MANCHESTER, NH – After a rainy morning and an overcast afternoon, the sun came out over Delta Dental Stadium for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ Opening Day, bringing to mind the lyrics from John Fogerty’s “Centerfield,” the singer’s ode to the game of baseball: “We’re born again, there’s new grass in the field.”
“The beauty of baseball is that it is the dawn of a new phase every year,” said the Fisher Cats General Manager Taylor Fisher.
At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3, as the Fisher Cats prepared to host the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the gates opened to fans for the first time this season, revealing the myriad stadium upgrades and additions that the organization had invested more than $1 million making during the off-season.
As the early-birds shuffled into the ballpark, they were met with the music of New Hampshire-native and Grammy-winning country artist April Cushman, who was performing on the newly-named Smuttynose Stage outside the Samuel Adams Brewhouse for the inaugural “Hot Dog Happy Hour.”
Cushman was the first of 69 musical acts who will perform before each home game this season. Fisher said that the team has already booked half of the musicians.
Before the first pitch, the team also honored Manchester’s former Mayor Bob Baines, who passed away in January. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais and New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, along with members of the late-mayor’s family, attended the ceremony.
“This stadium would not be here if not for Mayor Baines,” said Governor Ayotte before four first pitches were simultaneously thrown out by members of Baines’ family.
Acknowledging Baines’ contribution to the stadium and the franchise, Fisher said that the team would not exist without him. “It was really special to honor Mayor Baines and his family, and to show him the love he deserves,” said Fisher.
Inside the stadium, there was plenty for new and returning fans to take in, including the newly-branded and updated New Hampshire-themed concessions, which includes new digital menus and value meals. Throughout the game, long lines of fans eager to dive into the cuisine stretched outside of the “Live Free & Fry” stand.
A new digital scoreboard was also added along the left-field wall, and fans enjoyed a faster Wifi connection throughout the stadium provided through the team’s partnerships with Fidium Fiber and Marquis Management LLC.
For Cindy Lavigne and her daughters, Cassidy and Cooper, who have been season-ticket holders since the Fisher Cats started at Gill Stadium in 2005, it was good to get back to the ballpark.
“It is a family community for us,” said Cindy Lavigne, whose husband, Craig, couldn’t make the first pitch due to coaching commitments. “We’ve met a lot of nice people here over the years, and these people have made it like a family. We’re not going anywhere soon.”
Many fans credit Fisher for changing the vibe at Delta Dental Stadium.
“Taylor is amazing. He is a wonderful addition to the Fisher Cats, and we are thrilled to have him,” said Lavigne, who also wanted to acknowledge Nate Newcombe, the Director of Ticket Sales and Services, for his help and hospitality.
Manchester’s Jared Garfield, who volunteers for Nashua’s Lil’ Iguanas Children Safety Foundation, has been attending Fisher Cats games for three years and said he enjoys “following the journey of the players.” Garfield also credits Fisher for the change in environment. “Taylor’s fan-first approach will travel well,” he said.
And for Fisher, who arrived at the ballpark at 4 a.m. on Friday, Opening Day was a resounding success. “It’s been awesome,” said a visibly exhausted-yet-elated Fisher. “There are always a couple of snafus, but, honestly, it could not have gone better.”
While Fisher Cats ended up dropping the opener to Binghamton, 10-9 in 13 innings—although Fisher Cats manager John Tamargo Jr. picked up his first Double-A win in a 2-1 victory over the Rumble Ponies on Saturday—the words of The Carpenters come to mind: they had “only just begun.”
“We have 68 more home games,” Fisher said. “And there is so much more that will be accomplished in the next six months.”