Opening Day Partners
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | baseball team operations |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters |
650 North Prince Street Lancaster, PA 17603 |
Key people |
Peter Kirk, Jon Danos, Brad Sims, Brooks Robinson |
| Website | Opening Day Partners |
Opening Day Partners is a company that owns and operates independent baseball teams in the United States. Since 1982, Opening Day Partners have owned and operated its own Minor League Baseball teams, operated teams for other organizations, assisted in the sale and purchase of teams, and advised and consulted with international clients.[1]
The Opening Day Partners formula has proven to be one of the most successful in professional sports. One of the several elements of the formula include the standardization of comfortable ballpark features such as hotel lobby-style box offices, more legroom for fans, padded seats, individual cupholders, 360-degree walkways, picnic areas able to accommodate 500 fans, and large playgrounds. The company was the first minor league baseball to implement 20-horse carousels and bumper boat attractions able to accommodate children and adults. Currently, the only minor league ballparks in the world that have the bumper boat attraction are Clipper Magazine Stadium and Regency Furniture Stadium.[2]
Another element of the Opening Day Partners formula is an emphasis on philanthropy through various fundraisers, charity events, specialty jersey auctions, and children book-reading programs. Finally, the formula incorporates the local fans, ranging from the occasional to the hardcore, with fan fests, name-the-team contests, the incorporation of local companies and their products, and homages to each team's baseball and socio-geographic history. While many of these various elements of the formula are not unique to Opening Day Partners, the company is one of few that incorporate them to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment for all fans and their families.
History
Opening Day Partners, formerly known as Keystone Baseball, have owned and/or operated several Major League Baseball-affiliated, professional baseball teams in the Maryland cities of Aberdeen, Bowie, Frederick, Hagerstown, and Salisbury. The company currently owns and operates highly successful Atlantic League of Professional Baseball teams in Camden, New Jersey and Waldorf, Maryland. ODP also developoed clubs in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, York, Pennsylvania, and Sugar Land, Texas before transitioning them to local interests.
Baseball & Sports Associates, LLC is an Opening Day Partners-owned company that handles baseball operations, including player development for numerous Minor League Baseball teams.
Relationship with Major League Baseball
Opening Day Partners has a long-standing relationship with Major League Baseball, and many of its individual clubs. The assignments undertaken by Opening Day Partners and its affiliates include:
- Providing the grounds crew for the Sydney, Australia Summer Olympic Games under contract to the Commissioner's Office.
- Providing stadium refurbishment and grounds crew for the Baltimore Orioles historic exhibition game in Havana, Cuba.
- Providing field design and installation advisory services to the Houston Astros.
- Advising several Major League Clubs on their Minor League operations.
- Operating the Maryland Fall League for minor league players.
Stadium design and construction projects
Through its facility management division, Opening Day Partners has provided stadium design, construction, and operation services to numerous communities, in addition to providing such services on its own ballparks. Clients have included:
Food and beverage services
Through its food and beverage entities, Opening Day Partners has provided concession and catering services to minor league parks, arenas and universities nationwide including:
Teams currently owned by Opening Day Partners
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Maryland Blue Crabs | Waldorf, Maryland | Regency Furniture Stadium |
References
- ↑ "About Opening Day Partners". Opening Day Partners. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
- ↑ OPD design features