The acquisition of the Oklahoma City Redhawks by Mandalay Baseball Properties, announced Sept. 15, could mean more job opportunities, lower prices and better entertainment for OU students, club officials said.
The Redhawks internship program currently provides a number of students with experience in sales and ticket operations, community relations, guest relations, sponsorship sales and execution, press box operations, general office management and game day promotions.
However, that program could expand, said Michael Byrnes, Redhawks interim executive director.
“When we get to opening day, there’s a lot of bodies that we need in order to operate highly and effectively,” Byrnes said. “We’re going to look to include people that need experience, that are looking to get their foot in the door and start to learn what the sports industry is about.”
Byrnes, who will replace outgoing Executive Director John Allgood, said the Redhawks believe in giving students opportunities to work for them.
A number of club officials, including Byrnes, got their start in sports management through internships and volunteer work, Byrnes said.
The Redhawks will give students the same opportunities, he said.
“For us, it’s not about bats and balls and hoops and hockey pucks; we’re a part of the business side,” he said. “We want people to be able to experience that and learn what it’s like to run a small business and what it’s like to be in the sales and marketing field. We’re going to be really aggressive in recruiting students to be a part of that.”
In addition to providing more job opportunities for students, the Redhawks will evaluate ticket prices as a result of the purchase.
The club will make games more affordable for families, large and small businesses and students, Byrnes said.
“We’ve got a large ballpark, so we have the opportunity to provide pricing at different levels,” he said. “We’re trying to get our hands wrapped around what that’s going to be, but we know there is going to be general admission seating that will be really affordable because we do that at all of our parks.”
The Redhawks will also evaluate entertainment on and off the field. The club is going to use every resource available to make in-game presentation exciting for all ages, Byrnes said.
“We try to make the baseball game as exciting as it can be,” he said. “Baseball is a leisure sport, so there is a lot going on between innings. If we are really crisp in that 90 seconds between innings, suddenly the ball game starts to feel much shorter than that three hours that you spent there.”
Art Matin, who serves as president and CEO of Mandalay Baseball Properties, said people ask him what Mandalay will focus on and what’s going to be new.
The answer is simple, he said.
“The focus is going to be on providing quality family entertainment at affordable prices,” Matin said. “We want our fans to come to the ballpark and just be showered with unsurpassed customer service. And we want them to walk out saying, ‘Wow, I had a great time tonight.’”
Residents of the OKC metropolitan area will benefit from the sale of the club to Mandalay, said Branch Rickey III, Pacific Coast League president.
“Mandalay is a first-class operation everywhere they operate in baseball,” Rickey said. “I think they’re going to take a refreshed look at Oklahoma City. And I think they’re going to bring some special things to you.”
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darlingt 1 year, 7 months ago
Don't get rid of Darren, whatever you do. He makes the bumpers between innings totally worth it!