SOUTH BEND, IN. – The Write on Sports camp from Goshen College went to South Bend to pay a visit to the spontaneous and upbeat mascot Swoop and watch the Bees vs. Hawks game on July 17, 2014. “Where everyone comes to play” and “making memories” are the two slogans of the South Bend Silver Hawks, said Joe Hart, the President of this minor league baseball team. Hart and his staff of thirteen make it their goal to make the ballpark as family-friendly as possible.
One way that Hart is achieving that goal is by making the Four Winds Field fun for all ages. For example, there is a Splash Pad and inflatables for the kids to have fun. There are fireworks after every Friday night game
Another fun crowd-grabber is the giveaways. After every inning on Saturdays they give away brand new TVs, about nine per weekend. On Sunday afternoons the players stay after the games and give an autograph to every fan that wants one. If you come with a group, everyone in your party gets a free Silver Hawks baseball cap.
Hart trys to get the players to “connect with the community.” One way that he does that is by having them all go to Memorial Children’s Hospital. Another way was by having all of the players go to Applebee’s and be waiters for the evening and then give all of their tips to the hospital. A vision of Hart’s is to “get fans to be able to connect with the players.”
Hart wants the ballpark to be fun for everyone and get people excited, and that is where Swoop flys in.