By Mickey Grahm
The West Michigan Whitecaps released their 2018 season schedule today. The team will celebrate its 25th season beginning with the season-opener at home on Thursday, April 5 at 6:35 p.m. versus the South Bend Cubs.
Fireworks will once again light up the night sky over Fifth Third Ballpark with 21 Family Fare Fireworks Nights, including Opening Night, every summertime Wednesday and Saturday home game and selected additional nights, with a special Independence Day celebration on Tuesday, July 3.
The long-time Tiger Friday series will move to Wednesdays, with five Tiger Wednesday dates starting in June slated to include the popular former Tiger appearances and Tiger-related giveaway items for the first 1,000 fans. Fridays, starting in May, will be rebranded as family- and kid-focused theme nights, including Princess, Dinosaur, Pokemon and others, with entertainers and other special events on the concourse.
Weekly promotions:
Sunday (with a new start time of 2 p.m.): Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Family Days (first 1,000 kids eat free; autographs and play catch on the field pre-game; kids run the bases post-game)
Monday: JQ99 Bulletin Night (half off box or reserved seats with worship or community bulletin)
Tuesday: Select Tuesdays will be Dime Dog Nights presented by Manpower
Wednesday: Senior Night, Tiger Wednesdays and Family Fare Fireworks (beginning in June)
Thursday: Altogas Thrifty Thursdays ($2 hot dogs, Pepsi products and 20 oz. beers); show a college or military ID and get $5 reserved seats.
Friday: Kid-focused theme nights
Saturday: Family Fare Fireworks (beginning in May)
The three 11 a.m. school days, popular as school enrichment field trips, are returning once again, scheduled for Tuesday, May 22,Wednesday, May 23, and Tuesday, June 5. In addition, there are four special weekday 12 p.m. matinee games scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, Thursday, April 12, Wednesday, April 18 and Wednesday, May 9.
Some featured promotions include Armed Forces Night on Saturday, May 19; Star Wars Night, returning on Saturday, June 30 and MSU/U of M Rivalry Night on Thursday, August 16. Many more promotions will be added throughout the off-season and will be added to the Whitecaps website as they are booked.
Fans can purchase season tickets and mini plans beginning Wednesday, October 25, by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131. Tickets for groups of 20 or more, including private party areas, will go on sale November 17. Individual game tickets will go on sale in early 2018.
The full 2018 schedule is attached and is available on the Whitecaps website at whitecapsbaseball.com.
