Kane County Cougars kick off their 20th season in Geneva
The Kane County Cougars are celebrating 20 years of baseball at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.
Cougars Vice President and General Manager Jeff Sedivy has been there from the beginning.
He has seen the Cougars change affiliates from the Baltimore Orioles to the Florida Marlins to the Oakland A's.
He remembers when the seating capacity - now around 15,000 - was only above 2,000. In those days, he said, the areas now carpeted by lawn were covered in dirt.
But as the fans at Elfstrom Stadium enjoyed the 2010 Opening Day, it was clear that one thing has remained constant: the baseball experience itself.
That experience, fans said, is both enjoyable and affordable.
"We try to make it two or three times during the summer," said Amy Maly of Montgomery, attending Sunday's game with husband Scott and son Bryce. "It's a great family experience. Just a great atmosphere. Everyone is happy, having a good time, and the kids love it."
Scott Maly said that when he first brought his son, "He didn't want to get up from his seat."
Fans can get a good seat for $12, enjoy reasonably priced food, including the widely hailed pork chop sandwich, and see future major league stars hone their skills.
The list of major leaguers who passed through the Elfstrom gates includes such names as Renteria, Willis, Beckett, Dempster, Podsednik, Cabrera, Millar, Charles Johnson and Zaun.
And the parent club in Oakland is hoping that two of today's names, catcher Max Stassi and pitcher Ian Krol, will be the next to emerge.
It is the parade of major league players that draw Frank Stilwagner of Geneva and Otis Clay of Aurora to the park.
"I like baseball. I like beer. I like hot dogs," Stilwagner said.
Clay said he likes to collect the scorecards, just to see who made it to the majors.
"Think of all the people who have gone through here that are playing in the majors."
Will Lorman of Aurora, attending with wife Theresa, said he comes to watch the players. "It's just like going to a major league baseball game in a smaller park."
With the tightening of the economy, the Cougars stand poised to reap the benefits with an affordable product, especially now that the ballpark faces an entire season with a new upper deck and concourse.
"This upper deck is a beautiful addition to our ball park. The concourse is now totally covered, so you can generate some things that you couldn't before (in terms of entertainment and food offerings)," Sedivy said.
"Obviously last year was a real trying year with the economics," Sedivy said. "But more importantly the weather was so bad for us," he said, noting that there was one 45-day period when it rained for 37 of those days.
This year, Sedivy said, the team will continue to offer traditional fan-friendly features and events. He said kids will continue to run the bases for free, while there will be 24 fireworks shows and appearances by such favorites as Birdzerk and Myron Noodleman.
Cougars baseball will never be confused with actual major league baseball. But as an inexpensive alternative, it stands on its own merits. As fan Will Lorman said, "Nothing beats a Wrigley dog, but they do have a phenomenal pork chop sandwich."
<div class="infoBox">
<h1>More Coverage</h1>
<div class="infoBoxContent">
<div class="infoArea">
<h2>Stories</h2>
<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=372434">Walton's slam big hit in Cougars' home opener<span class="date">[4/11/10]</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>