A big cheer went up as the box office at Pensacola Maritime Park opened just before 5 on Saturday afternoon as tickets went on sale for this year's exhibition game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and their parent club the Cincinnati Reds coming up on March 28. Fans were lined up pretty early to get one of about 25 hundred tickets that were made available for the game. Season ticket holders were given free tickets to the contest.
Carol Smith and her husband Todd were the first people in line. She plans on making the game a family event.
In their two seasons in Pensacola, the Blue Wahoos, the double a affiliate of the Reds have been a huge draw in town and have maintained a large season ticket base of fans. Jonathan Griffith, the Executive Vice President of the Blue Wahoos said they had about a 95% return rate for season tickets with 200 on a waiting list. There are still about 50 on that list.
Griffith also said that all season ticket holders were given free tickets for the Red exhibition game.
Donna Kirby is the director of promotions and community relations for the Blue Wahoos. She says the team has a lot planned for this game.
As the crowd waiting for tickets grew during the afternoon, Donna Kirby, the Director of Promotions and Community Relations and other members of the staff gave out free hats and other souvenirs and the Wahoo wagon was selling drinks and snacks. Fans also wandered inside the ballpark were a concession stand was open.
After getting their tickets many fans settled into seats in the ball park to watch the movie 42 in honor of black history month and enjoy a fireworks show.
