Kane County Cougars Baseball

Sunshine, Fireworks, and Baseball since 1991

By: Kyle Kirchhoff

About the Cougars

• Located in Geneva, Illinois– about 45-60 minutes west of Chicago

• Moved from Wausau, Wisconsin• In one of the largest markets• Ranks among top for attendance– Surpassed 400,000 fan mark 18 times since 1991

• Exceptions 1991-1993, 2012

About the Cougars cont.

• About 70 home games• Affordable, friendly, family fun• Excellent Promotions• Amazing Entertainers• Fireworks and Running the Bases

Cougars Affiliates

• Baltimore Orioles (1991-92)• Florida Marlins (1993-2002)• Oakland Athletics (2003-2010)• Kansas City Royals (2011 – 2012? )• Chicago Cubs (2013 - ????) **rumored**

Cougar Pride

• Over 120 Cougars have made it to the MLB• Notable Alumni include – Ryan Dempster, Adrain Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Miguel

Cabrera, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis

Future Stars

• Met/worked with great players

Promotions• Almost every half inning• Promos for all ages• Examples:– Daily’s Frozen t-shirt– Ozzie Race– Souvenir/Water Balloon Launch– Aerosol Can Race– Hyundai Test Drive

Typical Game Day• Arrive• Before Gates Open

– Gazettes– concourse tables – gates – bubbles – smoking areas– scoreboards – Promotions

• Pre-Game• Post Game

– Fireworks– Run the Bases

Not So Typical Game Day

Unique Opportunities

• 2012 Midwest League All-Star Game• Wilco Concert

2012 MWL All-Star Game

• Fan Fest– Fan batting practice – Kids Zone

• Entertainers• All-Star Game– East beat West 18-2– Bullpen Catcher for East

Wilco Concert

• July 8, 2012• Worked Parking all-day• 20,000 people

Wilco Pictures

Theme Nights

• Almost every weekend• 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s Night• Jimmy Buffet, Star Wars, Christmas in July

Different Jobs

• Promotions• Parking• Kids Zone• Grounds Crew• Usher• 50/50

Promotions

• Pre-game– Water Balloons– Ball Blast– Find Fans– Parade– Autograph Session– First Pitches– National Anthem

Promotions Cont.

• During Game– Souvenir Launch– Can Race– Assigned Promotion

• Post Game– Running the Bases

Conclusion

• Learned the in-and-outs of a minor league team• Learned a variety of marketing techniques• Learned to provide great customer service• Learned to improvise on the fly• Advice: Don’t treat it like a job.