Main entrance to Peoria Chiefs’ home stadium, Dozer park. Photo by Jacob Fisher.
It was over a year ago that baseball in the Central Illinois area was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the state.
Wide shot of Robin Robert Stadium. Photo by Jacob Fisher.
For the Peoria Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals’ Advanced-A affiliates, and the Springfield Sliders, a wooden-bat collegiate league, are set to begin their seasons this Spring. The Chiefs are to begin the Minor League Season in early May and the Sliders set to begin their season in late May.
Todd Miller, the General Manager of the Springfield Sliders, said that the worst part about not having their season in 2020 was that the Sliders could not bring any family entertainment to the community while also not giving college players the chance to play against a higher level of competition.
The Sliders attempted to play a shortened season, but the plan would be axed after a postponement and canceled by July of 2020.
When they shut the season down, the Peoria Chiefs’ General Manager, Jason Mott, was not happy with the decision to not have a season in 2020. With all the planning and expenses to have gone to waste, while releasing employees to make up the costs.
Suite and Administrative entrance at Dozer Park. Photo by Jacob Fisher.
Mott said that the worst part about not having the season, “Having to call 19 people on May 1st and let them know that after Monday was going to be their last day.”
Back in February 2021, the Peoria Chiefs would put out their schedule for the 2021 season. And as the state of Illinois begins to open back up, playing a season is becoming a reality for these teams.
On May 4th, the Peoria Chiefs open their season on the road at Cedar Rapids. And starting May 11th, the Chiefs will return to Dozer Park for two weeks welcoming fans back at 20% capacity.
Peoria Chiefs’ box office featuring a way fans can order tickets ahead. Photo by Jacob Fisher.
Both the Chiefs and Sliders, they have designed their ballpark and create an experience to help prevent coronavirus. The teams have created an app/webpage for fans to order their food and drinks from concessions without leaving their seats.
“We’re going to do everything have to do to get fans here…” Mott says regarding cleaning and wiping down all surfaces around the ballpark. Mott continued in referring to eliminating lines forming outside and within the park, that the Chiefs will try to have fans purchase their tickets ahead of gameday. As well as using a mobile web system for the fans to use to order their food from the concession stands.
“This is what we have to do for you to be here and that is the only way we can have a season,” Mott said regarding fans who may have an opposition to wearing a mask at the ballpark.
The walkway to the seats at Robin Robert Stadium. Photo by Jacob Fisher.
For the Chiefs and Sliders to have the fans back is a huge favor for the teams. Mott says that fans should not penalize these teams if they have the mandates to enjoy a ballgame. We are all in this together and must tackle these obstacles until life gets back to normal.