Tight parking situation faces ‘Jacks in push for more fans

The absence of any sellouts at Husson College’s Winkin Baseball Complex during the Bangor Lumberjacks’ first-ever homestand in Bangor is both a blessing and a curse for the Northeast League team.

Sure, team officials would love to see one or more, but with the added bonus of more ticket sale revenue and increased fan attendance, excitement, and concession sales at the ballpark comes the increased headache of finding places for all those fans to park.

The complex’s current shoehorn parking situation has been exacerbated by the loss of regular parking spaces on the right side of the main drive to the park and Newman Gymnasium. Where once were regular parking spaces now are handicapped-only spots along the right side of the College Circle drive.

Keith Bosley, Husson College’s assistant athletic director and athletic facilities director, said changing those regular spaces to handicapped-only ones was necessary due to federal and state government regulations.

“There’s a calculation you have to do to determine the number of spaces you’re supposed to have,” Bosley said. “It’s based on the number of seats at the facility and that determines how many spots we set aside.”

Bosley was unaware of the exact formula, but the number of seats at the complex is 3,054. He said that the normal number of handicapped spaces within walking distance of Newman Gym is 16 during the school year.

The crunch has certainly not helped the parking crunch at the campus, which has not gone unnoticed by fans.

“I’ve heard nothing about that [the added handicapped spaces], but I’ve heard that people aren’t thrilled about parking at Peabody Hall and walking over,” said Lumberjacks general manager Curt Jacey.

Currently, the two main parking areas are the school’s commuter student lot, located along Husson’s main entrance, and the newly paved lot to the right of the Newman Gym fitness center. The fitness center lot is open to Lumberjacks season ticket holders, media members, and team players and employees. General admission or single-game ticket holders must park in Husson’s auxiliary lot located around the College Circle bend and near Peabody Hall – approximately a quarter of a mile away from the park.

“We have to work with what we’ve got,” Jacey said. “We’re working on setting up some kind of tram system or shuttle after this homestand is over. It’s one of the things at the top of my long list.”

Where the fans are

The Bangor Lumberjacks sold almost 2,500 tickets for the home opener to their 2004 season last Thursday, and although the official attendance was reported as 2,019, it was apparent to anyone there that the number of actual fans in attendance was more like 1,000.

The next two days’ official totals were around 1,600 and 1,200, but the question remains: Where are the fans and why are they staying away?

“In my opinion, a town either wants baseball or it doesn’t,” said Lumberjacks manager Kash Beauchamp. “This town needs to support its team. The fans who come to the game are outstanding. They were great in Orono last year, but we need them to figure out that we’ve got a great bunch of guys who represent this community well … guys they’d want their daughters to date and guys who play hard every night.”

Beauchamp, whose team has won its first four games at Winkin Complex in Bangor, is off to a much better start than last year.

“I would hope they get the respect they deserve from the community,” Beauchamp said. “Just give us a chance. If you give us a chance, you’ll come back. I guarantee it.”

Sea Dogs take swing at cancer

The Portland Sea Dogs reached a financial milestone last Friday as they passed the $2 million mark in total money raised for the Strike Out Cancer in Kids Program since it was started nine years ago.

The program began in 1995 when Sea Dogs president and general manager Charlie Eshbach got together with Peoples Heritage Bank senior executive president John Menario to do something for the community.

For every strikeout notched by a Sea Dogs pitcher, Peoples Heritage donates $10 to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. The initial amount raised in 1995 was $21,072 and it now raises more than $250,000 annually.

The Sea Dogs observed the milestone Friday night during the game against New Hampshire at Hadlock Field.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net