January 18^th, 2011 3:37 PM
Jacksonville, Florida

Farmer Field Receives Upgrades

Welcome to 2012, everyone!  It’s been a few months since our last blog entry, but we’re back just in time to see spring training right around the corner.  Last season, home attendance broke the 3 million mark for the first time in franchise history.  Team officials are aware that the amount of fans wanting to attend exceeds that of the stadium’s capacity.  It’s the basic principle of supply and demand, with the demand far exceeding the supply.  Coming off two consecutive 100-win seasons and this year’s Rodríguez Cup title, the Jacksonville fans are craving more.

Florida fans should be excited to hear that 5,000 more people can now see their favorite baseball team.  During the past two months, Farmer Field has been under construction for seating upgrades.  The breakdown for the seating upgrade is as follows:

• 250 home plate club box seats (sections 16-26)
• 500 infield field box seats (sections 110-133)
• 500 state-of-the-art luxury suites, including renovation of existing suites (not pictured)
• 750 first base club box seats (sections 4-15)
• 750 third base club box seats (sections 27-38)
• 750 upper deck outfield seats (sections 204-209 & 237-242)
• 1,500 bleacher seats in the outfield (section 301-314)
  
  

As shown above, the seats range from bleachers all the way up to luxury suites.  The seating variety was intentionally done to appeal to fans of all demographics.  For example, corporate sponsors can enjoy Farmer Field’s wide array of luxury suites.  Each suite can accommodate 10-20 people.  The suites offer state-of-the-art technology including Wi-Fi access, high definition flat screen TVs and high quality audio systems.  Food offerings range from your typical baseball finger foods to lavish, gourmet dishes provided by the ballpark restaurants.  These suites will be made not only for the baseball season but also throughout the calendar year; they can be used to serve company functions, parties and get-togethers.

Perhaps the most exciting seating upgrade will be that in section 337, 339, 341 and 342.  Last year, the team expanded those sections with bench-styled seating.  This is where the Florida faithful sit – the die-hards of the die-hards.  This is where fans make the most noise and where rowdy gets rowdier.  The bench seats only add more to this high school pep rally feel.  The fans in this seating area are known for their passion for the team.  Comprised of an eclectic group, they have been known to toss back home run balls of the opposition.  They are the ones that get dressed up in Native American attire.  These fans are the backbone of the team.

Construction is expected to finish by mid-March.  Fans can already order their seats via phone, website or their local ticket sale offices.  Florida owner Drew Streets has released a public statement to the Featherhead fans regarding the stadium upgrade:

Farmer Field’s 5,000-seat upgrade is a testament to the support you fans have given to the Florida organization.  The team has grown by leaps and bounds, along with its fan base.  It is something that goes beyond my wildest dream.  When I took over the Featherheads, baseball was just an afterthought in Jacksonville, but through our hard work and your support, the Featherheads have grown to become a resonating image in everyone’s mind.

Our goal was not just to run a baseball team but to build a community in the heart of Florida.  The fans have shown their commitment to the team and community by filling up the park and embracing our ball players.  We greatly treasure this strong bond with our fans.  It is this special bond that drives the Florida organization.  By increasing our seating capacity, more fans will be able to enjoy Florida baseball.  It is in these few hours at our ballpark that we can forget our daily troubles and live in the moment.  This is the very reason why I purchased the Florida Featherheads.  I wanted to see a connection with the community.  I wanted Farmer Field to be a second home to the Florida community.  The fans deserve a first-class stadium and we’re looking at ways to make it that – whether it be by increasing our seating capacity, adding new amenities or through park renovation.  This is a first-class organization with first-class fans.

It certainly has been quite the ride for the Featherheads and Mr. Streets.  A couple of seasons ago, there were rumors of the team exploring options of building a new ballpark.  Due to the economy as of late, the team quickly realized it would be very hard to get taxpayers to approve of a new stadium.  Rather than build a new ballpark, the team has decided to upgrade and renovate the existing park.  Farmer Field may not be as stunning as Northern Lights Field or Moultrie Park, but the atmosphere provided by its fan more than makes up for it.

So expect the 2012 season to be a louder and more exciting one.  With a stadium that can support 45,000 screaming fans, the Featherheads certainly will have home field advantage.

Japanese Sensation Set to Land in Florida
There was a ruckus early this morning as news leaked out that Florida secured the services of former Sawamura Award winner Keitaro Kodo.  Despite the time difference and it being past midnight, Japanese baseball websites were in a frenzy.  Local Japanese baseball fans compare the defection to that of Kiyoemon Takeda.  League offices were mum on the deal, but it was finally revealed that Florida signed Kodo to a 3-year deal worth $29.4 million dollars.

Winning the Neo-Tokyo Cup with the Edo Battousai, Kodo joins another championship team.  Heralded as one of the top pitchers over in the Land of the Rising Sun, Kodo brings over an impressive résumé to the United States.  Along with being the 2010 Sawamura winner, Kodo boasts a career 65-37 record while accumulating over 1,000 innings in the LRS.  He joins a strong Florida rotation that includes Cedric Mosley, António Rivera and Franklin Browne.

The addition of Kodo means that someone in the rotation will have to be the odd man out.  Along with the aforementioned starting pitchers, Florida also has Dustin Moyer, Tu-an Sima and possibly Danny Williams.  Perhaps manager Jaime Sánchez will sort out the numbers game during spring training.  One would have to believe that a starting pitcher could be on the move.

A former press conference will be conducted later in the week once Kodo arrives to American shores.  This signing certainly has the local media and fans buzzing.  Fans can already order their Kodo jerseys online.  Kodo will be wearing the same #6 that he wore for Edo.  According to Japanese sources, Kodo is on record to say that the number six represents harmony and balance.  Kodo’s spirituality has helped him approach the game with a cold, stoic mentality.  His ability to remain cerebral and focused on the mound makes him an unrelenting leader when the ball is in his hand.  Although not many American fans may know Kodo, they will learn to love him.

Revisiting Lewis’s Outburst
Months ago, we reported that GM Kevin Lewis allegedly left the Winter Meetings in a frenzy.  We tried to follow up on this story but there were no leads or any witnesses.  With Lewis away on scouting trips, we were unable to confirm the allegations, but a good source of mine has now confirmed that Lewis indeed admitted to the outburst.  Although my colleague has yet to explain the reasoning for the scene, he has revealed to me Lewis’s plans to come forth and publicly address the situation in the upcoming weeks.  Was the outburst regarding a botched trade?  It has been known that Lewis was very attached to former prospect Ronald Harmon.  Handpicked in the 2009 draft, Harmon was the first draft selections of the Lewis era.