Welcome to opening day at NBT Bank Stadium.
At the beginning of April in Syracuse, N.Y., the grass was not yet green.
Not even at the big ballpark that the Syracuse Chiefs baseball team calls home.
That did not stop 6,661 fans from welcoming the start of another Triple-A season to NBT Bank Stadium. But first, they had a pretty big party in the parking lot.
The home team lost, but the bones seem to be there for a fun season.
To read my story about the experience of opening day on the north side of Syracuse on the Syracuse Public Media site waer.org, click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/after-long-winter-syracuse-chiefs-fans-were-ready-baseball
That’s a lot of fans hoping for a good baseball season in Syracuse.
Have you welcomed in a season on opening day? It his time of the baseball year special to you?
Mark Bialczak 
I like all sports, but a baseball game, live, is a fun place to be! I like our little ‘farm’ team, the Columbus Clippers, Mark! We bring ‘cowbells’ to ring. It is a silly thing to do, but it is part of the game plan, if you are ever here to visit, you and Karen would enjoy our newer stadium.
LikeLike
Syracuse and Columbus are both in the International League, Robin. We’re practically related! Haha. Thanks for the kind invitation!
LikeLike
i love this!
LikeLike
Yes, Beth, let’s not forget our friendly wager on Chiefs vs. Mud Hens game. Oh, we didn’t make one yet? We must!
LikeLike
absolutely! what should we wager? are you willing to put it all on the line?
LikeLike
I am willing! Suggest away, Beth.
LikeLike
okay, i’ll come up with an idea and see if you like it )
LikeLike
I bet you can come up with a good one, Beth!
LikeLike
how about if the loser has to post a pic of them holding a sign in their home stadium saying, ‘ i was wrong, the mud hens are the best aaa team out there!’ or some such thing?
LikeLike
I like the photo post idea, a lot! We have to each be ready for a home game. Or we pick a game and the loser can take the photo at a different game. Which one, Beth?
LikeLike
you get to choose this part of the wager, mark )
LikeLike
I will choose. I will think about it first and let you know!
LikeLike
Take me out to the ball game, only we don’t have a local team any longer Mark. We used to have the Owensboro Oilers, but that was a lot of gray hair ago. They tried to revamp the team but not enough young people wanted to play here, and the older guys couldn’t quite make it around the bases any more, even with the rest stops at each base 🙂
LikeLike
Too bad. It stinks when a city loses a team, Angie. I love the way you describe baseball. A rest stop at ever base, indeed.
LikeLike
Sounds a lot like our ball park, although attendance has always been a problem.
LikeLike
It’s relatively inexpensive in comparison, laflor. You can get a good day’s worth of entertainment at a minor-league baseball game. I hope you enjoy some at your ball park this season.
LikeLike
Only because you say so … want to get excited about this Mark
LikeLike
Enjoy a game and a sport near you in B.C., K!
LikeLike
Yes, perfect idea , we have a beauty BBall Club Mark!
LikeLike
I’m dying to see a Giants game this season. Used to go regularly before little O came along. I think we might take her to her first game this year. How old was your daughter when you took her to her first game?
LikeLike
I took Elisabeth to a Syracuse Chiefs game with she was one month old, Sandra. She was the only swaddled fan in the stadium. I think Olivia would have a blast at the big Giants stadium on the Bay! Just looking at the scenery around the park is so interesting.
LikeLike