‘Jacks game a fair deal

To the people of Greater Bangor:

Have you gone to a Bangor Lumberjacks game this year? No? How about the [Bangor State] Fair? Did you go to the fair? You probably did. Took the whole family, I bet. Let’s see, $6 per person, times four people, plus $3 for parking, there’s $27. Let’s say you went on a wristband day, there’s another $12 each for two kids. That’s a total of $51, not including money spent on games and/or food. I’ll be conservative and say $75 for a family of four for one evening at the fair.

Let’s see what that $75 could get you at “The Wink.” Four bleacher tickets would be $20. Four cheeseburgers and drinks totals $26.

There’s no charge for parking, totaling $46. That leaves $29 left to spend on a souvenir or even to stop for ice cream on the way home.

Money-wise, a Lumberjacks game is easier on the wallet than the same three hours at the fair. The same family of four at the movies could run $32 just in tickets, plus a small mortgage in soft drinks and snack food.

How about value? Is a Lumberjacks game a good value for the money? Well, if you had gone earlier this season, you would have seen Jake Whitesides play in Bangor. Now he’s on his way up in the White Sox organization. Maybe in a few years you can shell out the big bucks to see him play at Fenway.

Need more value? Local talent is showcased singing or performing the National Anthem. For kids, there are on-field activities between innings. There are also lots of foul balls. It seems the favorite thing for kids at “The Wink” is running between the stadium and the Husson Gymnasium hunting foul balls.

Perhaps, though, the best value in a Lumberjacks game is the ownership loyalty to the fans. Ever since the Blue Ox, talk around Bangor has been, “I’d go to a game if they played in Bangor, I don’t want to drive to Orono.” Well, the Lumberjacks play in Bangor. Owner Chip Hutchins did everything he could to put the ‘Jacks in Bangor, where the people said a team should be located.

Now it’s your turn. Show up at a Lumberjacks home game with two things, and I bet you won’t be disappointed. What two things? Less money than you took to the fair and your glove for those foul balls.

Go, ‘Jacks!

Paul L. Jerome

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