While today’s major-league stadiums get bigger and bigger and marketing hype gets louder and louder, minor-league sports events harken back to a time when fans could sit just a few feet away from the players and local small businesses posted quirky advertisements on the stadium walls.
The more affordable and more intimate fan experience of minor-league games, combined with the potential for seeing the next superstar athlete hone their craft on the way to the big leagues, can make for a tremendous off-site group activity. And there’s no better place in America to experience the joy of a minor-league game than south-central Pennsylvania.
Always ranked among the top minor-league sports markets by Sports Business Daily, the Harrisburg-Hershey-Lancaster region is home to six professional minor-league franchises, several of which are ready to accommodate group outings.
Harrisburg Senators
The first Harrisburg Senators baseball team dates all the way back to 1924. The current Senators franchise, an affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, has served as the proving ground for many future big leaguers, including current Nats superstars Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg.
The Senators home field is Metro Bank Park, a 6,000-seat waterfront stadium located on City Island, an island in the Susquehanna River just a short walking-bridge stroll from downtown Harrisburg. Named the minor-league baseball stadium that is “worthiest of a road trip” by the Huffington Post, the stadium completed a $32 million renovation in 2010. Stadium staff is well versed in hosting corporate functions, and groups can take advantage of private corporate suites that can seat up to 20 attendees, field-level dugout suites that can accommodate up to 36 attendees, or private picnic areas that can host up to 140 attendees.
Hershey Bears
Founded by Milton Hershey in 1932, the Hershey Bears is among the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey teams in North America. As the top affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, the Bears continue to serve as the final grooming stop for many of tomorrow’s top hockey stars.
Owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, the Bears play their home games before a rabid fan base in Giant Center, a 10,500-seat modern arena. Groups can join the party by renting a luxury suite with private dining and a bar, or book some ice time for a free skate when the Bears are on the road.
Lancaster Barnstormers
The Barnstormers have played baseball in the 6,000-seat Clipper Magazine Stadium since the facility opened in 2005. The team has a strong local following, and the stadium’s convenient downtown location offers a number of options for groups. On game days, the stadium offers private luxury suites and picnic areas for groups, and when the Barnstormers are on the road, it is well equipped for hosting off-site meetings and events.
