“Going into the pandemic, we had already been on track to run more events at the stadium,” explains Bowen.“But because of not playing in 2020, we had to come up with other events since we are still an outdoor facility.” This pivot proved successful, with the stadium hosting 35 revenue-generating events outside of baseball games last year, plus numerous community activities like blood drives and charity walks. The diversification strategy serves a dual purpose— creating additional revenue streams while keeping ticket prices affordable. “We don’t always want the answer to be we have to raise ticket prices or raise prices for sponsors, even though our costs are going up,” Bowen notes.“We try to be cognizant of our role within the community, and it’s another way for us to make incremental dollars while bringing other cool events to Altoona.” These events also draw visitors from beyond the immediate area, boosting the local economy.“We’re drawing people from outside of Altoona, or even from further away for some of these unique events that will have them hopefully stay in hotels or restaurants in Altoona as well,” adds Bowen. This approach has become increasingly common among minor league stadiums nationwide, which face the challenge of maximizing facility usage during limited home game schedules. PIRATES PARTNERSHIP AND NEW OWNERSHIP The Altoona Curve’s relationship with the Pittsburgh Pirates goes back to the team’s inception in 1999, creating a regional baseball pipeline that benefits both organizations.“Being just two hours away from Pittsburgh, we have a lot of fans that are obviously Pirates fans even before the Curve was in Altoona,” Bowen says.“The opportunity to see the players play here and then go on to the big stage and hopefully win in Pittsburgh is something that’s really special for our fans.” This connection goes beyond casual fandom. The Curve boasts an active booster club that organizes annual spring training trips to Florida, where 6080 dedicated fans spend a week watching Pirates games. “They typically take one or two road trips as well,” notes Bowen. “This past year they went to see the Pirates in Chicago, and they’ve also gone to Boston and New York to follow the Pirates around.” Proximity also accelerates player development. “It’s a big advantage for them because their coaches or extra coordinators can just drive to Altoona rather than having to fly somewhere,” explains Bowen.This accessibility strengthens relationships between players and the community, with many former Curve players returning to Altoona for charity events years after their promotions. 93 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 04 ALTOONA CURVE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx