Finding Connecticut

Yard Goats Announce Promotional Schedule for Dunkin’ Park

Fireworks, Giveaways, Character Appearances, Bobblehead, all part of 2024 season in Hartford

The  Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, announced its 2024 promotional schedule for the home games at Dunkin’ Park.  The upcoming season, just 62 days away, is filled with many promotional nights, fireworks shows, premium giveaway games, and character appearances.  Fans will be treated to Post-Game Fireworks Shows after every Saturday evening game, plus three consecutive nights, July 4-6 to celebrate Independence Day.  The Yard Goats will host Opening Night on Tuesday, April 9^th vs Bowie (7:10 PM) with a Yard Goats branded chocolate bar giveaway.      

The Yard Goats will introduce some new giveaway items for fans including four new shirts for adults.  A vintage bowling shirt (April 12^th), basketball jersey (September 3^rd), football jersey (September 5^th), and Hawaiian shirt (September 4^th) will be handed out to fans 16 and older.  Meanwhile, kids will get to enjoy the return of the popular Los Chivos jersey (April 23^rd) and red white & blue jersey (June 25^th), along with the new giveaway items such as Hartford Schoolboys jersey (May 28^th), Bouncing Pickles jersey (August 27^th) and Chompers and Chew Chew Lunch box (August 13^th).  Other new giveaway items for everyone include a Bouncing Pickles bobblehead(May 14^th), Yard Goats shoe charm (May 30^th), Chompers hat (June 11^th), Yard Goats camo hat (July 9^th), Yard Goats scarf (July 11^th),Bouncing Pickles Socks (July 23^rd), Roberto Clemente knit hat (August 17^th), Yard Goats neon hat on 90’s Night (August 28^th), and the return of unicorn headband (June 12^th) and fanny pack (August 29^th).  

The promotional schedule is highlighted by the seventh annual “Whalers Alumni Weekend,” which will take place on Friday, July 26^thand Saturday, July 27^th.  The Yard Goats will be wearing special hockey-style uniforms to pay tribute to the former NHL franchise.  Many former Hartford Whalers players will be part of a festive weekend which will include a luncheon, on-field pregame ceremony, and autograph session.  Many historic moments and highlights will be shown on the video board.

MiLB’s continued partnership with Marvel Entertainment will present “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” campaign, where the Yard Goats will wear special edition Marvel Super Hero-branded jerseys on-field during the game with other Marvel-themed activities and promotions taking place throughout the game. The “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” game will take place on May 29^th and the Yard Goats will be dressed in a Marvel themed Yard Goats jersey for their game against the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate, the Reading Fightin Phils.  Plus, there will be a special appearance by the HULK.  

In addition to all the fireworks, character appearances, giveaways, and returning staples such as Kids Run the Bases (all Sunday games) and Baseball Bingo (every Tuesday game), the Yard Goats added some new theme games so that fans can feel the spirit inside Dunkin’ Park.  Artificial Intelligence Night (June 26^th /where the technology will determine everything from the scoreboard graphics to the promotions on the field), Anime Night (July 12^th/celebrate the iconic Japanese animation with special graphics, promotions, and a visitor on the concourse), America’s Favorite Rubber Shoe Night (May 30^th/ with Yard Goats Shoe Charm giveaway), Margaritaville Night (September 4^th/Enjoy the music of Jimmy Buffet with a cover band with an Yard Goats Adult Hawaiian Shirt giveaway). 

The Yard Goats are also bringing back some of the popular theme nights again for 2024.  Opening Night Celebration (April 9^th), Bark in the Park (April 13^th /fans will be allowed to purchase a ticket and bring their dog to a game), Star Wars Night (May 15^th/celebrate the most popular movie franchise of all time, with a salute to Star Wars and meet special characters at the game), Small Business Saturday (May 18^th/ applaud small businesses from Connecticut), Dairy Day (June 2^nd/celebrate Connecticut Dairy Farmers), Unicorn Night (June 12^th/will be a fun and magical night with a Kids Unicorn Horn Headband Giveaway, games, crafts and prizes),   Pajama Party Night (June 28^th/fans can wear their favorite PJ’s for a chance to win great prizes), Faith & Family Night (July 10^th/special event celebrating the religious communities of our region), Biz Kids Night (July 12^th/will be a fun night as kids with businesses across Connecticut will be on hand to showcase their talent), Jewish Heritage Day (July 28^th /celebrate the history and culture), Country Night (August 15^th/music and line dancing), 90’s Night (August 28^th/go back in time 30 years and relive some of the best things from that decade and receive a Yard Goats Neon Hat), Princess & Pirates Night (August 30^th/fans can dress up and have your picture taken with a REAL princess or Pirate at the game and fun activities for the kids), and the Final Regular Season Home Game Celebration (September 8^th).  The Yard Goats will host multiple heritage nights, including the annual Irish Night (April 26^th), with Irish music, step dancers, and performers, and Italian Night(August 14^th) featuring Italian food along with singers and dancers in the pregame show.

The Yard Goats will celebrate baseball’s Hispanic culture and its heritage when they play as Los Chivos de Hartford on April 23^rd (with a kid’s jersey giveaway), April 27^th, May 16^th, June 27^th, and July 13^th.  The name, which translates from Spanish as the Goats of Hartford, is part of MiLB’s “Copa de la Diversión,” or “Fun Cup,” designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with local U.S. Hispanic/Latino communities.  In addition, the Yard Goats will honor Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente in a Celebration on August 17^thalong with a Roberto Clemente knit hat giveaway and fireworks show.  

The Yard Goats will once again host a Celebration of Negro League Baseball on June 29^th and play as the “Hartford Schoolboys,” honoring Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor, who was the first black athlete to play professional baseball in Hartford.  This game will shine the spotlight on some of the greatest players from the Negro Leagues, and tell the story of how these amazing trailblazers changed baseball history. 

Burgers or Tenders?  On June 28^th, in an alternate food identity game, Yard Goats will play as the Steamed Cheeseburgers and battle the New Hampshire Chicken Tenders in a New England food fight.  The Steamed Cheeseburger logo is a fun design which includes a burger, bun, ketchup and mustard.  It is believed the steamed cheeseburger was invented in Connecticut, and Ted’s Restaurant, who has been serving them since 1959, will have them available in the Neighborhood Flavors Cart.      

The Yard Goats will take a serious role in bringing attention to many causes and community programs including Deaf Awareness Night(May 30^th), Military Appreciation Night (June 15^th), Pink Out the Park (July 24^th), First Responders Night (July 25^th), Strike Out Cancer in a Cape (August 16^th), Home Run for Heroes (August 18^th), Organized Labor Night (August 31^st) and Junior Fire Marshal Night(September 7^th).  This season, the Yard Goats will have four Most Improved Student Nights (April 10^th-11^th & April 24^th-25^th), recognizing academic achievement in the classroom.  The Yard Goats will also be celebrating improvement in athletic achievement with Most Improved Athlete Nights (September 3rd-5th).  The Yard Goats will host Pride Nights (June 13^th & September 6^th).

*2024 Premium Giveaway Schedule: *

Chocolate Bar (April 9^th), Yard Goats Adult Vintage Bowling Shirt (April 12^th), Los Chivos Kids Jersey (April 23^rd), Bouncing Pickle Bobblehead (May 14^th), Hartford Schoolboys Kids Jersey (May 28^th), Yard Goats Shoe Charm (May 30^th), Chompers Hat (June 11^th),Unicorn Headband (June 12^th), Red, White & Blue Kids Jersey (June 25^th), Yard Goats Camo Hat (July 9^th), Yard Goats Scarf (July 11^th), Bouncing Pickles Socks (July 23^rd), Chompers and Chew Chew Lunch Box (August 13^th), Roberto Clemente Knit Hat (August 17^th), Bouncing Pickles Kids Jersey (August 27^th), Yard Goats Neon Hat (August 28^th), Yard Goats Fanny Pack (August 29^th), Yard Goats Adult Basketball Jersey (September 3^rd), Yard Goats Adult Hawaiian Shirt (September 4^th), Yard Goats Adult Football Jersey(September 5^th).           

*2024 Theme Nights*

Opening Night Celebration (April 9^th), Most Improved Student Nights (April 10^th-11^th), Bark in the Park  (April 13^th), Most Improved Student Nights (April 24^th-25^th), Irish Night (April 26^th), Los Chivos Night (April 23^rd & April 27^th), Star Wars Night (May 15^th), Los Chivos Night (May 16^th), Small Business Saturday (May 18^th), Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night (May 29^th), America’s Favorite Rubber Shoe Night (May 30^th), Deaf Awareness Night (May 30^th), Dairy Day (June 2^nd), Unicorn Night (June 12^th), Pride Night (June 13^th), Military Appreciation Night (June 15^th), Artificial intelligence Night (June 26^th), Los Chivos Night (June 27^th), Steamed Cheeseburgers (June 28^th), Pajama Party Night (June 28^th), Negro League Celebration (June 29^th), Faith & Family Night(July 10^th), Anime Night (July 12^th), Los Chivos Night (July 13^th), Pink Out the Park (July 24^th), First Responders Night (July 25^th), Whalers Alumni Weekend (July 26^th-27^th), Jewish Heritage Day (July 28^th), Italian Night (August 14^th), Country Night (August 15^th), Strike Out Cancer In a Cape (August 16^th), Roberto Clemente Celebration (August 17^th), Home Run for Heroes (August 18^th), 90’s Night (August 28^th), Princess & Pirates Night (August 30^th), Organized Labor Night (August 31^st), Most Improved Athlete Nights(September 3^rd-5^th), Margaritaville Night (September 4^th), Pride Night (September 6^th), Junior Fire Marshal Night (September 7^th), Final Regular Season Home Game Celebration (September 8^th).                       

*2024 Post Game Fireworks Shows *

April 27^th, May 18^th, June 1^st, June 15^th, June 29^th, July 4^th, July 5^th, July 6^th, July 13^th, July 27^th, August 17^th, August 31^st, September 7^th       

*2024 Post Game Kids Run the Bases*

April 14^th, April 28^th, May 19^th, June 2^nd, June 16^th, June 30^th, July 14^th, July 28^th, August 18^th, September 1^st, September 8^th      

Individual game tickets will go on sale for all home games this Friday (February 9^th) at 10:00 AM.  Fans may purchase tickets on the Yard Goats website yardgoatsbaseball.com, or over the phone at 860-246-4628, and tickets will be delivered digitally.  Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets in person at the Click It or Ticket Box Office at Dunkin’ Park. 

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