Nuts won't change much
Coming off a record-setting season at the gate, the Modesto Nuts are planning no over-the-top overhaul of their operations for the 2008 season, just some behind-the-scenes tweaking they hope will continue to improve the fan experience.
"We're constantly trying to improve our customer service, whether it's shorter lines at the concession stands or training our people better to be able to answer any questions that might come up," said Alex Schwerin, the franchise's new general manager.
The Nuts -- entering their fourth season as the California League affiliate of the National League-champion Colorado Rockies -- open their season April 3, the first night of a four-game series at Stockton. The home opener is April 7, when Modesto begins a three-game series against defending league champ San Jose.
Schwerin, 27, has been with the team since 2004, when he was the first full-time hire of incoming general manager Mike Gorrasi. Gorrasi was promoted to vice president of the franchise last fall, and Schwerin's promotion from assistant GM soon followed.
The 2007 season opener heralded the debut of a new multi-media scoreboard, which brought an unprecedented change in the atmosphere at John Thurman Field. Fans responded by setting an attendance mark of 158,936, an average of 2,271 per game.
The Nuts' video staff, led by director of media services Grant Boring, rushed to provide video content for the board and developed new ways to use the equipment as the season progressed. What began as simply placing player photos on the board during each night's introductions quickly morphed into a live, interactive platform for in-game promotions and game action.
"There are a lot of things we didn't even know we could do with the video board during that first year," Schwerin said. "The perfect example is that we didn't know until July how to synchronize the radio play-by-play with the video replay and get it on the board. I think there will be more new things with the video board as we continue through the year."
There are no large-scale construction projects slated for this year, though the team hopes to have its new banquet hall and meeting center in place by the start of the 2009 season. That project is being financed by part of the $3 million in stadium upgrades promised by the city as part of a lease agreement that keeps the team at Thurman Field through 2016.
The biggest difference fans will notice this season will come at the concession stands, where the front office is making changes to speed fans through the lines.
"We are doing something internally with the concession stands and trying to streamline our operations there," Schwerin said. "The big thing for us is constantly improving the staff through hiring and better training."
Fans who follow the team on the radio or via Internet broadcasts will be greeted by a new primary voice. Greg Young, who was the No. 2 man on home broadcasts during the 2007 season, is the team's new lead play-by-play man.
Josh Suchon, who handled the lead chores last season, has taken a position as the pre- and post-game host for KABC 790, the flagship radio station of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bee staff writer Brian VanderBeek can be reached at bvanderbeek@modbee.com or 578-2300.
This story was originally published March 3, 2008 at 2:29 AM with the headline "Nuts won't change much."