efforts.


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Chasco Community Partnership Program – Thanks to a partnership with Chasco Constructors, the Chasco Community Partnership Program affords one local nonprofit or charitable organization each game throughout the year an opportunity to have a presence at Dell Diamond at no cost. The partner of the night – chosen based on an application process – receives prime kiosk space on the main concourse with the purpose of bringing awareness to their specific cause and educating Express fans about their organization as a whole. Each organization is expected to provide a representative to partake in a live pregame interview on the field with the Express announcer, Glen Norman, where the group’s mission, upcoming events and other information on how to learn more are discussed in front of fans. The final component of the program involves an in-game PA announcement that is read during a half-inning break between play that challenges fans to a call to action. Over the course of the season, many of the community partners also took advantage of fundraising opportunities through ticket sales for their partnership night, and together raised over $4,169 for worthy causes in Central Texas this year by promoting a unique code specific to that one group. 76 distinctive organizations took part in the program in 2015 and represented causes such as cancer awareness, civic responsibility, animal welfare, and health and wellness, just to name a few. A full list of organizations can be found in Appendix IV. “A belated thank you for National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Night and the opportunity to raise awareness of safety tips to keep kids safer online and off. We always love coming to the Diamond! Also, thank you so much for the tickets to pass on to our law enforcement partners. Several officers from APD's missing persons and human trafficking and school safety units attended with their families, along with the director of the internet crimes against children taskforce at the attorney general's office. They were very appreciative of the chance to just enjoy themselves together and with their families - and I think the Express has some new fans! Thanks again for all you do for us and through us for Texas' children.” – Andrea Sparks, Executive Director, Texas Regional Office, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

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Community Fundraising Program, RS3 Concessionaire – The Express and concessionaire RS3 welcomed nonprofit organizations into the concession stands for the second year to help raise money for their cause during Express games. Dozens of charities, clubs, churches, and school groups took part in the program – nearly tripling the involvement from last year. Groups like Texas Tide Volleyball, Cedar Ridge Booster Club and Holy Cross Catholic Church among many others collectively raised more than $400,000 for themselves by working in RS3 Storefronts in 2015.

“Our organization has had the opportunity to recruit parents and coordinate logistics with the RS3 team in at least four events since RS3 began providing services. Our parents were trained by RS3 on several occasions on food and beverage handling and how to provide the very best customer service using the RS3 ‘Plus 1’ model. We look forward to continue working with [RS3] as we continue to work towards our financial goal and making our event memorable.” –

David Perez, president of Pflugerville High School Project Graduation

Communities in Schools – Thanks to a partnership with Whataburger, Communities in Schools was awarded a check in the amount of $3,525 by the end of the 2015 season. Every time the Express won a game at home, Whataburger put $75 towards the program. After 47 wins at home, a representative from Whataburger joined Communities in Schools on the field for a special check presentation during pregame. The funds will go towards continuing to keep kids in school and reducing the dropout rate in the Central Texas region.

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Dell Gives Back – As a part of the renewed, 10-year naming rights agreement prior to the 2013 season, Dell and the Round Rock Express have committed to allocating $25,000 of the annual sponsorship to various nonprofits in and around Central Texas each year. An internal committee was created with both Dell and Express representatives to determine the criteria for consideration and to award the year’s beneficiaries. This committee will meet in the fall and the charities will be selected and presented with their donation by December 31, 2015. Dell Internship – This internship was designed to give the son or daughter of a Dell employee the chance to learn the ins-and-outs of the business and operations of a Minor League Baseball team for four months during the summer. This year’s internship was a paid, seasonal position granted to David Hilbun who was able to learn the inner workings of ticket sales, marketing, game day entertainment, communications, retail management and turf services. At the culmination of the summer, David was granted a $1,000 scholarship from Dell towards college to further his education even more! He was recognized on-field prior to a 2015 home game and participated in a formal check presentation in front of his friends and family. Dell Tablet Giveaways – Dell was kind enough to provide brand new tablets for a variety of causes this year including a special Military Appreciation Night presentation to entrepreneurial organization “The Bunker” and the 10 millionth fan giveaway package. They also participated in giveaways for Fan Appreciation Weekend, providing three fans brand new Dell 8 tablets. Legacy of Good Night – In an effort to increase employee engagement and create awareness surrounding Dell’s Legacy of Good plan, Dell hosted “Legacy of Good Night” at Dell Diamond in July 2015. All Dell employees and their friends and family were invited to the Express game for free. Employees and the general public were encouraged to bring in old or used computer equipment to Dell Diamond to be recycled through the Dell Reconnect program.

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Donation Requests – The Round Rock Express donate countless tickets, merchandise and memorabilia to hundreds of qualifying organizations throughout the state of Texas every year. To maximize its charitable efforts, the Express primarily give direct support to disadvantaged youth, youth development and educational programs, youth baseball programs and medical research organizations. Anyone is welcome to request a donation on the team website all year-round.

514 $32,524 $3,000+


INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES & BENEFITS IN DONATED TICKETS IN 2015

IN DONATED MEMORABILIA & MERCHANDISE Ed Randall’s Bat for the Cure – The Express partnered with Ed Randall’s “Bat for the Cure” – a “Home Grown Charity Partner of Minor League Baseball” – to present “Prostate Cancer Awareness Night” at Dell Diamond in 2015. Local volunteers manned a booth during the night's game to pass out informational material and raffle off a team-signed blue bat, the color of prostate awareness. A pregame PSA was played on the stadium's video board to showcase the organization and the cause followed by an on-field interview with an Ed Randall’s volunteer. The Express players also wore light blue wristbands during the game show their support for the evening’s cause.


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Hand to Hold – In August 2015, local organization Hand to Hold celebrated its fifth birthday out at Dell Diamond. The 501c3 nonprofit matches seasoned parents of prematurely born children with parents who are in need of support and resources. The group was featured as the night’s community partner where they were able to spread awareness about their cause to fans in the ballpark. To make the night that more special, Curtis Jarrod Clay IV, once a premature newborn, threw out a first pitch before the game! KVUE/Be the Match Bone Marrow Drive – On July 31, 2015, the Round Rock Express teamed up with KVUE to host a Bone Marrow Drive through Be the Match, a donor organization that helps pair the 14,000 people a year who need a life-saving match with a donor. The drive was inspired by a 6-year-old Austin girl named Yasmin Hernandez who suffers from aplastic anemia and spent most of her summer in and out of hospitals waiting for a match for a bone marrow transplant. Over 200 people did a cheek swab at the Express game that night and an additional 210 individuals registered themselves online during the campaign. KVUE and Be the Match set up inside the home plate concourse to take swabs and to report live on the event. While a match has not yet been found for Yasmin, a KVUE employee was told he was a match for a 17-year-old girl with leukemia and ended up saving her life. Story here: http://www.kvue.com/story/life/events/2015/07/31/saving-lives-at-delldiamond/30926811/


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KXAN Fans for Fans – The Express, KXAN and Family Eldercare teamed up once again in 2015 for the annual “Fans from Fans” event at Dell Diamond to provide Central Texans in need with relief from the life-threatening summer heat. Express fans were encouraged to bring a fan to the night’s game in exchange for a pair of tickets. This year 44 fans were collected at the event, which translates into $660 in program savings for Family Eldercare. KXAN broadcast the event from outside of the Dell Diamond where they had prime space outside of the main gate to create awareness and collect fan donations. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Two members of the current Express front office staff have battled blood cancers in their lives, and it influenced them to come together to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” Walk this fall. Representatives from the society came out to an Express playoff game in September as the Chasco Community Partner for the evening. Roel, a resident of Kyle, Texas and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia survivor, joined the team on field during pregame as a special guest and threw out a first pitch. Roel’s 39 total months of chemotherapy starting on his 2nd birthday has proved worthwhile, as he has been cancer-free since June 2014. The moment was very special for Roel, his family, and all of the Express staff who have such close ties to the cause!


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Muscles on the Mound – On the Express’ annual Star Wars Night at Dell Diamond, the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association served as the Chasco Community Partner for the evening. Volunteers helped staff the R2D2 specialty jersey auction, which raised $5,395 for the organization. Special guest Cadet First Sergeant Ryan Howley acted as a representative for the organization as the nominee for the “Salute to Our Heroes” program and also threw out a ceremonial first pitch. Ryan was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2A. Together with his Round Rock High School Cadets enrolled in the ROTC, Ryan helped raise over $100,000 on behalf of MDA and volunteered more than 500 weekend hours to the cause with their race team “Warhorse Nation”. His team not only won the Top Fundraising Team in Central Texas in 2014 and 2015, but also ranked in the Top 5 Fundraising Teams for MDA on a national scale. Ryan’s disease severely limits his ability to walk, but he stood tall on the mound as he fired in a pitch in front of thousands of fans, friends, and family. Pink in the Park – The annual “Pink in the Park” night at Dell Diamond serves to create awareness and support for the Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Players donned pink jerseys emblazoned with the names of 200 breast cancer survivors or loved ones lost. These game-worn tributes to breast cancer were auctioned off on the concourse during the game along with donated Rangers and Express memorabilia, raising $9,380. All of the proceeds went to benefit Komen Austin’s fight to find a cure for breast cancer. Before the game, the President of Komen Austin (also a survivor) was interviewed on the field before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, and ten local survivors took the field with the Express as the evening’s “Baseball Buddies”. Rather than bringing the usual baseball to be autographed by a player, the players each brought a survivor a pink rose. Dell Diamond’s concessionaire, RS3, sold pink Pop Rocks at their storefronts for the cause, and the Railyard Team Store also sold pink bracelets.

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Power to Save Texas Campaign – The Public Utility Commission of Texas joined the Express at a home game this year to promote its “Power to Save Texas Campaign” aimed at helping Texans save energy and money by conserving electricity during the period of the day when electricity usage is the highest (summer months from 3pm7pm). Representatives from the initiative handed out insulated grocery bags and “Power to Save” fans. They were also featured on the field for a live interview with PA announcer Glen Norman during pregame. The Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas threw out a first pitch. Round Rock Arts Council “Have A Ball” Contest – The Express partnered with the Round Rock Area Arts Council, to host the second annual “Have A Ball” contest benefiting area art scholarships and the Round Rock Arts Council. Fans were encouraged to transform a baseball – or two – into a creative work of art and submit it for entry amongst several different categories. All entries were judged by a local panel that crowned a first, second, third and honorable mention winner in each category. They were also made available for purchase through a silent auction on the Express concourse during an Express home game. In total, over 70 entries were submitted and $1,000 was raised through the silent auction. Shirt-Off-Their-Back Night – During the final home stand of the season, the Express hosted the annual “Shirt-Off-Their-Back-Night” sponsored by Kerbey Lane Café as part of Fan Appreciation Weekend. Fans purchased $1 raffle tickets throughout the game with hopes of winning one of the jerseys worn by the Express players and coaches that evening. Following the game, the winning numbers were drawn and fans were allowed onto the field to collect their winnings from the player or coach. The 2015 event raised $3,785 for United Way for Greater Austin.

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Specialty Jersey Nights – This season the Express partnered with Dell, D.R. Horton, Mister Car Wash and USAA to sponsor six unique (and one very ugly) specialty jerseys that the players wore for certain home games this year. A silent auction for each of the game-worn jerseys was held in the concourse to raise money for a predesignated Central Texas nonprofit organization. Over the course of the year, Express fans raised $38,955 for deserving charities through jersey auctions.


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“Strike Out Hunger” – The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas, teamed up with the Express every Wednesday game again in 2015 to offer fans the opportunity to exchange two H-E-B branded canned goods for a lawn ticket to that night’s game. Collectively, 2,409 pounds of canned food was collected, converting into 2,008 meals provided by Express fans to help feed our community! One local company in particular took the promotion to the next level by challenging their staff to collect 1,000 cans in the office over the course of a month. Local Austin business HotSchedules was recognized on the field by Express staff for their contributions and made a day of the event by volunteering at the Food Bank prior to the game. The entire staff was honored on the videoboard for their donation of both goods and volunteer hours to the Capital Area Food Bank.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame – On the last day of the regular season, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame based in Waco, Texas served as the community partner for the early afternoon Labor Day game. They set up a display of iconic Texas sports memorabilia and displays inside the home plate gate where fans could take pictures and receive discounted day passes to the museum. Cat Osterman, University of Texas softball legend and USSA Pride retiree, threw out a ceremonial first pitch on behalf of the TSHOF to Express Catcher Brett Nicholas to start off the game. She even hung out during pregame in the dugout with the players, many of whom asked for autographed and photos with the softball star.


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Variety, The Children’s Charity of Texas – The Express were honored to surprise Paishance McWain with an adaptive tricycle during pregame in June 2015 courtesy of Variety, The Children’s Charity of Texas. Paishance is an 8-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy, which makes riding a traditional bike impossible. Thanks to the Financial Assistance Program provided by Variety, Paishance was able to ride her new trike behind home plate in front of thousands assisted by her family, Heartly, Variety’s mascot, and Spike, the Express mascot. That evening, more than 250 special needs children supported by the charity attended the ballgame and the group was also showcased on the videoboard during the game.

Military

APPRECIATION

Military Appreciation

Heroes Baseball – As part of the “Salute to Our Heroes” program this year, the Express were honored to have Heroes Baseball, a 501c3, as a special guest organization at a game in September. The group is comprised of military veterans who play baseball in order to raise awareness for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), TBI, and suicide amongst military veterans. Heroes Baseball encourages vets and soldiers to be active not only on the baseball diamond but also in the community helping others. They push to raise awareness of veteran disabilities and provide a positive team atmosphere to help eliminate suicide amongst freedom fighters. More than ten members of the group came to Dell Diamond with their families to be recognized on the field during pregame. Mike Barker, the leader of the organization, threw out a first pitch on behalf of the group. Members of Heroes Baseball were also on the Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam roster in May.

Military Appreciation Night – More than 4,500 veterans joined the Express at Dell Diamond in 2015 for our annual “Military Appreciation Night” to honor those who currently serve or have served our country in the various branches of our military. After devastating storms and statewide flooded forced the game to be cancelled for the originally scheduled date, the Express along with USAA and the Central Texas Veteran Healthcare System were able to execute a flawless and heartfelt evening on Monday, July 6th, 2015. Nonprofit Expo – A military nonprofit expo was hosted by the Central Texas VA with more than 40 veteran service organizations showcasing special programs for veterans, active military and civilians during the game. Screenings for healthcare qualifications were held on site, and Jeff Kyle, brother of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, participated in a private meet and greet with expo volunteers. Attendees were offered free food vouchers and the opportunity to network with thousands of other veterans.

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Specialty Jerseys – The game-worn jerseys adorned with 400 fan-submitted names of current or former military members were auctioned off on the concourse, bringing in over $16,000 and crushing all previous jersey auction records. All proceeds were split between Jeff Kyle’s nonprofit organization, Guardian for Heroes Foundation and singer Scott Brown’s nonprofit, Base Camp 40, Warriors in the Wild, both of which who were also honored as the Chasco Community Partners for the evening alongside Operation Supply Drop and were interviewed live during pregame about their respective causes. Many of the name submissions for the jerseys came with personal anecdotes, two dozen of which were displayed outside the conference center for people to read. And more – Other elements of the night included performances by the 1st Cavalry Division Band out of Fort Hood, military Jeeps and other vehicles for fans to explore outside the gates, a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Jeff Kyle, and military children as the “Baseball Buddies” for the night. A moment of silence was followed by the playing of “Taps” by a lone bugler before the National Anthem, and Scott Brown performed “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. Various military groups were honored throughout the game in-between innings, including an official Marine swear-in. For a full list of in-game recognitions, please see Appendix V.


10,563 total attendance

4,500+ donated tickets

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Military Ticket Donations – Corporate sponsor USAA helped the Express donate over 35,000 tickets to soldiers and their families stationed at various bases in and around Central Texas including Fort Hood, Camp Mabry and the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in 2015. The recipients of the donated tickets enjoyed Dell Diamond baseball on Friday, Saturday and Sunday games throughout the entire season. The Express ticket office also offers military members a discount on tickets throughout the year.


Opening Day with “Operation: Military Kids” – For the fourth year in a row, the Express partnered with “Operation: Military Kids” on Opening Day to salute the military and their families. Over 50 children with one or more parents in the military, many of whom are impacted by military deployments, lined up around the infield in the rain during the special Opening Day ceremonies each holding an American flag in honor of their parents. The month of April marks the nation’s “Month of the Military Child,” a time to honor youth impacted by deployment, making the timing of Opening Day that much more special.

Salute to Our Heroes – The Express and Re-bath teamed up again in 2015 to support the “Salute to Our Heroes” program. Prior to each Express home game, one local veteran or active duty service member is highlighted on the field, receiving live recognition on both the scoreboard and stadium PA system for their service. The Hero is selected by nominations through the Express’ social media and website. During pregame, he or she joins the Express Manager and other members of the team on the field for the duration of the National Anthem. Each of our Heroes and their families are given free parking and tickets to the game to enjoy some baseball as a token of appreciation for their service. In total, more than 300 tickets were donated to our Heroes program in 2015 and just over 60 individuals were recognized for their service. “[Being a part of the Salute to Our Heroes Program] was such an honor. I appreciate all that you do for our Vets. Thank you!” – Leading Petty Officer Christopher Nelson, USN

52

Soldier’s Angels, Cards for Soldiers – On a Sunday afternoon in May before a Round Rock Express game, dozens of Junior Sluggers Kids Club members crafted cards at Dell Diamond to be sent to active military members serving overseas. The glittered, baseball-themed cards were collected and mailed out to a local organization called Solider’s Angels that provides various programs for our veteran and active duty military communities. They then mailed the cards to American troops abroad to bring a smile to their faces when they miss home the most.


VetTix – The Express continued its partnership with the Veteran Tickets Foundation during the 2015 season. VetTix provides active duty and retired service members and their families access to free tickets to sporting events, family activities, concerts, and more. Over the course of the season, the Express donated an average of 28 tickets per homestand to the company to be utilized by the Central Texas military community. VetTix was also featured as the community partner at a home game where they were able to spread the word about their services in front of thousands of people.

YOUTH Programs

Youth Programs

54

Baseball Buddies presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors – Once again in 2015, Academy Sports & Outdoors gave area youth baseball and softball teams the opportunity to serve as Baseball Buddies at an Express game. A different group of buddies took the field with the Express players before each game for the singing of the National Anthem. In addition, each Baseball Buddy received an autographed card to get signatures from the team and many were able to interact with the players during their warmups. More than 55 youth baseball and softball teams and leagues participated in the Baseball Buddies program in 2015. Boy & Girl Scout Night – Again in 2015 Boy and Girl Scouts from the Central Texas region were each given a designated night to sleepover at Dell Diamond. Over 300 boy scouts and 450 girl scouts participated in a pregame parade and were allowed to spend the night in tents in the outfield. The scouts were treated to The Sandlot on the videoboard, an open pool area and fun zone, and of course, pizza. The scouts also received donuts and orange juice in the morning. D.A.R.E. Day – D.A.R.E Day at the ballpark recognizes local 5th graders from area schools who have graduated from the D.A.R.E. program. General admission tickets were given to over 2,500 students who satisfactorily passed the program in 2015.

Youth Programs

55

National School Breakfast Week – In a partnership with Round Rock Food Services, the Express created a video during the offseason to bring awareness to the importance of eating a healthy, balanced breakfast to elementary school students throughout the district. The storyline involved Spike, the Express mascot, and Ace, Aramark foodservices’ mascot, playing a baseball game at Dell Diamond. They were sluggish because they didn’t eat breakfast, but after a visit to the Jollyville Elementary cafeteria where they snacked on whole grains and fruits, the duo “hit it out of the park”. The video was shown to over 20,000 Round Rock ISD students in their classrooms before National School Breakfast Week. Once the week began, every child who ate breakfast at school was entered into a drawing for a free Junior Sluggers Kids Club membership and a visit from Spike the mascot to breakfast at their school. The top three participating elementary schools in the district received visits from Spike, and one lucky winner from each of those schools won the free membership for the 2015 season. The program was a great success in year one, and the Express hope to further the partnership to other schools in the outlying towns of Round Rock in 2016. View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Y0mgnMDGZBw

Youth Programs

56

Round Rock Police Department Junior Police Academy – For the first time in 2015, the Express partnered with the Round Rock Police Department’s Junior Police Academy to create a special field trip experience for the participants in the six-session program over the course of the summer. Each class took a free, private tour of Dell Diamond led by the Street Team. They were then brought to the Intel Club for a chalk talk with an Express front office member or player to discuss the business of baseball, ballpark entertainment, life as a professional player and more. At the end of the session, all participants and officers were given a team photo and four tickets to a future Express game for them and their families. Over 200 kids from ages seven to fifteen participated in the program and more than 800 tickets were donated to the cause.

School Spirit Nights – The Express partnered with PTAs from local schools to host “Spirit Nights” at Dell Diamond in 2015 to help raise much needed funds for community schools and get kids excited about the end or beginning of school. A portion of each ticket sold through their fundraiser for the night went directly back to benefit the PTA. Many schools used their night as an end-of-the-year celebration and were also recognized on the video board for being at the game.

57

Youth Programs

Spike Supports STAAR – “Spike Supports STAAR” is a fourth-year program offered in support of Round Rock ISD schools prior to their year-end state assessment tests (STAAR). A list of five testing tips (one for each letter in Spike the mascot’s name) were distributed to each participating school and its students. The Express Street Team then took Spike out to each school and participated in that school’s STAAR kick-off assembly, sharing the testing tips with students and passing out pencils to wish them good luck. Due to high demand for the program, the Express produced a video detailing Spike’s test-taking tips so that even if Spike could not make a school’s assembly, they could still play the STAAR video at their event. In these cases, the Express would mail pencils and cards to the schools along with the video. Swing for Success presented by Mrs Baird’s – In an effort to support studentathletes in the Central Texas area, Mrs Baird’s and the Round Rock Express teamed up to implement the “Swing for Success” campaign during the 2015 season for the first time. This initiative awarded a $500 scholarship to ten different graduating seniors from area high schools to use towards college, totaling $5,000 donated in scholarship monies over the course of the year. The recipients were nominated by their high school principals, coaches and athletic directors. The Express chose a male and a female representative from each school as the winners. Each winner was designated a Monday night game to which he/she received free parking and tickets for their families and were asked to join Express management, representatives from Mrs. Baird’s and our mascot Spike on the field during pregame for a live check presentation. The student was pictured on the videoboard receiving the check and a short blurb was read regarding their successes both in and out of the classroom.

Appendices

LIST OF APPENDICES A P P E N D I X

I

SMARTASSET ARTICLE A P P E N D I X

60-68 II

TRIPLE-A FOR A DAY A P P E N D I X

69-85 III

AUSTIN-AMERICAN STATESMAN ARTICLE A P P E N D I X

IV

CHASCO COMMUNITY PARTNERS A P P E N D I X

95-96 V I I

2015 CONTRIBUTIONS A P P E N D I X

97-99 V I I I

2015 FRONT OFFICE INVOLVEMENT A P P E N D I X

91-94

V I

NON-GAMEDAY EVENTS A P P E N D I X

89-90

V

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT A P P E N D I X

86-88

100-103

I X

FUNDRAISING ORGANIZATIONS

104-105

Appendix I

SMARTASSET ARTICLE

10/8/2015

The Best Minor League Baseball Towns of 2015 | SmartAsset.com

The Best Minor League Baseball Towns of 2015 Nick Wallace

OCT 07, 2015

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Minor League Baseball continues to grow in popularity. In 2014 a record 42.4 million fans attended Minor League Baseball games across the country, an increase of more than 850,000 over 2013. To put that in perspective, the total attendance for the NFL’s 2014 season was about 17.6 million. https://smartasset.com/mortgage/bestminorleaguebaseballtowns2015

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This is SmartAsset’s second annual ranking of America’s Best Minor League Baseball Towns. See the 2014 ranking here.

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What, exactly, makes Minor League Baseball (MiLB) so popular? After all, it doesn’t have the superstars that draw fans to other professional sporting events and the winners of MiLB championships can’t claim to be the best in the world. Instead, MiLB relies on a strong sense of community between fans, teams and the towns in which they play. MiLB games are generally affordable and family-friendly – the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

Data & Methodology SmartAsset’s study of America’s Best Minor League Baseball Towns considered two main factors. Using a data-driven approach, we wanted to determine the quality of life in each town, as well as the quality of the game day experience enjoyed in each stadium. Try SmartAsset’s free mortgage calculator. To that end, we calculated two separate scores for each town, based on nine individual metrics. These metrics are the same as those used in last year’s study, though we added average attendance (as a percentage of stadium capacity) to better capture the energy in the stadium at game time. Quality of Life Violent crime per 100,000 residents. Property crime per 100,000 residents. Income after housing costs – the difference between median household income and median annual housing costs, including taxes, insurance and mortgage payments or rent. Unemployment rate. Dining and entertainment establishments per 10,000 residents. [1] Game Day Experience Team win percentage. Minor league class – AAA is best, followed by (in this order) AA, High A, Low A, Short-Season and https://smartasset.com/mortgage/bestminorleaguebaseballtowns2015

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Rookie. Average attendance as percentage of stadium capacity. Stadium rank – a ranking of every minor league ballpark, as determined by StadiumJourney.com. To create the two scores based on these metrics, we ranked every town and team according to each metric and assigned points based on that ranking. A team with the best overall ranking for a given metric received 159 points, while a team with the worst ranking (the highest crime rate, for example) received 1 point. We then totaled the points for each category and indexed those totals to 100, with the highest total receiving a 100. Lastly, we averaged the two scores, giving equal weight to each.

Key Findings Round Rock takes first. After ranking as America’s eighth best minor league baseball town in 2014, Round Rock, Texas leaps into the top spot. The Round Rock Express improved their regular season record to 78-66 this year after going 70-74 last season. Texas steals the show. The Lone Star State grabbed five of the top 25 spots in our ranking. Joining Round Rock were Midland, Frisco, El Paso and Corpus Christi. Iowa hits a double. Davenport and Des Moines tied for third with an identical overall score of 89.87. While Davenport’s game day experience rated slightly higher in our analysis, Des Moines had the edge in overall quality of life.

https://smartasset.com/mortgage/bestminorleaguebaseballtowns2015

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Round Rock, Texas Round Rock Express After posting more losses than wins in 2014, the Round Rock Express flipped the script in 2015 and fielded the top team in the American Southern division of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). In the process, the team’s average attendance rose to 8,509, fifth highest in MiLB, equal to 85% of their stadium capacity. The home team had fans in Round Rock smiling this summer, but they have plenty of other reasons to cheer. The city’s unemployment rate is just 3.2%, eighth highest in our study. Likewise, while the city’s median income is about $70,000, annual housing costs average just $15,264. That adds up to the eighth highest discretionary income of any Minor League Baseball town – more money to spend on baseball tickets. Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Storm Chasers Winners of back-to-back Triple-A championships in 2013 and 2014, the Storm Chasers have at last been dethroned, though not for lack of trying. Their 80-64 regular season record this year is better than the record they posted in either championship season, but because of fierce competition in the https://smartasset.com/mortgage/bestminorleaguebaseballtowns2015

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PCL’s American Conference, they failed to make the playoffs. Moving to Omaha? Find out how much house you can afford. Nonetheless, Storm Chasers fans have plenty to feel good about. Their city enjoys the fourth lowest unemployment rate of any MiLB town, at just 2.9% (as of June 2015). Davenport, Iowa Quad City River Bandits Even in Minor League Baseball, where delicacies such as the Grilled Cheese Hot Dog or the Pulled Pork Parfait can make the game seem like a sideshow, everyone has more fun when the home team wins. In 2015, fans of the Quad City River Bandits must have had a lot of fun. The team won 88 games, posting the best regular season record of any team. Add to that a top-20 stadium according to StadiumJourney.com and attendance that averages 95% of capacity, and you have one of the best atmospheres in all of baseball. Des Moines, Iowa Iowa Cubs With a population of nearly 210,000, Des Moines is one of the largest cities with a Minor League Baseball team. The Cubs have played in Des Moines since 1969, when they were known as the Oaks. They changed names in 1981 when they became affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. While the Des Moines team has had about as much success winning championships as the parent organization, it still draws plenty of fans on a nightly basis. In 2015, average attendance for the Iowa Cubs was 7,381, 15th highest in MiLB. Geneva, Illinois Kane County Cougars Located along the Fox River an hour west of Chicago, Geneva is a charming small town of just over 20,000 residents. It rated first among all Minor League Baseball towns for its quality of life, scoring a perfect 100. One reason for that high rating? Geneva is extremely safe. It has the lowest violent crime rate of any MiLB town, with 9 violent crimes per every 100,000 residents. Whether they are walking to a game or walking around town afterwards, baseball fans in Geneva can feel safe doing so. Columbus, Ohio Columbus Clippers If you’ve never been to a Minor League Baseball game before, Columbus would be a great place to start. The Clippers averaged nearly 9,000 fans at every game in 2015, filling their stadium to 89% capacity. After visiting every stadium in MiLB, StadiumJourney.com ranked Huntington Park as the sixth best (out of 159). https://smartasset.com/mortgage/bestminorleaguebaseballtowns2015

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They also notched 83 wins to just 61 losses during the 2015 regular season, among the best records in Minor League Baseball. Those are all reasons why Columbus had the top rated game day experience in 2015, scoring a perfect 100 for that measure. Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne TinCaps In 2009 the TinCaps began playing in a brand new stadium in downtown Fort Wayne. Today, Parkview Field is rated as the best stadium in all of Minor League Baseball, and TinCaps fans regularly fill it to near capacity. Visitors to Parkview Field should make sure to try the Big Apple, a five pound dessert that includes four servings of apple crisp and five scoops of vanilla ice cream. Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Knights Charlotte averaged 9,400 fans per game this year, 92% of their stadium’s capacity. That’s the sixth highest average percent capacity of any team in the minors and one reason Charlotte had the secondbest game day experience of any team in 2015. Portland, Maine Portland Sea Dogs The top town in last year’s ranking, Portland slips this year after a disappointing season from the Sea Dogs. The team went just 53-89 in 2015 after winning 88 games last year. That performance dampened attendance somewhat, though the Sea Dogs did average a respectable 73% of capacity. Nonetheless, Portland remains one of the top places in America to catch an MiLB game. It has the fifth highest concentration of dining and entertainment establishments, with more than 30 for every 10,000 residents. That means there’s plenty to do after the final swing of the bat. Durham, North Carolina Durham Bulls In our analysis, Durham’s game day experience ranked third in all of Minor League Baseball, with a total score of 98.73. Among the reasons for that high rating was the team’s strong attendance, filling the stadium to 78% of capacity on average, and the well-regarded Durham Bulls Athletic Park. This year Durham fans enjoyed eight starts from one of the best pitchers in the minors. Blake Snell was voted MiLB player of the year by USAToday. Durham also holds a special place in the hearts of sports movies fans. The team and city were the subject and setting of the 1988 classic Bull Durham.


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Questions about our study? Contact us at [email protected]. Photo credits: ©iStock.com/Renphoto 1. Data on violent crime and property crime rates came from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting database as well as local police department websites. Data on the unemployment rate came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on median annual income and median annual housing costs came from the U.S. Census Bureau, as did data on the number of dining and entertainment establishments per capita.


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