Mondor made baseball economical and entertaining in Rhode Island
Monday, October 04, 2010
Mondor, the owner of the Pawtucket Red Sox since 1977, died Monday at the age of 85. What I know about the PawSox couldn’t fill a thimble, but what I do know is a visit to McCoy Stadium is always a fun-filled, cost-effective night on the town thanks in large part to the way Mondor perfected the concept of the “fan-friendly” atmosphere.
While many owners claim to put the fans first, Mondor was one of the few who actually delivered on that promise. The PawSox were practically bankrupt when he bought the franchise in ’77, and the stadium was a dump. They drew a shade over 70,000 fans in his first season as owner. Within two years, attendance doubled. Now the PawSox draw close to half a million fans a year.
The secret to Mondor’s success was paying close attention to detail, such as adding cup-holders to every seat, and turning McCoy Stadium into the ultimate family destination on summer nights in Rhode Island, which, no offense, couldn’t have been an easy task in the heart of downtown Pawtucket.
Anyone who knows baseball knows it’s not about winning at the minor-league level. These teams are here to serve as feeder systems for the major-league franchise. With so many call-ups throughout the year, the roster changes frequently, making it hard for fans to fall in love with a particular group of players.
From a marketing standpoint, the product on the field at the minor-league level doesn’t matter as much as what’s going on in the stands or throughout the stadium. Amidst rumors of the team moving to Worcester due to signs of structural damage at McCoy, Mondor decided his best bet was to renovate the stadium with a complete makeover in 1999, including more seats and a grassy knoll near the bullpen where fans can sit picnic-style and watch the game from the outfield. That year, McCoy drew more than 400,000 fans. The rest is history.
While McCoy is still undersized by minor-league standards, it’s regarded as one of the most fan-friendly stadiums in professional baseball, not only because of the extra amenities, but because of the affordable prices as well. Tickets for PawSox games start as low as $7 for general admission and $11 for box seats. The PawSox also offer flex ticket packages, which allow you to purchase box seats in advance and then decide which game you want to attend.
Even with all the renovations, ticket prices have remained constant throughout the years, proving Mondor was always dedicated to creating an economical family environment instead of trying to line his own pockets. These days, you need a bank loan in order to bring a family of four to Fenway Park. McCoy is, and always has been, the most reasonable option. Concessions are fair, too, so it won’t cost seven bucks for a six-ounce cup of Sam Adams, and they’ve even added a special deal in which kids get a free hot dog, bag of chips and small soda with the purchase of a box seat on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
The best part is Mondor turned the PawSox into the jewel of Class AAA baseball without having to sacrifice the integrity of McCoy Stadium. The renovations were noticeable, but not over-the-top, such as the machine near the left-field bleachers that shoots out mist for kids to run through on those particularly hot summer afternoons. Other than the ginormous high-definition video screen in the outfield, which, by the way, is bigger than the one at Fenway, the stadium still resembles the old McCoy, which gives it a retro feel that most modern-day parks lack.
Other owners have relied on gimmicks to sell tickets, such as “Disco Demolition Night” or “Ten Cent Beer Night.” Mondor never had to create a rouse to bring fans to McCoy. All he had to do was show he cared about making each night at the stadium an enjoyable experience for everyone in attendance. Along the way, he presided over some of the most memorable – and bizarre – moments in minor-league history, including the famous 33-inning game between the PawSox and Rochester Red Wings in 1981. The game lasted until 4:07 the following morning, at which point it still wasn’t finished, but the PawSox rewarded the remaining 19 fans in attendance with season passes to McCoy.
While Fenway is often criticized for catering to fans (“Pink Hats,” if you will) who treat baseball as more of a social event, hobnobbing is perfectly acceptable at the minor-league level. You don’t need to be a PawSox fan – or even a baseball fan – to enjoy a game at McCoy; if you like having fun, you’ll love PawSox’ baseball, and Mondor is the man to thank for all the fanfare he brought to Pawtucket over the past 33 years.
Thanks to a little research, and a few memories from my own personal experiences at McCoy, the only four-letter word that comes to mind now when I think of Ben Mondor is “real,” as in one of the last real owners in professional sports – no gimmicks, no hidden agendas and no false promises. The Ocean State lost an icon Monday. He’ll truly be missed.
Related Articles
- Enough excuses: Red Sox simply aren’t good enough
- Sorry Red Sox! You’re a Distant Third Tonight.
- The 2010 Red Sox: What You See Is What You Get!
- 2010 Red Sox: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It