For those of you that haven't made the trek to McCoy Stadium before, we encourage you to come. Its a little later in the summer than we'd all like but its a really memorable event. How many times does a kid get to say they've slept on a professional baseball field. Well I am not sure how many times it comes up in conversation when you're an adult but it is fun nonetheless.
COST: $25.00
DEADLINE FOR HEADCOUNT: MAY 29 (to Vince Wicker)
Here's some insight into the event in case you haven't been (or you've blocked it all out since your last trip there)
Getting In To Camp
The way it works is this. Go to the game and have a ball (there might even be a clinic before the game where the kids get to chat with a few of the players), all the games we've been to have been pretty exciting. Around the end of the game (or if you're a 9-inning junkie, exactly after the last out of the game) you exit the field to get your camping gear.
Waiting To Get In Tip #1: The smart ones bring a wagon of some sort. This helps moving through the line to get in the outfield (and there will be a wait), they're not dragging things along or negotiating with a 7-year old at 9:30 at night to "just hold it a little longer...."
Waiting to Get In Tip #2: If you time it right, you can move your car from the parking lot outside the stadium (highly recommended) into the stadium parking lot. This reduces the gear to gate distance greatly. This is another reason we sometimes leave the game a bit early. The problem is timing it with those exiting the field (including the opposing team's large bus)
To get in the gate to the outfield you will need to give the overnight camping stub from your ticket to the person checking people in. Now that you're in -- make a break for some open space, set up your tent and relax. We've normally been out in the left or center field area near the warning track (i.e. back of the outfield).
Planning on Some Comfort
This is a very green field with a sophisticated sprinkler system. The ground will be wet. Not to the touch but if you sit (or lie) on it for an extended period of time, you will know this to be very true.
Comfort Tip #1: Bring a Tarp or Some Plastic Sheeting to Place Under Your Tent. It will keep you dry (I usually double it up just to make sure).
Comfort Tip #2: Camping in the summer is fun -- if the ventilation on your tent is fine and you don't mind sleeping on your bag instead of in it you'll be fine. Net-net, it could be hot out there in July.
Comfort Tip#3: There are two bathrooms. One a little further away in the bleachers and one outside the field. It gets a little busy --- just plan ahead for all the teeth brushing and bathroom breaks. Again, 10:00 at night with a 7 year old hopping around.... you get the picture (sigh).
Comfort Tip:4: A lawn chair that doesn't cramp anyone's style around you might be a good idea (the quarters can get pretty tight with these Taj Mahal-tents that arrive from all corners of the Commonwealth..) will make watching the movie nice. With the tents and the like, its a little tough to get a line of sight right up (especailly when you're below the JumboTron).
Sleeping
You can and you will -- the kids get excited so don't plan on a great night out in the peaceful wild
Getting Around
It gets very dark. Make sure you bring a flashlight to get around at night. When they shut off the lights, you dont' want to be the one who trips over a tent-stake in flip-flops.
Some people have even brought along walkie-talkies so that they can communicate with boys who are off playing all over the place.
Mitts and catch. You can for a while but at a certain point, it all has to stop and people need to sleep. Also the younger they are the more things that can be lost so proceed at your own pace of comfort. You'll have enough fun setting up and bedding down for the night. Remember this is after a game in the late (not early) evening.
Leaving in the Morning (and Breakfast)
Also as to when you can leave in the morning -- anytime. Just remember we also get 1 HUGE half pint of milk and a snack-size box of dry cereal (so weigh that over going home and having breakfast).
Also remember that there is the issue of the sprinklers coming on sometime around 8 am so...(they'll announce it but know that there really will not be a chance to "sleep in"). You'll be having a lot of fun -- too much fun to sit around sleeping and waiting for room service
Getting out is simple, but after that night, the wagon I described (is a great option for those of us who don't pack up after a trip as neatly and efficiently as we did leaving for the trip).
Cannot wait to see you there!
